GTT test results.

gentle-mummy

Newbie
Messages
2
I had my GTT test last week and got my results yesterday.

After 12 hour fasting, they were 5.8 (accepted levels are 5.1, used to be 5.5 up until 6 months ago) and after the glucose drink and a 2 hour wait, they were 9.1 (accepted levels are 8.5, used to be 9.0 up until 6 months ago)

A couple of people have said them levels are normal, just to confuse me.

I have had some advice over diet but to be honest I am lost with it all and have no idea what I am supposed to be eating, how much of it and what I shouldn't be eating (apart from the obvious, sweets,chocolate etc)
 

hose1975

Well-Known Member
Messages
108
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi,

Who has told you that those results are normal? Bear in mind that the diagnostic limits for gestational diabetes are much stricter than for 'true' diabetes. This is because there is a much higher risk of complications with gestational diabetes than in a normal pregnancy, so it should be taken seriously.

Have you been prescribed a blood glucose monitor, test strips and lancets yet? Using a monitor will give you a much better idea of how much you can eat of a given carb without going over the set limits at the one-hour post-meal mark (should be 7.8 if your bmi was normal-overweight, 7.0 if your bmi was in the obese range).

I've had gestational diabetes with both of my pregnancies, and both times was referred to the hospital's diabetic dietician service just after diagnosis. Has this happened to you? If not, ask for a referral. There are probably diabetic specialist midwives you can speak to at the hospital too. In addition, several NHS trusts publish their gestational diabetes information leaflets online and some give limits on certain foods (I seem to recall that the South Norfolk trust's leaflet was very good in this respect). I'll see if I can find the link to it for you.

Dietary control of gestational diabetes didn't work for me and I ended up injecting insulin up to four times per day for both pregnancies (since week 17 weeks for my current one as it was picked up earlier, having had it with the previous one) and I have to say that it gives me a bit more flexibility as far as eating out goes. I certainly don't mind injecting, but others feel more squeamish and you might feel that way too, so it's important to make a real effort with the diet control first. Keep a diary of what you're eating and drinking, and maybe start weighing your pasta, rice and potato portions so that they contain no more than 50g carbohydrate per portion dry weight. Eat small snacks between meals and don't worry too much about fat!

Good luck, and let us know how you're getting on.

Jo
 

gentle-mummy

Newbie
Messages
2
I have started recording my blood sugar levels on Saturday.

Saturday - 2 hours after meals, target below 7.5

6.6 5.6 8.7 (I had some chocolate, so obviously causes a spike)

Sunday - before meals, target below 6.0

6.2 5.2 7.8 (I had some cream cake at lunch so possibly caused a spike?)

Monday - 2 hours after meals, target below 7.5

6.3 4.9 7.1

Tuesday - before meals, target below 6.0

5.8 4.9 ??

Spoke to Diabetic Nurse today and she has said that my morning level over 6 is worrying and because all three levels on each are different, both reasons will mean metformin.
She also said that it is a progressive thing and they will inevitably get worse over the next few weeks.

Surely what I eat at each meal will have different readings and is 0.2 over the target really that worrying?

Would also like to know what side effects/risks there are for taking Metformin for me and baby.
 

David147

BANNED
Messages
93
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Insulin
If your result comes back as pre/diabetes (which is sounds like it might) then I would ask for a GAD antibody test. This would tell you if you have the antibody responsible for type 1 diabetes.

I am 20 with a bmi of 21 - i weigh about 59kg - and tested 9.5 on a GTT in April. The follow up in august came back as 11.5. I have no symptoms and they diagnosed me as type 2 but it turns out I test positive for this antibody which means im in fact developing type 1. As a result my endo was able to put me on a small amount of insulin to try and slow down the destruction of my pancreas.

If its type 2 then they will most likely recommend a healthy, low GI diet, regular exercise and regular check ups. You may find that no one takes you seriously as a young, slim type 2 - when I went to get my monitor as a t2 and there was lots of incredulous looks. Whenever I rang someone to make an appt they immediately seem to think I want pumping classes. And doctors sortof brush you off - mine told just said that yes technically I am diabetic and but oh well, just eat healthy - without telling me anything else or asking about my diet, which was already healthy