surprise surprise, I failed the test - Page 2

[MandarijnOrange]

Well, I have a GD class scheduled for tomorrow morning where I pick up my meter and strips and get a meal plan. So, I'll post tomorrow afternoon to let you all know what it's like.

[crunchywannabe]

so I went in. I couldn't get there until almost 11:30 because I had to get my kindergartener on the bus at 10:30

I immediately got the hot flash so they put wet paper towels around my neck...i felt yucky for a bit, but then I was only tired through the rest of the 3 hours-and I did not even feel a bit hungry when I left and had to force myself to eat.

I should have results on Friday they said.

[kathteach]

Thanks for the updates. That hot flash sounds scary CrunchyWB. MOrange, tell us how the class goes okay?

[Mama2 '05'06]

So why are all the limit levels different? I was told the limit was 150 and they pushed it to 155. I still failed with mine being 175 at both checks. I am going tomorrow to the 'education' and will get the tester thing. I am bummed b/c I am craving chocolate!! I want Hershey's nuggets with toffee and almonds in milk chocolate.:

[crunchywannabe]

Originally Posted by Mama2 '05'06

So why are all the limit levels different? I was told the limit was 150 and they pushed it to 155.

every lab has different levels. it is insane how much labs differ in their numbers and what is considered a normal result.

[MandarijnOrange]

I got back from the class a little bit ago. Here's the scoop:

There were three other pregnant ladies there along with me and we were given a crash course on the nutrition stuff first. We got individualized meal plans based on our height/weight. We are aiming to eat 3 meals a day AND 3 snacks a day so that we essentially are eating every 2-3 hours to keep blood sugar levels more even throughout the day. We were given a breakdown of how many exchanges/servings of Carbs, Protein, and Fat we should have at each meal/snack. We were instructed both in how to count servings with exchanges/portion sizes and also by reading labels (my preferred method, where possible).

The only negative thing I could say about the nutrition portion was that they don't take into account Glycemic Index for foods so essentially white bread is equal to whole wheat bread. My DH was pretty ticked off when I told him about this and he was glad he didn't attend (and so am I) because he would have sat there and argued with the nutritionist.

Fortunately, I don't have to send in any meal logs, I only have to send in the blood sugar values from monitoring. I do plan to track my food though in case I discover something that I'm eating that sends my blood sugar through the roof.

There are some things that I might have found difficult like always having a protein at breakfast because seriously, I don't want to cook an egg or meat every single morning. I'm more of a cereal eater. Luckily, I went shopping last night and discovered a low glycemic index cereal called The Zone. It's from Dr. Sears and it has 14g of protein!! I'm so happy I can buy this because it totally covers my protein serving for breakfast. I had it this morning and it didn't take much to fill me up plus it didn't taste disgusting either so win, win.

The only real no-no was fruit juice. Can't have any fruit juice unless it's a tiny little serving and it's counted in the exchanges, but she'd prefer we didn't have it at all because it's essentially concetrated sugar and no fiber. Also, can't have fruit for breakfast because our bodies can't handle the fruit as well until later in the day. (Anyone else see the hypocrisy here in drinking 100 grams of pure glucose first thing in the morning for our test?)

The second half of the class was devoted to blood sugar monitoring. We each got an Accu-Chek Aviva system and a prescription for more strips and needle drums to refill the lancet device. We all had to test our blood sugar once to make sure we knew how to do it. Mine was 77 (3 hours after my breakfast) so perfectly normal. I was totally freaked about the finger prick. I can have them draw blood all day but for some reason, I hate the tips of my fingers pricked, but in all honesty, it wasn't that bad at all. We are supposed to test our levels 5x a day, record them, and send them in for doctor approval each week. The first two weeks records will be reviewed at our first Dr. appt where we'll also be getting an ultrasound (I'm assuming for size assessment).

That's about it, it doesn't seem so bad really. I'm going to try and stick with the diet especially at first to see how my numbers track. If they stay relatively normal, then I may give myself a little more breathing room, but at least I can test myself to make sure I don't let my blood sugar get out of control.

Sorry for the novel. If you have any questions, I'll try and answer them. Hopefully, some of you will pass and won't have to worry about it at all.

[mom0810]

This post was so helpful. Thank you so much! I go tomorrow for my 3 hour test, and I am kind of nervous. Hoping I don't pass out or anything.

I am really worried about this because I have realized that I don't really know HOW to eat properly. I have always gotten away with eating whatever... and I have a MAJOR sweet tooth.. so this is going to be really hard. Frosted Mini Wheats with extra sugar on them are a staple in my diet. : I know, not good.

I am mostly sad about not eating my favortie foods anymore IF this test is positive. But I guess that's the way it goes...

[MandarijnOrange]

mom0810 - In theory, you can still eat your favorite foods...you just have to count the carbs, protein, and fats and fit them into what you're allowed so really ends up cutting portion size mostly. Having said that though, I just looked at the label on my beloved Frosted Mini Wheats also and they have a whopping 45grams of carbohydrates (and that's without the milk) so not going to be having those any time soon.

Someone posted on another thread here that they never went over 120 when testing 2 hours after a meal no matter what they ate. I'm kind of intrigued by this idea especially considering they give the test to you in the worst possible way. No fiber to slow down glucose absorption, they tell you to sit still in the waiting room, pure sugar first thing in the morning...it just kind of seems like the test is designed badly.

