For the first stage gestational diabetes test, how many hours did you have to wait to have your blood taken after drinking the sugary solution?

Question

I was living in Spain last year when I was pregnant and took a 1 hour glucose test, I failed and went on to be diagnosed with GD, however I was right on the line of having it and my baby was not affected, although I was careful with my diet and measured my blood sugar levels at home regularly. I am now in the UK and 10 weeks pregnant, they’ve booked me in for an early test and I’ve found out that here they make you wait 2 hours, I’m pretty sure that the America does it in 1 and I’d be really interested in responses from countries other than these 3 on how long they wait. Basically I feel like this is another NHS money saving strategy as people are far less likely to still have elevated blood sugar after 2 hours than 1.

Answer

There are 3 types of tests.
1 hr (not fasting. You drink the 50 ml solution and have blood taken after 1 hr)
2 hrs (fasting. You get a blood draw then you drink 75 ml and you get blood taken at 1 hr then 2 hrs)
3 hrs (fasting. You get a blood draw then you drink 100 ml and you get blood taken at 1, 2, 3 hrs)
Different places have different protocols. Some start with the one hour as a screening and if that is not passed (which is pretty common), they go the 3 hr. In case the woman was high risk, some would skip the one hour and do the 3 hour from the start.
Other places use a single step protocol and just do the 2 hr for everyone. It is more accurate than the one hour and more cost effective than doing 2 tests.

Answer

My midwife practice does a 1 hour and 3 hour GTT. If you fail the 1 hour, they’ll try the 3 hour. If you pass the 1 hour, you’re done.
I did mine early at 18 weeks because I was high risk for GD. I have PCOS, I have family members with diabetes, and I’m overweight. I also opted for an alternative to the glucose drink (I drank Naked Juice instead) and passed my 1 hour test so I’m done.

Answer

I’m in the US, my midwife does the 2-hr test (tests at start, 1hr, 2hr). She said too many people fail 1hr and then go on to pass 3hr. She said the 2hr gives more accurate results.

Answer

USA here. You get a 1 hour and if you fail, you go for a 3 hour.

Answer

In Ireland, I got tested before the sugary solution, 1 hour later and then another hour after that. I failed miserably and was diagnosed with GD. It took a while but it's been controlled by medication 🙏

Answer

I’m in the UK and they just took my fasted blood level - no sugar drink at all as they didn’t want people hanging round in the waiting room during covid. 
There are many valid ways to run the test and diagnose so I wouldn’t worry about it too much.  The most important thing is that they catch it if you have it 🙌🏻

Answer

They may have a similar setup to Australia.
> Fast for 8 hours, arrive and have an initial blood test + drink the glucose drink
> After an hour, have bloods done
> An hour later, have bloods done again
So essentially they review fasting levels, after 1 hour, and after 2 hours. 
3 blood tests all together. 
If you arrive at 8, you can expect to leave around 10:30.

Answer

Here in the US, at least per my doctor, it's normally 1 hour. If you fail you do the 3 hour. If you fail that they diagnose you gestational diabetes then monitor you closely to see if the treatment plan will be diet controlled or if you need meds to control it. If you've had it before or been borderline, you're chances increase each pregnancy to develop or again.

Answer

My first was 3 hours
Second was 2 hours

For the first stage gestational diabetes test, how many hours did you have to wait to have your blood taken after drinking the sugary solution?

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