Had a glucose test..UPDATE FROM THE NURSE..

[lovethyspirit]

I had my glucose test on Monday. They made me drink this lemon-lime flavored syrup and tasted like flat sprite. Well, I got the results yesterday and he said that the results were slightly abnormal and talked about the reading being "78". I did some research, and I read that 70-100 is normal. Why would he say it was abnormal? Maybe i was mistaken? I've never had problems with diabetes, high blood pressure etc. but I was born Anemic. I have to go back for a 3 hr test now in two weeks before my next appointment. If i had low blood sugar, wouldn't that make me hypoglycemic not diabetic?

Thanks

[crsta33]

I was 65 two hours post meal (I have refused the standard glucose challenge test so far) and my midwife said that was slightly hypoglycemic. Your number is definitely not high blood sugar.

I haven't found many ppl who know much about low blood sugar in pregnancy except I have been told that sometimes with diabetes you can have low and high numbers, not just high.

If my midwife wants to follow up with more tests on my blood sugar I'm going to suggest that I get my own meter and keep a record at home, although I'm really anxious about doing that (I hate needles) but less anxious than I would be about doing a 3 hour GTT...at least I home I get to do it all myself.

Best of luck. Keep us updated.

Christa

[lovethyspirit]

*****UPDATE****

I called the nurse, she said that was my iron level. My blood glucose is 168. I'm going to just start on a better diet anyway.

What foods/drinks should I avoid so i can have normal glucose levels again? What can I eat? Any recommended diabetic diets that work for you? This is gonna be hard since veggies are not friends of mine.


Is v8 ok? (the salt free kind)

[adon]

*****UPDATE****

I called the nurse, she said that was my iron level. My blood glucose is 168. I'm going to just start on a better diet anyway.

What foods/drinks should I avoid so i can have normal glucose levels again? What can I eat? Any recommended diabetic diets that work for you? This is gonna be hard since veggies are not friends of mine.


Is v8 ok? (the salt free kind)

i would suggest going out and getting a blood tester, the finger prick kind....and keep a journal of foods and blood sugar levels. test in the morning then 2 hours after you eat something....your level should be back to normal after 2 hours 80-120. i did this for a while because certain foods were bothering me. some foods will trigger your sugars that may not bother others...so a journal is a good thing to keep. when looking at nutrition look at carbs, not sugars. HTH!

[AccidentaLactivist]

Hi there!

This is a link to the Gestational Diabetes info page at the American Diabetes Association website: http://www.diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp

This might be a good place for info, and there may be more links here to info or people who can help.

Marie

:bfs

[lovethyspirit]

Thanks! I also found a link

http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/diabetes-gestational-diet-plan.html

that helped me understand a regiment that i need to get on. It's really simple to follow too. I'll have to ask my doc what a safe exercise plan is. I thought about doing 15-20 minutes of stationary biking a day for 6 days out of the week since walking makes my ligaments hurt too much.

What blood tester do you recommend? A journal is a great idea. I'll have to get one.

[adon]

i inherited one ( a blood tester) from my sister. she has type 1 diabetes....she got a nice one and gave me one she had...it's an accucheck. i wouldn't bother getting anything too expensive you will only be using it for a couple months....if that. if your doctor is willing to help they can write a perscription for it and the strips and all you need to do is pay the co pay.

[lovethyspirit]

i inherited one ( a blood tester) from my sister. she has type 1 diabetes....she got a nice one and gave me one she had...it's an accucheck. i wouldn't bother getting anything too expensive you will only be using it for a couple months....if that. if your doctor is willing to help they can write a perscription for it and the strips and all you need to do is pay the co pay.

Ok, cool. I'll definitely have to talk to him about that then. If my new test still comes out high. I'm going to the store tonight to get all the stuff i need. Looks like i'll be cleaning out the fridge/pantry tonight of all that bad stuff.

[Amber_G]

If you fail the 3 hour test, your doctor should give you a prescription for the blood monitoring system and refer you to a dietitian. The 1 hour test is not very accurate.

Here is a really good website on GD:
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/gd/gd_index.html

As far as diet goes, you want to limit carbs and increase proteins. The biggest change I made was to cut out all refined sugar (tho there are still a few things I eat with small amounts of sugar in them). That was enough for my numbers to be normal.

I'm still on the fence about whether or not GD is a concern - but I do think that there is a benefit to correcting one's diet and eating right.

[rik8144]

I just wanted to say that GD is a real concern. See, the baby is used to moms high sugar content in the blood so his/her body so it makes excess insulin. Then, when the cord is cut and baby is on it's own, the body has too much insulin. In turn, the babies blood sugar drops dramatically. Sugar is the 'food' for the brain, with out enough of it the body can have seizures, go into shock, coma, etc.

I am not saying everyone needs to have ever GD test out there.....just that there is a concern with the condition.

[lovethyspirit]

Thank you Rik. That's why I want to take care of this before it really becomes a major issue. Now that I know, I can do something about it. I want a healthy baby boy.

[rik8144]

No problem, I love educating people on medical things!:p

One of the PP said she was on the fence about the concern and (too me atleast) it is a concern. Like I said, you don't have to go crazy with numerous tests but everyone (with GD or not) should watch their sugar intake when pregnant!

