Anyone had the gestational diabetes test?
Posted by admin on Nov 11, 2009
I am 24 weeks so I will be tested soon. I am AFRAID of needles & I have read if I fail the first test the second one requires blood being drawn several times within a few hours. DO they stick you 3 different times? Any advise?
You have nothing to be worried about. I did my first Gest. Diabetes test a few weeks ago. All you have to do is drink this small container of orange liquid (it tastes like flat orange soda so it’s better if you can keep it in the fridge) and then have your blood drawn exactly one hour after.
Having your blood drawn is not a big deal…just a small needle only once. If, however, you do not pass the test (and you’ll find out in about 2 days or so), then they do schedule you for the three hour test which is the exact same thing, but repeated every hour for three hours.
I wouldn’t worry about it…it’s quick and painless. If your afraid of needles, just look away and it’ll be over before you know it. Congratulations and good luck! You’ll be fine =0)
dont be afraid.
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The one I had each time I was pregnant was only one draw. You drink the stuff…then draw. So…you should be fine
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I had the gestational diabetes tests… both of them!
No, they don’t stick you three different times. They will stick you once and hook a "line" into the needle. When they need to draw blood, they will be able to without sticking you repeatedly.
The worst thing about the second test is the utter boredom. Be sure to bring along a LOT of reading material or something to do.
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Actually, I believe the first time you’re tested, they only stick you once. If you’re at risk they will test you further and yes, unfortunately they stick you three different times. Bring a friend, or your partner along for support. Often times a nurse will offer you a pillow if you want to lay your head back while they poke you. Good luck sweetie…hang in there!
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Oh come on! You’re pregnant, which means you’re going to push a baby through your birth canal, and you’re freaking out about a needle poke? Get real.
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On the second test it is actually 4 times that they draw blood. Once before you take the sugar drink, and then at 1, 2 and 3 hours afterwards. Advice – take some reading. Its really boring waiting that long.
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I had this test done and all they do is make you drink a really thick syrupy drink that lets them read what your levels are. This is how they explain it on the Mayo Clinics website. I copied the link for you below. They explain it better than I can. For a quick read I copy and pasted a part of the website right here. Good luck!
FROM THE MAY CLINIC WEBSITE:
Screening for gestational diabetes is a routine part of prenatal care. Most health care providers recommend a blood test known as a glucose challenge test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy — or earlier if you’re at particularly high risk of gestational diabetes.
You’ll begin the glucose challenge test by drinking a syrupy glucose solution. One hour later, you’ll have a blood test to measure your blood sugar level. A blood sugar level below 130 to 140 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is usually considered normal on a glucose challenge test, although this may vary at specific clinics or labs. If your blood sugar level is higher than your clinic’s threshold, you’ll likely need a second test to confirm the diagnosis.
For the follow-up test, you’ll be asked to fast overnight. Then you’ll drink another sweet solution — this one containing a higher concentration of glucose — and your blood sugar level will be checked every hour for a period of three hours. If at least two of the blood sugar readings are higher than normal, you’ll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
If you’re age 25 or younger and have no risk factors for gestational diabetes, there’s some debate about whether gestational diabetes screening is needed. Some health care providers argue that younger women don’t need the test. Others say that screening all pregnant women — no matter their age — is the best way to catch all cases of gestational diabetes.
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http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gestational-diabetes/DS00316/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis
only stuck me once
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You have nothing to be worried about. I did my first Gest. Diabetes test a few weeks ago. All you have to do is drink this small container of orange liquid (it tastes like flat orange soda so it’s better if you can keep it in the fridge) and then have your blood drawn exactly one hour after.
Having your blood drawn is not a big deal…just a small needle only once. If, however, you do not pass the test (and you’ll find out in about 2 days or so), then they do schedule you for the three hour test which is the exact same thing, but repeated every hour for three hours.
I wouldn’t worry about it…it’s quick and painless. If your afraid of needles, just look away and it’ll be over before you know it. Congratulations and good luck! You’ll be fine =0)
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Ask them to draw your blood with a butterfly needle. Its a smaller needle than a regular one and hurts MUCH less. Also, my doctor recommended being a little bit careful with what I ate the day of the test. In order not to get a false positive, don’t eat anything really sugar filled the morning of the test. Good luck!
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Yep I did but they came out fine all the time and my doc never told me that they would poke me again or nething of tat sort if the first one failed.. dont be afraid just go ahead and see what happens…
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