Gestational Diabetes? - Cedar Lake,IN

I failed the first test, too. I passed the second--so don't worry. Bring something good to read--the wait seemed forever!!
Good Luck!
L.

Just because you failed the 1-hour, doesn't mean you will fail the 3-hour test. When the doctor explained to me about my test results he said that my body breaks down sugar slower than average, so having so much sugar at one time during the 1-hour, my body didn't have enough time to break down the sugars. I was fine during the 3-hour cause they give you the liquid and then moniter how your body breaks down the sugars.

I have a cousin who did have GD and the second she had the baby, she was completely back to normal, it was so weird to be on insulin one minute and the next she could eat whatever she wanted.

Good Luck

I just went through the same exact thing. I tested high on the one hour and then earlier this week had to go through the 3 hour test. I found out Thursday that I passed and DO NOT have gestational diabetes. My doctor said you usually have other signs if you do have it such as sugar in your urine, measuring larger (since the babies are usually bigger), or a higher pre-pregnancy weight (more likely to get diabetes then in general). I did not have any of these things and came through the test fine. The test really is not that bad - just bring something to do and watch the clock since you sometimes have to remind the staff that the time is now for the blood draw. Good luck! P.S. I'm due in August too and also having a boy - my first! :)

i would suggest you do/eat as you normally do bc you woudn't want to falsely alter teh results of your test. but i've heard its pretty common to fail the first test adn then pass the second one since your body has more time to react to the glucose and process it properly--if you are functioning normal. i had gestational diabetes and it wasn't fun. i was put on a very strict diet watching my carb intake, not my sugar. i also had to do insulin shots twice a day and do some form of cardio exercise after each meal for about 10-15 minutes.
anyways, i don't mean to scare, just want you to be prepared for what could possibly be.

good luck and i'm sure everything will come back fine!

Don't get too worried. I failed my first test too. But I passed my second. It does get a little scary knowing you failed one, but don't get worried until you pass the second. And even then take one day at a time. You will do fine!

It does not mean that you have it, I failed the 1 st time too...and had to go take a 6 hour one at the hospital it was terrible!!! But everything turned out fine. Good Luck!

I failed my 1-hour test and my 3-hour test came back 'borderline'. As a result, my doctor put me on a diabetic-style diet. In all honesty, it wasn't that hard of a change!

If you want to start doing things now that will be helpful to your pregnancy (even if you don't have GD), you can start by eliminating or decreasing junk food and sweets. Avoid high sugar and processed foods. Increase the amount of dietary fiber in your diet. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store - fruits, vegetables, low-fat protein, and avoiding the 'boxed' foods. Finally, eat 4-5 smaller meals so that the sugar level in your body remains more constant as opposed to a roller coaster of highs and lows.

Although people who are obese or have a family history of diabetes are at a higher risk for developing GD, it can happen to anyone - even those who are skinny and exercise a lot! If you do have GD, your baby is at risk for becoming too big resulting in a potentially difficult birth due to his size.

Failing my 1-hour test and being borderline at both of the 3-hour tests I took was actually a blessing in disguise. When my doctor asked me to change my diet (it wasn't *that* bad before), I really did a lot of research and made a ton of changes that have continued past the birth of my child and are wonderful healthy choices that have been easy to sustain as a lifelone lifestyle change!

**just wanted to add...often it is the pregnancy hormones in your body that hinder the body's ability to properly process sugar, so don't feel like you've done anything wrong; just make some changes to help correct what the chemicals in your body are doing!

Hi E.,

I had it with both my kids and I was fine and so were they. You can start by watching your sugar intake. You really don't want to eat anything that has more then 12g of sugar in a serving. So if you eat yogurt watch for that cuz some of them have alot of sugar. Also watch your carbs, try to eat carbs that have alot of fiber. Protein is good. Meat, cheese, fish, seafood that is all good. You will be fine. I had my first son naturally and he was born full term and was 6lbs 13oz. My second son was born last July and he was 2 weeks early with a scheduled c-section and he was born at 9lbs 3oz. The only thing is after they are born they check their blood to make sure their sugar levels don't drop. Just watch your sugars like I said and eat good carbs, whole grain, lots of fiber and lot's of protein and you'll be fine!! Let me know if I can answer any questions for you!!

Good luck and take care,

N.

I wouldnt worry E.. I am 34 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child. I had never had a problem with the glucose test in my previous pregnancy's but for some reason this time I failed my 1 hr glucose test also.
I was worried for awhile until I finally went in for my 3hr test and passed with flying colors.
I've spoken with a lot of people that have also failed the 1hr and passed the 3hr just fine with no complications.
I hope this helps ease your mind a bit. :)

A.

No, I had to have the 3 hour test done with my second pregnancy and it came back normal. It is similar to the 1 hour but you drink that wonderful stuff once an hour and they retest you. But I was fine, it is probably just a precation.

H.

