Am I just being hormonal?

Nikison

I failed my 3 hour glucose tolerance test. I expected to. My family has a history of diabetes, and I've been borderline for a while, managing it with diet. My OB recommended I meet with a dietician, and start meter testing (blah, blah, blah) fine. 

Here's the thing, the counsellor she recommended only offers classes from 9am-11:30am on Wednesdays and Fridays, the office hours are 9-5 Mon-Fri. So I work it out that I can take off of work, and make the class on 4/30. I just got a call from my OB b!tching me out that I need to meet with them sooner. I explained my work schedule/policies and that the counsellor sent over a food list to avoid/focus on, and told me to begin testing. My OB says she's "the responsible party for my pregnancy, and if something goes wrong it's her fault." 

I feel like she's accusing me of not taking this seriously/taking the proper course of action. I've done everything they've asked to this point. I've made every appointment set for me. I'm sorry I can't make it to a class sooner than 4/30. If I lose my job because of excessive absences how do they plan on getting paid? Seriously?

Am I being hormonal? Flame away if I am. 

mcgee

1. If the doctor feels that it is important enough for you to be on a diabetic diet and testing your blood sugar RIGHT NOW, then she has an obligation to help you find someone else with more flexible hours who can meet with you before or after your work.

2. If she considers this a medical emergency, then she needs to provide some sort of written documentation of that so you can present that to your work to get off sooner to visit this counselor.

3. If you have nutritional guidelines from the doctor, you have a meter and are testing your sugar, you know where your blood sugar levels should be, and you have a pretty good idea of what you're doing, then I'm not sure why it can't wait 10 days. 

4. If you don't have a meter and testing strips, then she needs to write you a prescription for one ASAP so you can get your insurance to cover it and you can start testing now.

Nikison

Thanks McGee

I did request they find someone else for me to meet with if it was critical I get in immediately. They have written the prescription, and I will pick up the meter tonight and begin testing. With a family history of diabetes I know what numbers I should be looking for.

Completely unrelated, but I've been reading you blog for a while. Love it! 

Kim777

mcgee:

3. If you have nutritional guidelines from the doctor, you have a meter and are testing your sugar, you know where your blood sugar levels should be, and you have a pretty good idea of what you're doing, then I'm not sure why it can't wait 10 days. 

I agree with everything McGee said, but this in particular is exactly what I was thinking as I was reading your post. Ten days is not that long as long as you are testing your sugar. You will know if something is really wrong.

mcgee

Thanks!

I'm sorry you're dealing with GD. I hope it doesn't become problematic for you. I have a family history of diabetes as well, but I somehow escaped GD. 

Taytee

mcgee:

If you have nutritional guidelines from the doctor, you have a meter and are testing your sugar, you know where your blood sugar levels should be, and you have a pretty good idea of what you're doing, then I'm not sure why it can't wait 10 days. 

4. If you don't have a meter and testing strips, then she needs to write you a prescription for one ASAP so you can get your insurance to cover it and you can start testing now.

My exact thoughts. Classes/guidence is good but meter testing is easy and so is the diabetic diet (on paper anyway, adhering is something else).

Nikison

Thanks ladies. I picked up my meter after work, and updated my fitday profile so I could start logging my foods (DH even helped by bringing me food from the kitchen for nutritional info). I do my first testing in t-minus 25 minutes.

I really appreciate the repsonses and support.

AustinAggie

Everything others already said.  If your doc feels it's that important, she needs to find someone else for you to contact.  My "meetings with the nutritionist" (both pregnancies, different docs) were always crap and huge let-downs.  I'm SURE there are great nutritionists/dietitians out there, but the 3 I saw (doc #1 gave me a second name/number after I complained) were all very unhelpful.  I was really looking forward to the meetings, too.  Testing 4x per day and following the diet guidelines on one of the pamphlets helped keep me in check.  My doctor had me on a stricter diet than is typically required, but I was able to manage it mostly with just diet and exercise.

Hugs.  The first week of the diet is the hardest.  After that, if you eat something you're not supposed to, like say, you HAD to have a piece of cake at your own baby shower...well, your body lets you know what you did was wrong.  I always felt like I had a bad hangover 15-20 minutes after I ate something "bad."  After that, you don't crave the bad stuff so much because you don't want to be miserable later.  I also told my DH to remind me how bad I felt, just in case I ever again thought just a teeny weeny bit of sweetness might be a fun idea.