I know that the glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes is very uncomfortable for those of you who are preganant. Having type 1 diabetes I was wondering, would it be reasonable (possible) to simply do a finger prick with a blood glucose meter instead?

This would be faster, cheaper and far more comfortable. Obviously, it is highly accurate for those of us who depend on accurate readings for a sliding scale for insulin dosage.
With all due respect, I absolutely agree with you that testing for gestational diabetes is very important. However, I do not believe that the 1 and 3 hour test is any more accurate than the meter (although I am open to learning otherwise). It just seems like killing a butterfly with a hammer e.g. overkill--a very difficult test for the expecting mother when an equally accurate reading is available that is much less invasive and difficult.
Thanks Silly Nilly--that is exactly what I thought too. The meter tests for exactly the same thing as the 1 and 3 hour test (gestational diabetes may be different than type 1 or type 2--but the test is looking for the identical thing) and wait on the 3 hour test to see if a meter indicates elevated glucose levels (although even then I question--perhaps wrongly--whether the1 hour and 3 hour test is ever necessary--it's not necessary anymore to diagnose type 1 or type 2 diabetes)