question about that sugar drink we'll have to do

[mrsaridings]

Has anyone done it yet, and did it affect your IC? I think you have to do it to check for diabetes or something around 30 weeks or so. I am just curious about it.

[an0bgobeloba]

congrats on your upcoming baby!! i'm so jealous! :pray: i would talk to your doctor about it. you most certainly can opt out of the test. i did for all three of my pregnancy, and myself and babies were just fine. if your doctor thinks that you have some risk factors for diabetes then you might want to talk about some alternatives for the drink. if you don't show any risk, you might want to talk about skipping it. let us know what information you discover :)

[mrsaridings]

I am glad you told me that, I never knew you could opt out, I thought it was like a mandatory thing that had to be done. I doubt I'd have any risk I eat really REALLY healthy and never have hardly any sugars due the IC and all, plus Im almost 16 weeks and still only 117-119 lbs, but I stayed really small w/ my other two as well and from what I understand there is more of a risk when your overweight. I will ask my Dr, I don't go back until January 8th (WE FIND OUT THE SEX then:woohoo:). I was just wondering, I know it is a ways off but I think about this stuff :) my other fear is the delivery I hope I don't have more IC issues afterwards or have to have a c-section. I want to drink that red rasberry tea towards the end to help w/ labor and stuff, but I doubt I will, because rasberry is like my WORST thing w/ this IC. I had always had the worst symptoms and longest lasting, when I drank rasberry tea from Sonic, and after being diagnosed, even a chewing gum w/ that flavor triggered a flare. I guess if I am that paranoid about the delivery I will risk it anyway, because I really want to have more kids after this, lol, I hope to get pregnant the following Sept, am I crazy or what? my girls are May 23rd and June 23rd and this is due on May 27th or around then:) They are two yrs apart and I wouldn't mind waiting another yr after this one, but my husband is already 38 and I am 26, I am scared to wait til we(he) are much older as I have read there are higher risks w/ age in the mothers and fathers. Anyway thanks and I'll be sure to let everyone know when that time comes if I do take it how it affects my IC. I hope I don't have to but we shall see I know all states are different w/ things like that, but my Dr is very good about understanding IC he is one of the top 6 in the nation on it.

[ellenjb]

I would opt out, and plan on doing so this pregnancy now that I know I have IC. Think about it....not that long ago, these tests didn't exist, and babies were fine! Plus, there are other warning signals you would have if you had gestational diabetes, like high blood pressure and/or protein/ sugar in the urine. I really would not worry about refusing it at all. Good luck : )

[Pumpkinsmom]

I just did the glucose test 2 weeks ago and I haven't noticed a difference with my bladder or anything. It was a small amount, about the size of the urine cup (actually I think it was a urine cup :) ) and it tasted like really sweet Sprite. I waited an hour and then my blood was drawn. I will find out the results this Thurs. But, like I said it didn't affect me, but people are different.

[ICNDonna]

When I developed diabetes (not gestational) I didn't even suspect it. It was found on a routine blood screening, followed by a glucose tolerance test. I did have to drink the "sugar" drink, but it didn't bother my bladder at all. Diabetes doesn't always show itself.

Donna

[nihon]

I did the test a few months ago. I was nervous but did not notice a negative impact on my bladder. I was relieved when my test results came back fine.

[dg2901]

My SIL developed gestational diabetes with her 2nd child...she had no noticeable symptoms..it was caught during one of her routine OB appts. Her sugar levels were off the charts which put her in a high-risk pregnancy (bed rest, and had to deliver at the local childrens hospital under the care of an advanced medical team). So thinking that you'd have symptoms is not necessarily true.
I personally would not opt out of this screening. My OB health would definitely take precedence over the possibility of a bladder flare-up.

Just my opinion.
Good luck with your pregnancy!
:)
D

[jaime15]

I took the test. My levels were off so I had to have my blood tested every hour for three hours. It did not bother my bladder.
I ended up with gestational diabetes. If it goes on without special diet during your pregnancy, it could be harmful for you and your unborn baby.
Also my dietician told me it is very rare but sometimes the GD can lead into regular diabetes after birth.

So talk with your OB about the pros and cons of testing or not testing. Once you have all the information............then make your decision.

[serene]

Last year around this time I did the glucose test (baby is now 10 months old). Instead of drinking the sugar drink, my midwife suggested I do a fasting glucose test first. No food or drink except water after midnight the day before. I had blood drawn first thing the next morning, then went out for a BIG breakfast of pancakes with syrup, danish, pears, and blueberry juice. I waited 2 hours then had blood drawn again. A far more enjoyable option! Ask your Dr if this is an option for you.

[llwd]

After failing the first glucose test, I had to take the 3-hour test. It didn't affect my IC at all (and I flared horribly off and on during the pregnancy). It's something that you should do. I had no symptoms of gestational diabetes. It's not something necessarily connected to weight. For me, it was most likely associated with my being in my mid-30s.

[JenAZ07]

I just did my GD test yesterday and will tell you that while I am not always that diet sensitive (I can still eat red sauces, drink Pepsi, etc.) that drink killed my bladder. I was in agony from about 5 mins after I finished the drink until I went to bed last night. (BTW-- they don't let you drink for that whole hour after you drink their solution so you just sit there with it in your bladder). I looked at the ingredients and realized that the 4th or 5th ingredient was citric acid. Ouchie!! And it had a bunch of artificial dyes as well. I would ask your dr if there was a non-flavored alternative as I imagine the citric acid came from the fact they were trying to make it taste like Sunkist or another orange flavored soda.

I emailed my dr yesterday to tell her what a horrible experience it was and that if my test came back abnormal (meaning I had to do the 3 hour test) we had to think of something else. Just couldn't go through that pain again.

I would discuss alterantives to the drink with your dr, but I think the test is very important. There are many at risk factors which have nothing to do with your weight or eating habits (hereditary for example)....and letting it go undiagnosed could have serious consequences for your unborn child after birth.

Good luck to you!!

[massagedoula]

I'm not planning to do the test either. I will decline it due to my IC and migraines (food colorings and sugars are migraine triggers for me.) Most health care providers offer alternative options for women who choose not to drink the "drink". (It's called Glucola, by the way.) Ask your midwife or doctor if there is another option or decline the test totally. If you plan decline the GD screening, try to eat a low-sugar, low-white flour diet during the rest of your pregnancy anyway. Actually, it's a good idea for everyone, even those who do the screen to minimize sugars during pregnancy!

[ICNDonna]

I didn't have the glucose test until a fasting blood sugar was too high. It can be very important to know if you have gestational diabetes.

Donna

[ICNJess]

My fasting was borderline so I did the 3 hour twice in my pregnancy. The 2nd time I did the 3 hour, my last 2 levels were high and I did in fact have GD. I was able to control it through testing at home and diet modification. Just my two cents, but this is your's and your baby's health at stake and undiagnosed GD can be dangerous. I had complications due to my undiagnosed GD and my daughter came 3 weeks early as a result of some of the issues. I did not flare from it at all and in the end it will either help your pregnancy be safer or give you peace of mind...

Good luck to you!

[Charisse]

I did the orange one and it didn't bother my bladder terribly. It tasted pretty good too !! You can definitely ask about alternatives. Someone mentioned it above about fasting and having blood drawn. I have also heard that eating a certain number of jelly beans before the test is another option so if you can tolerate jelly beans better you might ask about that.

[mrsaridings]

Thank you everyone this is great advice, I will definately discuss other options w/ my Dr bcuz I know it is something they make you do in SC at least in Spartanburg anyway, I guess bcuz you can have it w/out many symptoms. Thank you everyone.