"Gestational Diabetes Testing during Covid"

During the covid restrictions/regulations, NHS Fife were not carrying out the glucose tolerance testing to test for gestational diabetes (a fasting blood test was only being taken instead).

I had many risk factors - age over 35, previous big babies, family history of diabetes, thirsty, very large bump that was measuring a good few weeks ahead, and fatigue. 

Living in a local authority next to Fife, meant that my scans and some antenatal checks were undertaken at Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy  NHS Fife, however my community midwife appointments were under NHS Tayside at my gp surgery. Whilst NHS Fife would not give me a glucose tolerance test despite my risk factors and symptoms, very luckily my NHS Tayside midwife had me attend Perth Royal Infirmary on a Sunday at 34 weeks pregnant for a glucose tolerance test GTT. I passed the fasting blood test, but spectacularly failed the second blood test a few hours later, meaning I did indeed have gestational diabetes. 

I was very upset to receive a late diagnosis of gestational diabetes when it could have been detected sooner had NHS Fife been carrying out glucose tolerance testing, which I had previously requested NHS Fife to do for me. I am extremely grateful to my NHS Tayside community midwife for arranging the test for me, and very glad that NHS Tayside understood the importance of GTT testing despite Covid, unlike NHS Fife in this instance. 

Luckily both my baby and I were okay. Once NHS Fife were made aware of my gestational diabetes diagnosis via NHS Tayside, NHS Fife were excellent, providing me with a glucose monitor, dietary information, etc. 

I hope this information may help staff and patients to understand the importance of a thorough glucose tolerance test being needed in pregnancy. Not all cases will be detected through a fasting blood test alone. 

Thank you very much indeed to the Perth and Kinross community midwife team for your support, expertise, knowledge, and professionalism.