This episode is for the mom who has already done the research on the risk/benefits of gestational diabetes, the glucose tolerance test, the glucola drink… and you’ve decided you want an alternative to the routine glucose tolerance test. Tune in for alternatives to the drink AND testing alternatives, plus how to bring it up with your provider.

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Enter to win The Fresh Test over on my IG page.

2B Pregnant Nutrition Program

Prenatal Barre Workouts

Find your Unicorn OB printable & podcast

Glucoganics

Fresh Test

No Time to Listen? Here’s the gist…

Today what I’m going to go over is info for the mom who has kind of already done the research on the risks and benefits of the test itself, of the drink, and of having gestational diabetes of not doing the test so you kind of know your options. And you’ve already decided that, hey, that standard route of drinking drink going to the lab for an hour is not the route that I want to choose for myself and for my baby. So like what are my alternatives? And how can I go about asking for an alternative?

The typical reasons moms decline the traditional testing route is due to the drink itself, it’s ingredients or having a bad/icky reaction to drinking it. Especially in the health conscious moms because you will have a huge spike in your sugars after consuming 50g of sugar- and if your body is not used to that junk, it may not be a good experience. Also who wants to sit in the lab for an hour? Not me. A misdiagnosis is also possible and can set you down the path of high risk care, even though we know managed GD is unlikely to increases your risks.

Ideally we should be looking at our nutrition and be counseled on preventing GD in the first trimester. Nutrition is really important in pregnancy! Nutrition counseling is much more likely to happen in the midwife remodel, and more likely to happen before you’re labeled as GD to try and prevent GD from happening in the first place. Check out to 2B Pregnant if you need some help with meals and nutrition basics and pregnancy.

Alternatives to glucola with 1 hr/3hr

• a specific meal with 50g of carbs

• 50g of sugar with 100% juice

• 50g of sugar from organic jelly beans

• The Fresh Test

• Glucoganics 

Alternatives to the 1 hr/3hr test

• Blood work to test a1c and fasting numbers

• Test at home for 2 weeks

• Skip the test, and follow GD management lifestyle

How to ask for an alternative:

BRING IT UP EARLY.

This is one of the Qs on my download Finding your Unicorn OB.

At 20-22 week appointment you could bring it up, “I know the GD test is coming, for me what alternatives to the test do you prefer?” or “I’ve looked into this alternative, what do you think?” 

You can also bring in information on your alternative. Bring fresh test info to leave with your provider

WAIT TIL THEY BRING IT UP

At the 24-26 week when they schedule you for the lab, say something like “I would like an alternative the drink/test. What are my options?”

And if you’re still not taken seriously because I know I wasn’t, you don’t go to the lab. Then you tell them at the next appointment. I said I wanted an alternative.