Glucose Test/Gestational Diabetes

Hi there! Let me say first, try not to worry until you get the test results back. Second, this is my second go around with GD and so far i have been able to control it with jsut diet alone and a little exercise. However if you do have it, you have a 50percent chance of having diabities later in life. Thats the part that really sucks. Let me know if you have any ?????. Good luck tomorrow!

you don't have to worry just wait for the results of the 3 hour test i also failed my first test.

S.,
I had failed my glucose test as well. When I went in for my 3hr test I couldnt handle the drink so after 45mins i ended up cancelling (i was was soo weak and throwing up and having hot flashes like there is no tomorrow) a wk later I went in for me 3hr test and it came out normal. so I am now able to eat sweets, but I try to keep it at a moderate level. Dont get yourself worried until you get your result from the 3hr test. Hope all works out and good luck w/ your first child.

I also had GD. I had to take pills and insulin, was checking my blood 4 times a day, was on strict diet, and had to count his moves daily.The diet is very important. I felt that even when I looked at food, my blood sugar went up:).What worked for me was big salad with lots of different vegetables, eggs, cold cuts of meat, and regular dressing.I was always full and my sugar was OK. Now, I know it is easy to say, but do not stress!!!!My boy was born one month early but healthy. They won't let you have him for few hours after the birth (they have to make sure he is negative after few feedings). He is 3 y.o. and both of us are diabeties free.If you fail your test, don't worry. As you can see, lot of us had that, and most of us are OK. Just do what the doctors tell you, and both of you will be just fine.On the other hand- you get to see your baby more often than regular pregnancy-about once a week.Good luck and let us know how it go.

I had gestational Diabetes with my son. I was scared at first, but the hospital set me up with a dietitian and I went through a couple classes where I learned what, when, and how much I could eat. The bad part was that I had to test my blood 4 times a day. It got really annoying and towards the end, my fingers were so sore. But I am a big baby when it comes to those things, so it might have just been me. As long as you follow your doctor and dietitians orders you will do fine. I have found that quite a few people go through it. My son did come three and a half weeks early, but they said that didn't necessarily happen because of my gestational diabetes. I was dilated to two 6 weeks before he came, so it could have just been my son saying he was ready to get out. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions. If you follow doctors orders you will be just fine.

I failed the one hour screen with both of my pregnancies...and then passed the 3 hour diagnostic test, with both pregnancies. My kids were healthy, but a little big...the first was 8 pounds 6 ounces; and the second was an even 9 pounds, and suffered a broken collarbone during delivery...otherwise, everything was fine. Congratulations on your pregnancy! It's a wonderful time!

First of all, I also failed my test and was worried sick, but I passed my 3 hour, so you may still be ok. I do have a friend who had GD during both her pregnancies. After she failed the test, she had to meet with a nutritionist, and she had to follow a very strict diet which was difficult considering how pregnancy typically makes you crave the sweets :) I believe she needed insulin during one pregnancy. However, other than that everything was fine. It went away after both pregnancies and she and her children are very happy and healthy. They weren't even over 8lbs. Congratulations on your son, and just remember this is a short time in the grand scheme of things. You'll be just fine!

Yep, I've been there done that too. My DD was originally due to arrive on 11-16, and she appeared five weeks earlier!! The thing with pregnancy is that you really can't prepare for ANYTHING and you have to be flexible, because the baby and your body are in charge! You're just along for the ride!! Now.....

I had GD AND Pre-Eclampsia, though funny thing was I felt wonderful during my pregnancy despite my body going crazy! Weird. Anyway, after I failed the second glucose tolerance test, I was told to make an appt with the hospital's dietitian. There she explained to my hubby and myself that it had nothing to do with what I did, GD can't be explained, but it could be controlled with diet. At least mine was. One side effect is GD moms tend to have larger babies at birth, therefore making delivery harder on the mom & baby. The dietitian went over what I could eat and when and it was really easy. I did have to test my sugar three times a day, but that was easy to get used to. (Tip, don't prick the tip of your index fingers or thumb!! Ring finger or side of the finger works best!) Anyway, I also used the ketostix to test my urine...but I think that had more to do with the pre-eclampsia than anything, as I later had to go on bed rest and was induced because my kindeys were failing (spilling too much protein they said).
In all, don't let my experience scare you. I'm sure you read it's different for everyone and you might even pass the second test!! Congrats BTW and good luck! You'll do fine! A few good things for me is that I only gained 18lbs with the pregnancy, she was a healthy weight and tested negative for diabetes, and within three months I had lost the baby weight plus an additional 30 lbs!!! WHOO HOOO!! Eating like a diabetic changed my metabolism so much and with the breastfeeding, it was AWESOME!! Like another mom said, have your hubby have something sweet for you after you deliver!! My Snickers was WONDERFUL! ;)

S., I had GD. I was devistated...not because of the fact that I got it but I HAD TO GIVE UP MY ICE CREAM AND SWEETS! That's the only thing I was eating!

