Well I might just start leaking with all the holes I have in me from the blood tests today! My arms are pretty sore, it’s just lucky I don’t have any problems with needles or blood tests. I would hate to do that test if you did. It was a long 2 hours but the ladies were very kind at QML Pathology in Ashmore and kept me entertained for the time I was there.
I don’t want to repeat myself too much but just for those that may need to have this test and don’t know what happens, here is a run down on what happens:
- No food after dinner the day before the test (including breakfast), however you can have water before hand.
- It is what they call a rested test so you have to arrive and have a little break before you start the two hour stint. This also means that you can’t do any exercise before, so no morning walks etc.
- The test requires a urine sample which is done before the test starts.
- You also have know your height and weight for their records, and if you are on any other medication.
- At the start of the 2 hours you have your first blood test.
- After the first blood test you drink a sugary drink (an oral glucose load), from this point you can not eat or drink (including water) for the 2 hours.
- Another blood test is done after the first hour.
- At the two hour mark a third blood test is completed and you are then free to leave (and finally eat), the test is complete.
I also found out the test results of my first test. I didn’t actually know how much I was over since I was only told over the phone by my doctors office that my result was higher than it should be. My glucose after 1 hour of a 50g glucose load was 7.9 mmol/L which means that any value less than 7.8 mmol/L (50g load) or 8.0 mmol/L (75g load) does not support gestational diabetes. Therefore I was 0.1 mmol/L over, however any higher value than the 7.8 mmol/L necessitates a full glucose tolerance test.
My doctor should hopefully have the test results from today ready for my appointment tomorrow afternoon.
