Failed 1 Hour Glucose...? How Big a Deal Is This???

Updated on July 27, 2010
M.W. asks from Saint Cloud, MN
14 answers

I just received a call from my doctors nurse saying that my levels were a little high and I now need to come in for the 3 hour test. I asked what my levels were and she said they would like to see them under 140 and mine was 156. Is that REALLY that high/bad???? I've had 2 other children and never had any problems with this before. I already eat a balanced diet (which is how they would most likely treat this...........so I don't know how that would change anything.)

What have your experiences been? Do I REALLY need to go in for another test? Can I refuse?

I wasn't expecting this as I have had no other problems and feel completely fine. So I'm just at a loss and a bit confused.

Thanks for your advice!

PS> If this matters...... I am about 5'1" and weighed about 115 before getting pregnant. I usually gain about 40 to 45 pounds with each pregnancy (and get back to my pre-pregnancy weight afterward without any trouble, exercising, etc.) I am about on track with this pregnancy to gain about that much total too.

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So What Happened?

I had asked a bunch of questions to the nurse when she gave me the initial results and she was going to talk to the doctor and get back to me. My doctor felt that I should do the 3 hour test just to be safe so I am going in tomorrow morning for that.

Thanks for all the advice!

GOT THE RESULTS BACK. NORMAL! There must be a better way to check for this instead of starving a pregnant woman! LOL.

More Answers

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D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

Diabetes is like being pregnant - you either have it or you don't. So, yes, those levels are really important because your body's ability to process increased glucose levels further in your pregnancy can change abruptly.

In addition to your diet, your liver stores a compound called glycogen. When your body isn't able to properly deliver glucose (sugars) to the cells, the body starts using the stored glycogen to provide energy. When the cells can't accommodate all the extra sugar in your bloodstream, you will have serious issues with both macrovascular and microvascular complications. They usually take years to develop, but gestational diabetes is a different beast.

It's really important - maybe not as important for your concern, but it's deeply important for your baby. One of the biggest concerns is a big baby - usually 9 lbs or greater is a concern.

Diabetes is really complicated and no one really understands it, but for the sake of your child, I'd really encourage you to go in for the 3 hour test. There's a small chance that there was a bad reading, but I'd personally not want to risk it. I spent 8 years involved in Diabetes treatments, and I've seen too many things that make me very passionate about making sure all people get treated quickly.

Good luck!

5 moms found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

Please don't refuse the test. A lot of things can cause the 1-hour test to give high numbers (if you didn't fast long enough or ate a lot of sugary foods before the test), but the major signs of Gestational Diabetes are weight-gain and increased urge to pee - something pregnant women experience anyway. So you wouldn't know if you have it - and if you do, it is your job to protect your baby and yourself. Take the 3-hour test so that if you have gestational diabetes, you can treat it. And if you don't, great!

2 moms found this helpful
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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

Well mama, as guardian, protector and provider for your little one on board it really is your responsibility to follow your doctor's recommendations and make sure everything is a-ok!

So you spend 3 hours to find out everything is fine-no biggie-just a couple hours lost hanging around the lab. The alternative is you spend 3 hours to thank goodness you followed medical advice and now you and baby can be watched more closely and the gestational diabetes kept under control. Really a win-win either way you do it. Because either outcome you know that you are getting great prenatal care and doing what is best for both you and baby. Either of these outcomes is far better than undiagnosed/uncontrolled gestational diabetes.

Best to you and baby!

2 moms found this helpful
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K.V.

answers from Phoenix on

I failed the 1 hr with my first, as well as my sister and 4 other poeple I know. The 2nd time you go in for the 3 hour we all passed. I wouldnt worry unless you feel you are having diabetic symptoms. Happens all the time.,

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L.A.

answers from Reno on

I failed mine too as did my sis in law. We both had normal ones in the 5 hour. My doc said it was because I eat so little sugar my body just didn't process it quickly/ Don't panic. ok, but yes you absolutely need to go in for the big 5 hour test. Gestational diabetes occurs regardless of health or diet. It's not like type 2 diabetes which is often weight related. It's not a joke and if you have it there can be serious complications for you and the baby and wouldn't it be awful to find out too late. It's not too bad. Just a pain waiting around. You might feel fine, but it could end very badly.

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N.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I would ask if you can be retested again w/ the one hour glucose test. My levels were just a little elevated (146 I think) and I wish I would have asked for a retest since the three hour test was agony for me. I was starving, had a terrible headache, felt like vomiting and passing out. The lab techs I think were getting nervous by my second blood draw because I did not look good. My regular OB who was on vacation when the three hour test was ordered, told me with my level she would have first requested I take the one hour test again.

2 moms found this helpful

A.S.

answers from Davenport on

I failed the 1 hour test with my recent pregnancy and I think my level was 153, so not too high. I did the 3 hour test and passed with flying colors. It was a pain waiting around for 3 hours at the lab but I wanted to make sure I did not have diabetes since that can negatively impact a baby and we were trying to decide if I had to deliver at a hospital with a NICU. I also felt fine. My doctor said a lot of women fail the first test and pass the second. My issue was that I went for the test at 6AM and I normally do not eat breakfast that early but followed their recommendation that I eat a balanced breakfast prior to testing.

