2hr OGTT question

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2008
2hr OGTT question
9
Mon, 05-19-2008 - 9:21pm

Hi,
I have a couple of questions and was hoping that someone could help me.

I had gestational diabetes (controlled by low carb intake of 150gms/day) and was sent for a 2 hr OGTT 10 weeks postpartum. The results were the following: fasting-72, 1hr-199, 2hr-141. My oby said that I was technically "normal" but at a higher risk of developing diabetes in the future and needed to follow with my pcp. When I asked if I was considered to be prediabetic, she said 'no' because only one number was out of range (141). However, everything that I've read on the net says that one number is enough to be considered prediabetic. Is that true? Also, if my 1 hr number were to be over 200 would that be indicative of diabetes or what would it mean ( I cant find any info online other than that all numbers have to be below 200. It doesnt explain anywhere what it means if the 1 hr is more than 200-diabetic? prediabetic?)?

My pcp said that the numbers were "not that bad" and that I'll be retested in a couple of months to make sure that its not a hormonal pregnancy "aftershock". He also said I needed to continue with the low carb intake. In your opinion how bad are these numbers?

Thank you so much for your help!

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: rinkis
Mon, 05-19-2008 - 10:56pm
Hi and welcome to the board. In my humble opinion your numbers aren't that bad but they aren't normal either. Some doctors say that the one hour test shouldn't be over 190 and well as the 141 being too high also. I think you can wait to be tested again in three months as your pcp has recommended. In the meantime try and get back to your pre-pregnancy weight and get some exercise. I know the exercise part is really hard with a new baby but you will need to develop an exercise program otherwise you will become diabetic. Are you brest feeding? If you are, you will need more carbs to feed your baby. Othersie 150grams may be too many carbs for you now that you aren't pregnant. Probably 120 per day will work better. Please remember that while I am a registered nurse, any advise from me is not a susbtitute for medical advise from a health care provider of your choice.

follow me


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2008
In reply to: rinkis
Tue, 05-20-2008 - 7:59am

Thank you Mary Frances for your reply. What I also dont understand is why my 1hr number now is higher (199) after 75gms of glucose than what it was when i was pregnant after 100gms (it was 183) on the 3hr test. Could it be related to stress of a new baby/sleep deprivation?

As far as weight and exercise, well I dont have that much weight to lose - i'm 5.8 and 140 (same as prepregnancy). I used to exercise 4-7 days/week prior to preg. Now, we go with the baby for 1-1.5 hr walks to the park 3-4 times a week depending on the weather. Is that sufficient or should I try more?

Also, I'm breastfeeding, but neither doc specified calories/carbs intake. They just said stay on a diet and dont eat sweets :/.

Thank you :).

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: rinkis
Tue, 05-20-2008 - 8:54am

Hi and welcome to the board.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2008
In reply to: rinkis
Tue, 05-20-2008 - 1:54pm

Hi Cheryl,

Thank you for the info and the link. I usually had 15carbs-breakfast, 30 for lunch, dinner, and two snacks, and 15 for nite snack when I was preg and am planning to follow the same routine. I'm weary to cut back on the carbs though cos of the breastfeeding.

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: rinkis
Tue, 05-20-2008 - 10:13pm

Your exercising is wonderful! Just keep it up. Stress hormones do cause your blood sugar to rise. I don't think it really matters how much glucose you have but what is important is your response. In diabetics we want it under 190 and preferably 160 or less. Some doctors are more strict than others.


Since you are breast feeding you do need more carbs otherwise you can get hypoglycemia even though you aren't on medication.


How old is your baby?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2008
In reply to: rinkis
Tue, 05-20-2008 - 10:52pm

Hi Mary Frances,

I thought the more glucose you have the more ur bs will rise. Anyways, as far as testing it after meals, I was told when preg to do it 1hr after the 1st bite. But then i saw many others on this and gestational diabetes forums who test it 2hrs after meals. I'm assuming that the highest levels are 1hr after meals. So, if they (BS levels) are ok then, there is no point to test 2hrs after meals, right? For example, if after dinner my bs was say 99 1 hr after 1st bite, it shouldnt rise by 2hrs after or am I wrong in assuming this? Is it important to test 2 hrs after meals if your bs was say 160 to see if it returns to ok levels such as 140 cos in diabetics it takes 3 hrs for it to do so? Am i understanding it right? Sorry for all the questions, but I find it confusing that different people test their post meal levels at different times.

My baby is only 10.5 weeks old :).

Thank you very much for your help.

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: rinkis
Wed, 05-21-2008 - 12:26am

I think that the glucose in diabetes raises for 2 hours.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2008
In reply to: rinkis
Wed, 05-21-2008 - 9:44pm

Thank you Cheryl for the info :)

I tested some post meal levels today and these are the #s i got:

Fasting-73
Breakfast-30carbs - 116 (after 1hr) -74 (after 2 hrs)
Snack -30carbs - 90 (after 1hr)
Lunch -70carbs -71 (before meal) - 172 (after 1hr) - 100 (after 2 hrs)
Dinner - 45carbs - 76 (before meal) - 104 (after 1 hr) - 78 (after 2 hrs)

The 172 seems high and I guess it means I cant really handle 70 carbs and should stick to 30-45 for any given meal/snack. What freaked me out was that my husband let me test him (he wasnt happy :)) 1hr after he ate almost the same thing for dinner as what I ate for lunch and his number was 74.
I guess my question is if these #s look ok (as far as I can tell based on the info on Joslyn's website they r fine except for the lunch 1hr) and how often and when would it make sense for me to test.

Thank you for you replies :).

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: rinkis
Wed, 05-21-2008 - 10:05pm

The first time my numbers were off, they weren't off much and my dr told me to test twice a week just to make sure my numbers weren't doing anything odd.