Weird reaction to GTT this time!

[LeslieT]

I went for my 1-hour Glucose Tolerance Test today and had a weird reaction! Kind of has me worried about having GD after all.

I went in after fasting for about 14 hours and they did a blood draw beforehand (taking another test at that time as well). Then I drank the orange stuff, and almost right at 1 hour later, I suddenly felt faint and dizzy, and started sweating. I sat with my head between my knees (or as close as I can get to that right now) and that helped...the dizziness and fainting feeling went away after a couple of minutes and I was back to normal. And they were able to do the post-drink blood draw at the right time, thank goodness. But it was so strange!

I didn't have this reaction at all when I did the GTT with my dd's pregnancy. I can't remember how long I fasted before doing the test that time, probably about the same amount since it's easier to eat dinner then do the test earlier the next morning without eating breakfast, like I did this time. They may not have drawn blood first before drinking the orange stuff that time...can't remember. Maybe that made me queasier this time?

So of course I'm wondering if this is a sign I'm hypoglycemic or have GD this time. I haven't had any of the other signs, but then they say it's easy to have GD without any symptoms. Something else to worry about!!

[Monchhichi]

Hmmm... I felt a little light headed at the 1 hr blood draw, but nothing major. I had it done a week ago, and haven't heard, so I'm assuming I don't have GD.

Weird, though... I only had one blood draw (an hour after the drink), and I didn't have to fast first. At least, I wasn't told to fast, and didn't, so I hope I did it right!

[sharryn]

Yes, that is weird. I had blood taken an hour after I drank the glucose drink and didn't have to fast beforehand, just nothing to eat or drink between the drink (clear and like lemonade) and blood test. Although the nurse said I could have drunk water.

Today, I got home and their is a message to ring the nurse so I assume not good new about my GTT Will find out in the morning. I have been so tired and drinking buckets of water and as I'm oldish and overweight, in the high-risk category.

[jodie35]

I just had the GTT this saturday and it went fine (no results yet) but my last pregnency I had the exact same reaction as you did during the GTT. I got hot and sweaty, then felt the room spinning and I thought I was going to pass out. I was actually a little nervous this time because I thought it would happen again. Last time my GTT results were normal so dont think the dizzyness has anything to do with diabetes.

I think it has to do with not eating...

[sharryn]

Hi
Got the results from my GTT and failed! The test I did was 'only' a screening - now, tomorrow I have to go and do what you ladies did...fast, blood test, drink, test, drink etc. But I am allowed to drink water. Apparently 10% of the people that fail the first screening have GD.

So I shall prepare for the dizziness..and hunger

[LeslieT]

Sharryn, good news is that 90% don' t have GD! So those are great odds going into the 3-hour version.

I think the reason I was told to fast beforehand was because of the homocysteine check they were doing at the same time (after 3 miscarriages they found in a battery of immune/clotting tests that I have elevated homocysteine levels that can cause clotting problems, which can lead to miscarriage and other issues. I'm taking Folgard to counteract elevated levels). In order to do the homocysteine check you have to fast. And that's why they drew blood beforehand. They also took extra just in case they needed a pre and post on the 1-hour GTT screen. I can't remember if I was told to fast for the GTT the last time I was pregnant this far along, or if they took blood beforehand. See what happens when you turn 40, you loose all memory cells!

But good news! The GTT screen came back fine, and so did the homocysteine screen. So no GD, and the Folgard seems to be counteracting my elevated levels well. I'll need to be on the Folgard or individual supplements of the same thing (folic acid, vitB6, vitB12) for life, but at least its working!