Oh...The Diabetes...

StephPeth

  My midwife just called me about my 3 hour glucose that I sat for over the weekend. FAIL. So I go to see maternal fetal medicine on Wednesday morning, and we go from there. Does anyone have any experience with this? I realize that this is semi common but I did not deal with it while pregnant with DD, and I am worried.

draeray

I failed my 1 hour test (I literally ate 30 mins before I took it which I don't think I should have). I came back and took the 3 hour and passed it. 

How far off are your numbers? Are you barely over? If so, did you eat right before the test? Can you get a retest?

StephPeth

I had been fasting for 8 hours. She said that all of the draws after the juice were elevated. I think its the real deal. I could probably ask for a retest but if I were to fail that one too, I would feel like a jerk for not acting this time around, you know?

draeray

Yeah... such a bummer. I am sorry. I am only 9w5d so I don't know what this round will hold for me either. All I know is I am bigger than the last time so I am hoping my weight doesn't contribute to it.

Rynleigh

A 3hr glucose test isn't something you can trick into passing or failing. Even if you had eaten, it wouldn't have given you a "false positive". A person without diabetes will not go over the thresholds even if they eat a cup of sugar right before the test, because the body correctly compensates with insulin production. When you have diabetes, it doesn't. It isn't some kind of test you want to try to trick into passing, you just want it to be accurate. 

It's really not all that bad. You will have a long conversation about the proper way to pair proteins with your carbohydrates, advice on avoiding sweets and unnecessary carbs (they still want you to eat your veg and probably a moderate intake of whole grain so that you are getting proper vitamins and fiber in your diet), and you'll get a meter to check your blood sugar 2hrs after each meal and once every morning before you eat. As long as your meal choices manage your blood sugar effectively, that's all that will happen. If your sugars begin to rise despite diet changes, you may be put on a dose of insulin before specific meals or all meals. They will also likely explain to you that while GD goes away after you deliver, you will need to have your A1C checked at least once a year, going forward, because about 40-50% of women who have GD during pregnancy go on to develop type II within five to ten years. GD doesn't *cause* type II - it's just a sign that you are likely predisposed to the condition, and should probably make some reasonable life changes with your diet and health screenings. 

brachysira

I failed the test with my first pregnancy, and then tested my blood sugar as required and made some minor diet changes and never went over when I tested.  It was easy to manage.  

In my second pregnancy, I didn't feel as sick, so I was walking a lot more.  I failed the 1 hour slightly, and passed the 3 hour, probably due to walking the day before.  I occasionally checked by blood sugar throughout the pregnancy anyway and it was occasionally high, but the doctors said to just watch what I ate and not worry about it.  A.J. was born with a damaged heart, blood sugar issues, and some other minor things that are probably due to undiagnosed g.d.  He will likely get over the heart thing and the other things too, but of course you never really know what slight damage you might not know about. He may have a harder time with his weight later in life, at the very least. It was very stressful to learn about the heart thing a few days before birth and it makes you very sad to think you hurt your baby when you could have done something different.  I would definitely proceed as if you have it, ask frequently if you're doing enough to keep it controlled or if you need insulin, and take comfort in the birth month board discussions on this.  I have pretty much quit soda and I think if I don't go back and keep exercising, I might be able to avoid type II.