Do I have to take this?

Question

I was wondering if I have to take the gestational diabetes test, I am scheduled to take it next week, I don't do well at all with getting blood drawn, I asked a few ladies if they had the test done, they didn't even know what I was talking about.

I know it would be good for the safety of the baby and myself. The doctor just told me everyone gets the test done, I do not have gestational diabetes or any diabetes, only 2 people in my family had diabetes, it was on my fathers side.

Thank you everyone for answering my question, my doctor seems to like getting blood tests done on me, even for things I know I didn't need like STD or genetic defects that run in a family..... Thanks for the answers!

Answer 1

Honey, you don't have to take anything you don't want to! Just because you're pregnant and it's "recommended", doesn't mean you must comply, or else... Or else what?

The GTT (glucose tolerance test) is pretty simple actually. You drink a really sugary soda beverage called "Glucola" (glucose cola), then an hour later they draw a small amount of blood. This is actually my most unfavorite pregnancy test of all I've done. Not because of the blood draw, either, but because that Glucola is naaaassty! I know some women don't mind it, but it burns my throat going down somethin' fierce.

If your levels don't look right from the blood draw, you may be scheduled for the 3-hr. GTT, in which case you may have to have 3 separate blood draws at 1-hr. intervals.

You have every right to choose not to take the test. Some women decline it because they feel that it's not going to tell them anything that physical symptoms can. Of course, you have to know what you're looking for so you know to report it to your doc. The opinion is that women who seem to be showing signs and symptoms should be tested, not ALL pregnant women in general. It's completely up to you, but I'd suggest talking with your doc or midwife about whether this test could be important for you.

Congrats on your pregnancy, and good luck with everything!

Answer 2

Gestational diabetes, if left undetected and/or untreated, can lead to large babies (making for a more difficult delivery) OR fetal death. If you do have it, you are more likely to develop Type II diabetes later in life--which, if left untreated, can lead to blindness, loss of sensation in the lower extremities and ultimately death.

Given these two facts, it's better to take the test. Chances are you don't have gestational diabetes, but if you do and you decide not to take this test, you put yourself and your baby at serious risk. I know someone who lost a baby girl at 33 weeks because her gestational diabetes was not treated. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will either be diet-controlled (hopefully your insurance will let you see a nutritionist--mine didn't, and I had to wing it using information I obtained over the internet) or insulin-controlled (injecting yourself with insulin 1-3 times/day with insulin).

It's worth the 2-6 blood draws (the one hour glucose tolerance test has 2 blood draws, the three hour glucose tolerance test has 4) to have a healthy, living baby and to know your diabetes risk later in life. You can let the lab tech administering the test know that you're not good with blood draws and they can accomodate you any number of ways to make it easier for you. Trust me, if you go in for the 3-hour test, you won't be squeamish about blood draws after that.

Get the test done. Better to know than to suffer in ignorance.

Answer 3

I don't think that they draw blood. In a normal blood glucose test they do a finger poke. You don't even feel it, and you don't have to see the blood if you don't want to. I think that they make you drink that shitty orange stuff and wait a hour or more, and do a sugar test with a monitor. and if your number is normal then you don't have diabetes, but if it is high then you do. I wouldn't worry to much. Also if you don't have the test and you end up having gestational diabetes it is not healthy for you or your baby to not know. It does not have to run in your family for you to be at risk of it. Please have the test done. It can cause kidney failure if you have it and don't treat it.

Answer 4

"even for things I know I didn't need like STD or genetic defects that run in a family" Well if you WANT to make sure your's is a healthy pregnancy you DO need these tests including the ones for STDS...would you WANT to pass gonorrhea to you baby at birth? Gonorrhea causes blindness (and much worse) in infants at birth...Honestly would you willingly pass that on to your child at birth? Or wouldn't you WANT to know if you were at risk for gestational diabetes so that you could do everything in your power to make sure you had a healthy pregnancy and didn't wind up with diabetes and possibility of loosing your life AFTER your baby was born? Ok so you asked a few women who obviously hadn't had one done what it was and they didn't know...so what? I had it done 21 years ago...if you would have asked ME I would have told you. But fine if you don't care whether your pregnancy is healthy, if you don't care whether your baby comes out happy and healthy then by all means do NOT submit to anymore testing.

Answer 5

I hate getting blood drawn but the one thought that got me through it all was this: I would think about what it would be like to have a doctor tell me something was wrong with my baby and that all of it could have been helped if I had taken all my blood tests. Do you want to run the risk of finding out too late? Your doctor sent you to get the test for a reason.

Answer 6

I can believe people have never heard of this test before...I had my daughter back in 1995 and had this test done..it`s definitely not new or anything...It really isn`t all that bad though..I would do it just in case you do have it as it can be very bad for your baby and you , even resulting in death for one or both...As far as refusing it..?? I`m not sure if you can or not but they way I look at it is, Why take the chance??..Just grit your teeth and take the blood test, t only takes a minute to drawl blood..Good Luck on whatever you decide to do.

Answer 7

I think you DO have to take it. If you have gestational diabetes, it's a risk to both you and your baby, as with GD you will have to totally alter your diet. It's really not that bad, a small price to pay for both of your healths' sake!

Answer 8

If diabetes runs in your family then yes, if not the choice is yours. You never can be too safe when it comes to your baby

Answer 9

Yes, you do need to take that test. It's really not that bad. You could ask that whoever takes your blood is extremely good at it to allay your fears.

Answer 10

I have never even heard of it before exactly whatis it?