I went to a nutritionist and learned portion control and what to eat when. I checked my blood 4 times a day. By the way, pricking your finger for this is NOTHING like when they do it at the doctors office. The needle to prick your finger is so much smaller because the machines that check your glucose only needs a very small amount.

To be honest, I gained 30 pounds by 27 weeks (when I found out I had GD) and I didn't gain anymore after that. It was due to me eating healthy. I needed something to slap me into eating healthy! I also lost the baby weight alot faster because I didn't get to gain that much.

I was induced at 38 1/2 weeks and he was 6 pounds 10 ounces. They decided to take him early in case he was big...he wasn't, but he was "cooked" and ready to come out.

I was able to control the GD with diet. If you can't then you will be put on insulin, so try to follow the diet VERY CLOSELY. But, I have heard the insulin shots are not bad so don't be nervous.

Good luck tomorrow! I'm a weirdo because I liked the glucose drinks! I thought they tasted like melted popcycles!! Ha!

When do you go back for your 3hr test? I was SURE that I would pass my 3hr. There is no diabetes in my family and I had NONE of the risks for GD other than being 30. But I failed...badly! :) I was devastated too, at first. I was able to control mine with just diet. If you do have GD, South Beach Diet foods are AWESOME! I could eat any of those and my blood sugar levels stayed in range. It sucked to give up sweets, but reducing the amount of carbs I could eat was even worse for me. It is hard in the beginning to modify your diet (at least it was for me) but it was SO worth it. And the burger, fries and shake I had as my first post-partum meal was AWESOME!!

I was induced at 39 weeks, just in case the baby was large. I was able to have her naturally (no c-section) and she was not large - 6 lbs, 14 oz. She stayed with me in my hospital room for an hour or so before they even took her to the nursery for her check up, so my delivery was very normal.

Oh yea, I did gain 45 pounds in my pregnancy but breastfeeding took almost all of that off within 4 months or so.
I actually looked at GD as an unexpected blessing. It forced me to have a healthy diet throughout my pregnancy.

Good luck and feel free to write me with any questions or concerns you may have!

Been there done that! :)

I was diagnosed with GD after failing the 3 hr test (take a snack for afterwards btw you'll need it). I was so angry and in denial about it which I found out is a very common response. My ob had me go to a diabetes center near Baylor for weekly or bi-weekly consultations. They prescribed me a glucometer and pee sticks to measure ketones every morning. I'd go in and they'd weigh me, look at my blood sugar levels, ketones and diet that I had written down for that period. Then I'd meet with other pg moms to discuss stuff.

The thing about GD is that, compared to a lot of other problems you can get while pregnant, it's fairly controllable -- either through diet and/or insulin. In the scheme of things, it's a pain to measure and record your food and blood sugar levels but it's not like preeclampsia or other complications. But if you do not watch your sugars or go untreated, you and your baby can end up with a whole lot of heartache.

My son ended up being born via c-section. I had to have an induction at 38 weeks because I caught a cold a few weeks prior and my blood sugar levels went out of whack (who knew cold medicine affected blood sugar?? Well I do now!!). The diabetes center said I needed to go on insulin. My ob (who I totally trusted) said it would take weeks to get insulin adjusted and that I just needed to have the baby. She wanted to wait until 38 weeks because we a) knew he was a boy and they take longer to bake and b) diabetic kids' lungs mature a bit slower.

Inductions and GD put you at a greater risk for a c-section btw but I still did my Bradley childbirth classes, got my doula and hoped for the best. Oh well.... When my son was born, my Dr had warned me that he would need to be monitored anywhere from a couple of hours to 24 hours in the nursery or nicu to make sure his blood sugar levels were ok (they were). I got to hold him a few hours later and he was healthy as a horse. Yes, he was big -- 8 lbs 6 oz -- but that also runs in my family so I don't know if it was the diabetes or not.

