1+1=3! Part 11 – Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)



I did my oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at KKH to determine if I had gestational diabetes (GD) when I was about 25 weeks pregnant. As I participated in one of KKH’s ongoing research study, the costs of this test were waived for me. Before I knew the results of my glucose profile from the research study and before I knew about my results of my OGTT, I was very worried that I would have GD due to a strong familial history of diabetes. Furthermore, I was not in a healthy state when I got pregnant and had not been regularly swimming ever since I developed some skin sensitivity in my second trimester. After experiencing acute retention of urine in early trimester 2 and developing some skin sensitivity and dryness in my mid-trimester 2, the last thing I wanted was to be diagnosed with GD as well in my second trimester! Sigh.

KKH sent a SMS to remind me of my OGTT a few days before my scheduled appointment to instruct me to fast from 12 midnight onwards the night before. When it was my turn, a nurse took a first tube of blood from me at the 0th hour. This would be my fasting blood glucose level. I was then asked to finish a sweet drink in front of the nurse before I was allowed to leave. Many people had warned me beforehand that the drink was overwhelming sweet and they felt like puking after drinking it. Hence, I was a bit apprehensive when I was handed the drink. However, fortunately for me (or maybe not so fortunately since I did not find the drink disgustingly sweet), I thought the drink tasted like a non-chilled version of F&N Orange and was able to tolerate drinking it within a few minutes. In fact, I found it quite nice. Oops! I was told to return for another two more blood tests an hour later and then another hour after the first hour (ie. the 1st and 2nd hour after drinking the drink).

Part 11 The scary orange drink

After everything was done, the nurse told me that I would receive a call from KKH within the next one to two weeks if I had GD for this current pregnancy. I hope I would not receive a call from them. Thankfully, I received my glucose profile from the research study on the same day as my OGTT. The glucose profile made Sunshine and I conclude that I likely did not have GD. A day after my test, my friend happened to inform me that the results of the OGTT done in KKH would be uploaded to HealthHub! True enough, the results of my OGTT was uploaded in HealthHub when I checked. Yay! I did not have GD! It has been almost a month since my OGTT and I have yet to receive a call from KKH as well. Hehe.

Part 11 My OGTT results
My OGTT results! Yay to no GD!

Oh. Another friend of mine whose blood glucose level was 0.4 mmol/L higher than the reference range for her first hour reading said that KKH had SMSed to inform her that they have scheduled a one-day Supervised Blood Sugar Profile (SBSP) class for her. We both think that this sounded like a class to teach those who “failed” their OGTT how to monitor their blood glucose levels by themselves and perhaps a class on some lifestyle changes to better control one’s blood glucose levels e.g. diet modification, exercises suitable for pregnant ladies. I shall share this part once my friend goes for her class.

Part 11 SMS from KKH

Update: My friend has shared that the one-day course (payable) is to teach mums-to-be like herself on how to monitor her own blood sugar levels at home and a session with the dietician on some diet modifications to control her blood sugar levels. She was told to monitor her blood sugar levels twice daily as well (I suspect the number of times one would have to monitor their blood sugar daily would differ based on each individual’s OGTT results).

Click here to read Part 10.
Click here to read Part 12.


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Rainbow

A novice baker =)

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