2 moms found this helpful

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

Doesn't matter how much you weigh! Doesn't that suck?! I just went and talked with a nutritionalist today because I don't want to get gestational diabetes (from here on out to be known as GD) again and told her that I am eating right and hoping that that will solve it. She said sometimes it doesn't matter how well and well-balanced our meals are, you can just get GD. suck
Yes, you need to go back in for the 3 hour test. It sucks, i had to do it with both of my pregnancies. But GD can make you have all kinds of health problems...one of them being a hurkin' kid. You certainly don't want to go into a diabetic coma, right? And yes, they will ask about your diet...if it turns out you have GD, and if you are eating very well they may have you go on insulin shots. As prego moms we always do what is best for our children...that means taking care of yourself...especially if you have a health issue (which GD is!)
L.

2 moms found this helpful

R.G.

answers from Dallas on

I stupidly took the 1 hour test after baking (and eating) Christmas cookies for 2 days. Not surprisingly I failed. They wanted me to do the 3 hour test but I absolutely refused because I KNEW what had happened and why I failed the test. My ob/gyn let me test my blood 4 times a day for a week and bring her the numbers, everything was fine. And then I continued to check it occasionally till I delivered. Maybe that could be an option?

2 moms found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Dallas on

The majority of women fail the first test. You know its that false-positive result. In countries outiside the U.S. its not mandatory to take the glucose test unless a risk is possible; doctors should base it on statistics but here they want every mother to take it. I refused to take the glucose test with both my pregnancies due to I did not feel it was best for my baby or me to pump me full of a sugary drink because i'm sensitive to acidic drinks, anesthesia, etc.. The doctor got angry and hostile about it called me inconsiderate and rude. I explained to him his actions we're uncalled for because there are no studies that showed digesting a large amount of sugar does not cause harm to the fetus or mother; based on my history it would do more harm than good so give me a form to sign saying i refused it. The obgyn tried to press the significance of the test saying that because i'm mixed (black & mexican) that I needed it and my husband is Swedish. At that point I demeaned the form due to he was basing it on race.

Sure I gained weight with both pregnancies, but did not have high blood pressure, ate a well balanced diet, took organic vegetable & fruit pills, omega 3 oil every day all under the care of a certified holistic doctor and nutritionist. (sure the obgyn hated i had another doctor but it was for me and my baby's best interest). I gave birth to another healthy baby girl. Both we're below 8LBS.

What I learned is...if there is not enough protein in your blood that is why most women get a false-positive. The best thing for mother's to do if their strongly recommends having the glucose test performed eat a large steak and green salad with tomatoes the night before so that you do pass. Most doctors will threaten to drop you as a patient if you don't do the research. http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/gd/gd_testing.htm

Ultimately I think your doctor would want you to take the second part due to you did do the first step and backing out...there are going to be a lot of questions. In the end...Do what is best in your opinion for your baby and you. As a mother we can never go wrong trusting our instinct. I wish you luck with your decision.

Blessings and congrats on your little angel.

1 mom found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I'm sure that you CAN refuse. Don't know if it is wise or not. I don't know if the levels are elevated enough to be a genuine worry or not... What I do know, is that with my first baby, I also was called to come back for a 2nd longer test, due to elevated levels. And the 2nd one was waay worse for me (the results came out just fine - and normal - but I was miserably nauseous throughout the entire pregnancy and it just added to it for me and made that a day of suffering and misery that was a lot worse than usual).

If you really are opposed to taking the 2nd test, I would call and talk to your actual doctor, and find out how vital a concern it is. Is there still leeway at that 156 number... is it possibly in the realm of "normal" or have you already crossed over into we REALLY need to check further universe? He/she should be able to guide you. The staff that called you is not going to be able to give you that advice/information. Only the doctor can discuss those nuances with you.

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J.L.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I'm sure everything will be fine. With my 1st child, I too failed the one hour test. The nurse said my levels were in the 170's! Anyway, I did the 3 hour test and everything came back fine. Thankfully, with my 2nd, I passed the 1 hour test. Almost everyone I know has failed the 1 hour test and no one has ended up having gestational diabetes. Not to say that it can't happen, I'm just saying that in my experience things were ok for everyone. I wouldn't refuse the test, just in case there is the chance you could have the gestational diabetes, you want to take care of yourself and your baby. Take that 3 hours to just sit and relax (as much as you can in those uncomfortable waiting room chairs!) and read a book!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.T.

answers from San Francisco on

It wont hurt you to take the three hour, better to be safe than sorry... diabetes can really effect the unborn baby!

1 mom found this helpful

H.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I failed mine and had to take the three hour and passed. I knew that i had messed myself up by eating granola for breakfast (apparently way more sugar in there than I knew!). If you ate sugary foods before hand, then that could have screwed up the results. If you ate a very balanced diet before the test, you might have something to worry about.

1 mom found this helpful
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