I'm kind of intrigued now by the whole thing and will find it really interesting if I never have a high reading. After all, this sure is a lot of extra cash that they are milking out of me and my insurance company.

By the way, for those of you getting ready to do the finger pricking...it turns out pinky fingers are a bit more delicate on the pain receptors. Ouchies!

[GooeyRN]

I have to go for my test next week. I am already freaking out about it. I tested myself at work a few times about 4 hours after eating, and its been in the 130's. So I am a bit nervous. I dread taking dd with me. She is 22 months old and is going to destroy the place while I sit and wait. :

[Mama2 '05'06]

"Having said that though, I just looked at the label on my beloved Frosted Mini Wheats also and they have a whopping 45grams of carbohydrates (and that's without the milk) so not going to be having those any time soon."

GAH!: I love those! What else am I going to eat?!? I better figrue something better out b/c I haven't done well at all today. I had fronsted mini wheats (with a spoonful of organic sugar) for breakfast, about 11:15 I ate 2 very rich cookie bars (graham cracker crust w/ chocolate chips, buttersctotch chips, coconut, pecans, and sweetened condensed milk ). I ate one bite of the lasagna I fed the kids for lunch b/c I KNOW I had way too many calories and sugar from the cookies. I'm feeling hungry now, but I will not give in to eating more!! I am planning on making cheese potates for supper. I guess I'll be going to the store for some different cereal tomorrow.

And about taking kids with you- Dd thinks its fun. She said she wanted her blood checked too. lol She wants to hear the 'baby that's in HER tummy'. lol

[mom0810]

I went today and have the results, but so far no phone call from dr.

Only ONE of them (my two hour one) was high. the tech told me that 2 or more is diagnosis for GD. ANyone else know if this is true? My fasting was 75, my 1 hour I can't remember... 140 I think... my 2 hour was 160-something, and my 3 hour was 90. All were within normal limits but the two hour. What do you guys think? What were you told by your OB?

I'm still waiting for him to call, but I am feeling a bit better as it sounds like I do not have it...but I'm not getting my hopes up yet.

[crunchywannabe]

Originally Posted by mom0810

I went today and have the results, but so far no phone call from dr.

Only ONE of them (my two hour one) was high. the tech told me that 2 or more is diagnosis for GD. ANyone else know if this is true? My fasting was 75, my 1 hour I can't remember... 140 I think... my 2 hour was 160-something, and my 3 hour was 90. All were within normal limits but the two hour. What do you guys think? What were you told by your OB?

I'm still waiting for him to call, but I am feeling a bit better as it sounds like I do not have it...but I'm not getting my hopes up yet.

yes-2 values that are abnormal are considered GD

these are the numbers *MY* dr goes by
must be under
fasting (oops, missed that one!)
1 hr 195
2hr 165
3hr 140

[mom0810]

Okay, now I have them in front of me. They were:

Fasting: 75
1 hour: 141
2 hour: 163
3 hour: 91

So, hopefully my doctor considers that normal. I still plan on making some changes, like walking again (it's been WAY too hot) and eating less sugar. Like maybe NOT considering Oreos a food group! :

[crunchywannabe]

Originally Posted by mom0810

Okay, now I have them in front of me. They were:

Fasting: 75
1 hour: 141
2 hour: 163
3 hour: 91

So, hopefully my doctor considers that normal. I still plan on making some changes, like walking again (it's been WAY too hot) and eating less sugar. Like maybe NOT considering Oreos a food group! :

: :

I think your numbers are very normal looking...I would totally think you passed going by those!

Good luck!

[MandarijnOrange]

Yah, looks like you passed to me. Congrats to both of you!

I don't know what my numbers were but I can imagine they were pretty steep.

After doing the finger sticking for almost two days now, I can already see how my body is struggling with the sugar. I actually had to stop eating as much as they told me to. It was a ridiculous amount of food and I would never eat that much if they weren't telling me to so I think it's kind of silly to expect me to eat more and have low numbers. I have stayed within the framework of what types of foods to eat together, I just don't eat as much. I felt like I was overeating while following their menu exactly.

I've discovered fruit is particularly difficult to knock down. It raises my score quite a bit so I'm going to have to be careful with it.

I'm just relieved that it's manageable without insulin and that I'm not starving myself to keep the numbers down.

I am really looking forward to having the baby before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Can you imagine having GD during the holidays? Ugh, that would SO not be fun.

[gcgirl]

Wow, am I surprised to find myself here! I'm one of those no-risk moms who had a freak reading. My doc isn't worried because I tested at 135, but he wants me to do the 3-hour to rule it out. (I suspect that I'm just eating too much ice cream.)

So here's why I'm really posting: I went to the lab today for the test, got there at 8:15, but since they didn't get around to checking me in until 8:45, they sent me home because I was supposed to be there by 8:30! Um, what? I WAS here. You guys are just f***ing slow.

So they sent me away and now I have to do it tomorrow at a clinic 15 miles further away because it's the only one open on Saturday. I guess I know now that I have to stand there and MAKE them check me in on time. And of course it means I have to fast all night again.

[kathteach]

gcgirl, I can't BELIEVE that!!!!!! How RUDE! I am so mad for you! : I was supp. to come in at 8:30 too, they didn't start until almost 9, and it was no big deal. How could an extra 15 minutes be such a big deal?


MOrange: thanks for the update. Sounds kind of complicated. I wonder how my class will compare to yours.


Everyone: let's keep this thread running, it is a good source of support.