I can't stress enough how important it is to adopt a healthy diet and to educate your self if you do get GD. I think that was the biggest change it had on me. I've never been overweight but I did gain over 70 lbs when I had my son (breastfeeding rocks for weight loss btw). There is a slightly higher risk that I could get diabetes or if I were to get pregnant again I could very likely have GD again. It's a lot of record taking and finger pricking (which really wasn't bad), but somehow I managed to eat some chocolate every day so it wasn't complete torture.

Whatever happens tomorrow, I'm sure you'll do fine as long as you have competent a medical team on your side. good luck!

My third pregnancy I failed the Glucose Test and had to go for the horrible 3 hour one and it showed me at borderline. The nurse told me to have a more protein and less carb and sweets in my diet to help combat it. The other thing is that they will prick your baby's heel at different times the first 24 hours or so to check his glucose level and that was hard for me. They would have me call them prior to feeding him and then at times and hour after I fed him. Also you are looking at having a bigger baby. Mine was 9lbs 3 oz., he never did have a high glucose reading and is healthy and doing fine.

Hi S.,

First of all CALM DOWN!! GD is controllable with diet and exercise and you will do fine. I have a trouble-free pregnancy until my glucose test as well and I was dx w/GD. If you are, you Doctor will help you control it and also you can with what you eat and exercise. My only problem was all the complications that came with mine, so don't borrow any trouble. The protein in your urine is fine, it is just the levels that are trouble. I eventually had to be put in the hospital, but wait until your physican says that it can't be controlled by diet and exercise.

Wait and see. If you have any more problems or issues, email me at ____@____.com and I will tell you more.

Just be calm and hope for the best, but it is manageable.

Good Luck!

Gladys

I delivered a healthy baby 8 weeks ago after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes (type 2) during the last trimester of my pregnancy. My baby was of good weight (9 lbs 10 ounces) but other than that she was fine. It was highly important that I stick to a very strict diet though. There was too much risk to her heart and her general well being.
As I was on Medicaid, I was referred to a service called Matria. They sent me a nurse at home to prep me on how to measure my blood sugar first thing in the morning and after each meal. They provided me with all the necessary equipment. I also had to measure the amount of protein in my urine first thing in the morning.
As for the diet, they also teach you how to follow it and give you some material to help you prepare your menus. It is a very frustrating diet, you have to weigh absolutely everything. You have to eat a lot at times (in the evening for instance) and very little at others (in the morning). I was hungry a lot. You can't go out and eat at a restaurant (apart from Subway), you have to measure your blood sugar at very precise times no matter where you are or what you do. You have to eat at very precise times too.
I was monitored by Matria at all times. I had to report my blood sugar levels and keytones levels (protein in urine) every single day. If my levels were too high they'd call me and discuss the problem with me. Otherwise they would call me once a week to check that everything was OK.
I hope for you that you are well covered by your insurance because I guess that the cost must be very high.
Anyway, the best part is: you have very little chances to see your diabetes continue once you have given birth. This is what happened to me: I am now diabetes free!!! And believe me I celebrated with chocolate, cakes, cookies and fruit juice!!
I wish you all the best. If you need more info, let me know, I'll be happy to help.

F.

I had it with my pregnancy. It's really not that bad -- as my nurse said, 'if you've got to have something, this is the one you want.'

If diagnosed, you'll be sent to a diabetes specialist and nutritionist. They will set you up with a diet specifically designed to keep your blood sugars within a prescribed range. You'll test your blood first thing in the morning and after your major meals. If the diet doesn't work to control your numbers, you'll be required to use insulin or possibly another medication. Although I don't have any personal experience with the injections, I'm told it's not nearly as bad as it sounds.

You'll most likely see a perinatologist -- a doc who treats high-risk pregnancies -- several times to get growth scans. Also, you'll probably be induced 2 weeks prior to your original due date. This is mainly because GD babies tend to be big.

As far as baby is concerned, if the diabetes is controlled, he should have no ill effects. I was able to control my GD with diet and my son was 7 lbs, 10 oz. He did have some issues with his glucose for the first 12 hours after birth since I had produced enough for both of us but it resolved itself and all is well.

Good luck tomorrow! Stress can affect your glucose levels so try your best not to worry.

I failed my first test, but then passed the 3 hour one also. Try not to worry too much. Maybe you will pass the 3 hour test!! Good Luck!!