I had GD. I didn't pass the 1 hour and my numbers were so high that I didn't even do a 3 hours one. I don't think you should eat any differently for the 3 hour one. You should eat like you have been, you would want to have all the results accurate and not anything you changed for one day.
I know plenty of people who failed the 1 hour and passed the 3 hour or were borderline after the 3 hour and had to exercise a little more and watch what they ate.

If it turns out that you do have it don't panic. It's not the end of the world. I will admit I thought it was.
I went to a diabetes class at the hospital where I learned what and how to eat. You learn that you only get a certain number of carbs per meal. 3 meals a day and 3 snacks. Yes you will be hungry and you just might loose weight! That is ok since you totally change what you are eating and how much. They will have you track how many carbs you eat per meal. And they will want you to do some sort of exercise. I walked 2 times a day for 15-20 minutes. The best time to do this is after you eat, it will help your blood sugar levels. I also had to do the blood test 4 times a day. No picnic, but after a while you get used to it. I had to call these numbers in to the high risk OB that monitored the levels. I also had a level 3 ultra sound once to check for the amniotic fluid level. With GD your levels can be low. As the pregnancy progressed I could actually tell when my sugar level was off.
I was able to have cake at my baby showers and go and have a nice dinner with my husband and my friends. I also went on vacation. You just need to watch what you eat. And make a note of the reason why your sugar count was high.
Towards the end I had to go to into the Drs office 2 times a week for non stress tests.
I was induced 10 days early because the Dr didn't want my son to be huge. My labor was normal and he was only 7.5 lbs.
In the hospital they will take the babies blood every time he eats. I don't remember if it was before or after.

After all this I have a happy beautiful 18 month old boy.

If you have any other questions or if you do have GD and need some great recipes let me know. I have a lot that I still use.

Good Luck!!

I also had gestational diabetes. the best advice I could give you is dont eat before the three hour test. It is a fasting blood sugar test. I did not know this and ate breakfast before. My doctor thought I was an alien because me test results were so screwy. So I had to do it again!!! Thats 6 hours of my life I will never get back. This is incredibly common. So the best thing to do is just relax. Everyone I know who has had GD was back to normal within weeks and days after delivery, myself included. If you do have GD let me know. I have some great recipes for those pregnant cravings!!!! Good Luck

Hi E.,

All I can say is ME TOO! I am shocked!!!! I didn't fail the 1st time around with my first child, and this time I failed- I am going in tomorrow for the 3 hour glucose test, and am a nervous wreck. Here's the thing, I am NOT FAT,and I try and watch what I eat. However, I have a family history of diabetes, type 2. Therefore this has been a BIG wake-up call for me. I am more aware of the extra sugar I am eating, and hope to make better choices.

The other mommies have given wonderful advice. However, FYI in speaking to a family pal, who is in school to be an ob/gyn, the 1st test IS actually diagnositic, meaning GD or not, the sugar level is too high/concerning.

Take Care and Good Luck!

K. (: mom to a little girl and mystery babe on the way...

You can fail the one hour and still pass the 3 hour. They may then decide to check you again, but not likely. It's actually NOT a good thing to start watching your carbs if you are borderline, because the influx you will get at the 3 hour will then surely go up. They should have given you a diet to follow for like three days prior. You want to eat that, and all the amounts of carbs they tell you so that your body doesn't 'freak' when you get them.

I had GD with my first ( and he was born at just 7lb 8oz..and I only gained 7 lbs the entire pregnancy), failed the 1 hr, failed the 3 hr... I DID NOT have it with my 2nd. I failed the 1 hr, took 3 3-hr tests (one every trimester due to the history of GD) and passed them all, being borderline on the last one. Too close to delivery to worry about since it was just borderline.

Good luck to you. IF you do end up with it, just remember that you need to eat ENOUGH carbs, or your morning sugars are high, and that's what they get concerned about the most. So always eat ENOUGH which is much harder then just not eating carbs.

Email if you have questions...

Like Katherine, I don't want to scare you, but sharing my experience could help motivate others!! I was the what not to do story!! I returned to a dr. after already having one bad experience with my fourth child!! With my fifth, my blood sugar was up for two weeks during the Christmas/New Year's Holiday and the lab waited until after New Years to contact me and let me know. I pretty much laid around miserable, not knowing what to do for myself. I quit work after one day back on Jan. 4th and went back for a three hr. and it was within normal range. I got so tired, I could not lift my arms to fold laundry. I was irritable and had flu-like symptoms. The baby was born two weeks "early" on Feb. 8th and weighed 10 lbs 13 oz.s and the Dr used suction because he was worried about muconium in the amniotic fluid, and I was too weak to push. The baby had a huge hematoma and a paralyzed left arm, completely flaccid. This was caused by nerve damage to the neck and is called brachial plexus palsy. They said it would last three weeks and he is seven today and still has impaired use and decreased fine motor function. The lawsuit was just settled after six and a half years, and although he will get 2.5 million as an adult, I get no compensation, not even car repairs to get him to therapy...KEEP yourself well and don't forget to pray for your baby! Psalms 91 Everyday is a suggestion!! :o)