How do I know if I will have gestational diabetes?

[Gretchen B]

At my 24 week check up the doctor said I was measuring big. Now I'm wondering if this could be related to gestational diabetes. I will be having the test in two weeks, but I was just looking for some more info on it. If you can help I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[sasha_1207]

i don't think there is any semitones to that you just have to Waite for the test

[museofsatie]

My mom (who is diabetic) was convinced that I was going to test positive for gestational diabetes. I was/still am retaining a LOT of fluid in my legs/feet, crashing after eating something sweet (even though that's something that I've had for years, due to hypoglycemia), etc. However, I tested negative. My results were very good.

So, you really can't know for certain if you have it until you get the test done. The test itself is easy enough. If you're getting the 1 hour test, you go in (I think you fast prior to going), they draw your blood, then give you the glucose drink, and then draw your blood again after one hour. If you fail that (which many women do), you'll be asked to do a 3 hour version of the same test. You'll fast for several hours the night before, and go get your blood drawn, be given the drink again (in a higher concentration), and then have your blood drawn every hour for the next three hours.

Edit: Yeah, I wish they'd simply pricked my finger(s) for this test, but they didn't. They would draw a full vial of blood each time, alternating arms.

[sunshine1961]

Generally your health care provider will do a test called a glucose tolerance test at about 26 weeks or pregnancy. This involves you drinking glucose and the lab taking blood samples which measure how your body reacts to excessive glucose in the blood. This test also determines whether or not you are predisposed to gestational diabetes. If your doctor doesn't mention this test, please mention it to him; particularly if you were already overweight when you became pregnant or there is a significant family history for gestational diabetes.
Incidentally FYI if you do develop gestational diabetes it increases your risk for Diabetes mellitus when you are older.