It seems as though every pregnant woman experiences nervousness prior to going through the dreaded glucose tolerance test between 24-28 weeks. It’s got a bad reputation among the mother community and now I completely understand why.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I was terribly scared, but passed the 1 hour test with flying colors. Easy peasy. Fast forward to this pregnancy and it all changed. I failed the 1 hour.
So, how does the 1 hour glucose tolerance test work, you ask?
- You fast from midnight the night before the test. Some practices will allow you to drink water during this fasting period, others won’t.
- Go to the doctor/hospital and drink a non-carbonated, artificially flavored/dyed beverage that contains 50 grams of glucose within 5 minutes.
- Then, you wait for 1 hour at the doctor’s office (bring a book!).
- They then draw your blood to test the blood sugar level.
- You usually get your results in the next 1-3 days.
Results and what they mean: If you get higher than a 135 mg/dL then you have to come back another day and take the 3 hour glucose test.
During this pregnancy with baby #2, I got a 151 mg/dL after the 1 hour glucose test. Three days later, I’m in for the 3 hour glucose test.
How does the 3 hour glucose tolerance test work?
- You fast from midnight the night before the test. Some practices will allow you to drink water during this fasting period, others won’t. I opted to not drink any water, for minimal affect on my test.
- Go to the doctor/hospital and have your finger pricked to insure your fasting blood sugar level is between 70-105 mg/dL. (Mine was 77 mg/dL, enabling me to proceed with the test.) If so, they draw your blood for initial fasting levels.
- Then you drink a non-carbonated, artificially flavored/dyed beverage that contains 100 grams of glucose within 5 minutes.
- You wait 1 hour and have your blood drawn again.
- You wait for a second hour and have your blood drawn again.
- You wait for a third hour and have your blood drawn a last time.
- Then, you receive your results within 1-3 days.
Results of the 3 hour glucose tolerance test and what they mean:
- Initial fasting blood drawing should be between 70-105 mg/dL.
- After 1 hour, your level should be between 90-155 mg/dL.
- After hour 2, your level should be under 155 mg/dL.
- And after hour 3, your level should be between 70-105 mg/dL.
I ended up passing my 3 hour glucose test with a ratings of 77 mg/dL for fasting, 132 mg/dL after the first hour, 126 mg/dL after the second hour (not so good) and 90 mg/dL after the third hour (awesome!). Thank goodness! I was nervous because my mother had gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with me. However, she didn’t have any glucose issues with my other three sisters. The body is so strange during pregnancy.
If you don’t pass the 3 hour glucose tolerance test and have gestational diabetes, don’t fret. You may have to do something as minor as watching what you eat or as major as testing your blood sugar levels throughout the day, along with a restricted diet and implementing exercise.
Tips for the Glucose Tolerance Test
- Wear comfortable layered clothing – Most likely, you’ll be like me and feel nauseous all throughout the test and you’ll want the most comfortable clothing to wear. You’ll especially want looser fitting clothing around the belly, as your stomach will not feel so good. Also, be sure to wear layers. Doctor’s offices and hospitals are kept cold and waiting their so long, you won’t want to freeze. Also, because of the nausea, you may go through some hot flashes and need to strip some layers.
- Bring something entertaining – My hospital has free wifi, so I brought my computer with me. I knew if I felt up to it, I could answer emails or work. Else, there was always my favorite Netflix show to keep my mind off of the test.
- Walk around – This will depend on the advisement of your doctor or nurse. My nurse allowed and actually suggested I walk around during the test. This is what saved me from throwing up during the test. I would take 15-20 minute leisurely strolls outside around the gardens and grounds of the hospital. The fresh air and plants were enough to refocus and calm the nauseous feelings.
- Prepare for the rest of the day – Be prepared to not feel well the rest of the day. Don’t plan to do anything strenuous throughout the day. Just take it easy and eat sugar-less foods and lots of water the rest of the day.
If you’ve gone through either glucose tolerance test, what were your thoughts on it? Any tips for a new mom preparing to take the test?
My thoughts on the overall test:
I never could wrap my head around the fact that a medical professional would advise ingesting so much sugar…purely artificial flavored, dyed and straight-up syrup, for that matter. I couldn’t seem to get over the guilt I was feeling for even putting this terrible drink(s) in my body. It’s something I would never actually drink/eat since I’m so health conscious when it comes to taking care of my body and the baby growing in it. I did research alternatives and read about some doctors allowing patients eating a pancake breakfast, a bunch of fruit or natural fruit juice or even testing your blood sugar levels at home for two weeks. Unfortunately, I learned about these after the fact, but you better believe that I’ll be asking for an alternative if I get pregnant again!
Another question I still have: The nurse who scheduled me for my 1 hour glucose tolerance test told me to restrict carbs/sugars for 2-3 days prior to the test. However, the evening before my test, I browsed the internet and some websites actually suggested ingesting 150 grams of carbohydrates per day for 2-3 days leading up to the test. So, in preparation for the 3 hour glucose tolerance test, I ate normally and healthy (like I always do) and had better outcomes. So, I’m not sure which is the correct answer. All I’m guessing is you probably don’t want to down an ice cream sundae the night before your test. 😉� Anyone know the ‘right’ way to ‘prepare’ for the test?
