The GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test)

In my 1st pregnancy it came to light that I had gestational diabetes. At the time I didn’t quite register how serious this could have been.

Several times a day I had to test and record my blood sugars, meaning my fingers became pretty battered! I had to go to clinic every 2 weeks, have a tonnes of growth scans, cut out sugar and if I over ate on carbs I had to do a few laps around the block to burn it off. It also meant that I had an early induction to control his weight and prevent stillbirth and I found the whole thing more of an inconvenience than anything and a cloud over my 1st pregnancy.
It wasn’t until the loss of Poppy that I really understood and saw that that induction was probably a good precaution and that my strict diet and exercise potentially saved our little glow worm and granted us a healthy baby boy at 8lb 2!
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Every pregnancy since I am summoned for at least 2 hrs to the hospital for the Glucose tolerance test, and they have on each occasion been baffled that it has not recurred in subsequent pregnancies. I however am relieved!

If you are not familiar with this test, because you are lucky enough to not have a family history of diabetes or whatever then allow me to spread some light… After fasting from midnight (great start for a pregnant woman) you are prodded with needles to take some blood samples. Next (on an empty stomach) you down a cup of what tastes like flat lucozade gellyfied, which now has evolved to a huge capri sun sized packet of flat lucozade that never seems to end! You then sit bored out of your mind for 2hrs in the hospital with a load of strangers, restricted movements so as not to burn up the sugars, before more needle prodding and blood taken. You then stagger out gagging for something tasty to eat and await the all clear or not!
InstagramCapture_da976481-c075-4ec2-ac04-2b08dd7f07a5This is usually done around 26 weeks unless you have a history of it and then its 16 weeks! And so, on Monday, I made my way to the LGI for this delightful part of pregnancy. Because I do have a history of diabetes I also have the pleasure of it being repeated again around 26 weeks too – HORRAY! Can’t wait!

Luckily thus far I have not had it again, and with Ethan it was controlled purely by diet! I really hope I avoid it this time round too (time will tell) because it can be dangerous for baby if not controlled, and I also don’t think I could deal with that added stress, more appointments and worry.

Run Jump Scrap!

8 Comments

  1. February 17, 2016 / 6:02 pm

    I had the GTT with all of mine due to glucose in my urine sample but it turned out I didn’t have gestational diabetes, I just had an obsession with sugar coated Frosties! I hope that you don’t get it again with this one but at least they are keeping an eye on you which is always good to know. You’re doing so well, won’t be long and that little one will be here safe and well. #bestandworst

  2. February 17, 2016 / 9:56 pm

    I was lucky and never had any issues so didn’t have to do this test – it doesn’t sound much fun! Hope you avoid a recurrence of gestational diabetes again – fingers crossed! #bestandworst

  3. mummydaddyme
    February 18, 2016 / 10:25 pm

    I had mine last week as well- the drink is so gross isn’t it? I got the results and I don’t have it- I just grow super big babies! xx

    • February 19, 2016 / 9:10 am

      Yeah its nasty stuff! I don’t have it either.. PHEW! One less thing to think about haha! How big are were your 2? x

  4. February 19, 2016 / 11:12 am

    Never had the test with the girls but had to have it this time around. Was given a different drink though as I am allergic to the above. Still not an experience I wish to repeat in a hurry!

  5. February 20, 2016 / 4:07 pm

    Oh I hope you are fine! Some of patients have these and we are always praying they are fine as their metabolic diets are already so complex. Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst x

  6. February 23, 2016 / 11:32 pm

    Oh goodness, I guess my horrendous first trimesters of all day sickness with all 3 kids pale into comparison against this! Wishing you a safe pregnancy. #BestAndWorst

    • February 24, 2016 / 7:34 am

      I wouldn’t say so haha – ive had bad sickness too and that’s far more draining and rubbish. That makes life impossible to live some days as it wrecks you doesn’t it? x

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