Anyone else had these strange instructions for their glucose test?

[mamaerica]

I'd be leery...

The night before my glucose tolerance test we had a big 4th of July BBQ and I indulged in apple pie and some sugar cookies (not even thinking about my test the next morning). And I failed my test by 2 points (I have never failed before in my 4 previous pregnancies). I go back this Wednesday for my 3 hr test and I've been avoiding sugar like the plague.

[HeatherlovesCDs]

I've been googling and googling. What I've come across is that avoiding sugar before your test can cause your body to be shocked by the sugar when you do drink the stuff which can throw off the test. So, eating it the night before ensures that your body isn't surprised by it.

However, I'm still a bit concerned since it seems odd. I don't have time to call right now, but I don't think calling is going to change their instructions anyway.

[3princesses+1]

The candy bar thing was on the instructions I was given for a 3 hr, not 1 hr though. It was for if I failed the 1 hr and had to do the 3. Don't know why though

[erlyjo]

I almost guarantee you'll fail the 1 hr if you load up on sugar the night before. I really think there was a mistake with your instructions. Keep us posted on what you decide to do and how your test turns out! I'm very curious why they told you to do that.

Calling might reveal a mistake in instructions, not change their minds. If there is one thing I have learned about doctors is that they DO make mistakes!

[weesej]

Eating a huge amount of sugar at bedtime will max out you fasting sugars when you start and also cause your test results to be as high as possible.

IF you normally have a fairly high calorie snack at bedtime, I would eat what you usually do....then you can see what your sugars usually are. If you normally do not eat at bedtime, then don't do it! There is no use getting a high reading and freaking out when that is not normally the way you eat.

[marleysmom1207]

I'm also interested to hear how it goes. I've heard that some offices have been changing instructions to try and cut down on all the false positives. I have my 1 hour coming up in a couple weeks, and I really want to do whatever I can to not get a false positive this time. I failed the one hour for both my previous pregnancies, but then passed the 3 hour both times.

My instructions were just to eat as I normally do, no fasting. That's the same as my instructions the last two times. However, I REALLY want to avoid a false positive again, so if there's a way to make the test more accurate (like 'priming' my body with sugar the night before) I want to do it.

[Michelle_M]

My first OB didn't make me fast for the glucose test. I failed the 1 hour (wasn't thinking and had orange juice with breakfast). I then had the 3 hour, but again, I didn't have to fast for it.

Don't remember my instructions with my second.. not sure if I had to fast or not.

With DS3 and with this pregnancy, my instructions were simply "Nothing to eat/drink other than water after midnight." Then had my first blood draw, followed by the drink at 10:00 am, then checked my glucose levels an hour later.

That was it.

God bless!

[Melmonkey]

Could you eat a granola bar and claim it was a "candy" bar?

[marleysmom1207]

How was it? Did you end up following the directions?

[HeatherlovesCDs]

I did decide to follow the instructions. I'm honest to a fault. I just could not bring myself to not follow the instructions and then end up having to fudge the truth if they asked and I really didn't want them to not be willing to do it. Honestly, eating a good amount of sugar after dinner isn't a stretch from my "normal diet." I love carbs and sugar and I do tend to eat a snack after dinner around 9pm. It is rarely a candy bar and I don't eat ice cream because I'm lactose intolerant and ice cream is THE WORST dairy I can consume. But, it is generally something sugary or high in carbs. I had bought the candy bar a few weeks ago knowing the instructions. So, I just did it even though I really didn't want to. (I didn't even want candy right then.) I did eat it a little earlier at around 8 instead of 9. Then, I loaded up on water to flush it out. LOL! I didn't eat again though.

The instructions were what they wanted, not a mistake, but silly me, I forgot to ask the purpose! Sorry about that. If I fail, I'll ask when they call because I won't be able to stop thinking that was the reason.

I don't have the results yet. I should have them tomorrow. They will only call if there is a problem, but I should be able to see them online either way.

Marleysmom - I had at least one false positive with the 1 hr once. Also, when I did have GD with my first, it was SO mild and late onset. I failed the 3 hr by a couple of points on one of the hour marks (I think the second). It was diet controlled and my numbers were actually somewhat laughable because they were so low. My husband and I both sometimes wonder if I really had it. But, I am overweight and do have a small family history of type 2 diabetes, which for my family is lifestyle induced. So, it isn't surprising if I get it.

Anyway, I'll let you know when I get the results what they are.