[the_lissa]

I would google Henci Goer and GD.

I do not do the test. Just having the test, regardless of outcome increases one's chance of a c/s.

I don't eat much refined sugars anyways, and if I was concerned, I would test my blood sugar daily.

Numerous studies show that GD treatment does not improve or change outcomes in any way.

[adon]

my MW does not choose to do the test (although you can choose to have it done)....she has her own "version". she thinks it's insane to fast a pregnant woman for ANY amount of time. she is also very strict about our diet! so i also believe if you have a healthy diet there is less worry. with that being said....i was lucky enough to have access to a blood tester for free (like i posted earlier). so i just checked myself every couple hours for a week or so....and never had any odd numbers. but i do have some foods that bother me...so i avoid them:wink

[Violet2]

I have PCOS which predisposes me to GD.

The plus sized link really is one of the best I've found on the subject. http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/gd/gd_index.html

As far as I can tell, the actual risk for mom and baby during the pregnancy and delivery is pretty low. Yes, the baby might be big and may be hypoglycemic but they'll be prepared for that and take care of it right away. And you may have to fight for less intervention depending on how hyper your doc is about GD.

The real problem, imo, is studies show that 50% of GD women go on to develop Type II diabetes within a few years. I'm not sure if it's really possible to prevent GD, but man I am working really hard at it because I really don't want to be a diabetic for the rest of my life. (You can read about the studies showing a risk of Type II with GD on the link I've included in this post.)

If you've never been insulin resistant, it's easy to say don't do the test, or it doesn't matter, but I've been living with pre-diabetes (courtesy of the PCOS) and it SUCKS. Weight loss is hard, your risk of heart disease and diabetes goes up. My lipid levels are just...bizarre. Anything you can do to monitor your blood sugar and head off problems before they start is good.

As for meters, get a good one. Cheap ones can be inaccurate and the blood prick devices are usually more painful. I have the Freestyle Flash. Not having used other top of the line meters, I'm not sure how it compares, but it's supposed to be one of the most accurate.

I've also just discovered that Diet Pepsi makes my blood sugar go way nuts. Way higher than it ever goes with sugar, so you may find certain foods will make your system go wonky.

Good luck.

V

[paquerette]

I have PCOS and had no problems with GD. And I had to go off metformin cold turkey at 4 mo because my gp was not convinced it was safe (I couldn't conceive without it, and I suspect it really helped with the 1st 3 months with progesterone levels, and I wasn't too worried about going off of it after that). Other than having my thyroid monitored by my regular gp, I had a nice healthy UP without any of the standard pregnancy testing, and no issues with birth or baby's health. So it's not necessarily a dire situation. Every case is different.

Definitely read what Henci has to say on the subject. Also check out the Brewer 'blue ribbon baby' diet, which is a good healthy pregnancy diet.

[lovethyspirit]

Both my sister and dad have diabetes. My sisters is really bad and she has to take insulin and my dad can control his with a pill. I don't want to have any problems with my baby, I just wish i would've known sooner. But, that's how we learn i suppose. At least its not TOO TOO out of control. I'm definitely going to take a look at all of the links and information provided. I'm also going to start a food journal to help monitor things. It's a lifestyle change to be sure and i really appreciate everyones help here. :loveeyes:

[Amber_G]

Perhaps I should clarify - my point of view on GD is based on my own personal experience.

Most people in the medical field will tell you it is a concern. Aside from a big baby, doctors worry about increased levels of jaundice, low blood sugar at birth, stillbirths, respiratory distress syndrome, and a higher risk of type II diabetes in the mother.

However, other people have cited Henci Goer's articles and these question if GD is a concern at all.

My (short) experience with this board is that most people speak from their own personal experiences with GD or of declining the test.

I failed the 3 hour test, and am labeled GD. However, my home monitoring has never shown any high numbers. The biggest change I've made is to limit refined sugar and exercise every day of the week instead of 4 times. In my case, my diet was pretty good except for some sweets. In my opinion, the only thing the 3 hour test did was indicate I shouldn't be eating sweets right now and should keep up my exercise. Of course, my doctor would disagree with me on that one.

After having gone through all of this (still going on too), I have decided that I will decline the glucose tests in a future pregnancy. I felt awful during both of them and don't think they are healthy for me. I'll go right to home monitoring if the doctor gets all concerned.

And remember that the 1 hour test isn't very accurate. Many women fail the 1 hour and go on to pass the 3 hour. If you fail the 3 hour hour, you should be given all the tools to help keep your blood sugars low - meeting with a dietitian & prescription for a home monitoring unit. You may have to make drastic changes, or like me, it may be very minor. Every woman's body is different so you never know :)

[Amber_G]

Oh, and, cause I have blathered on enough -

Don't worry about not knowing sooner - my understanding is that GD is a concern mainly in the 3rd trimester as that is when the placenta is producing a huge amount of hormones, which interfere with the production of insulin.

[Violet2]

I think, too, it's possible for GD to be a spectrum.

My coworker was borderline for all her pregnancies and is fine. But then, she eats an insanely healthy diet as she loves veggies more than any other food, which I'm sure helps.

Then there are women who are actually Type II diabetics but don't get diagnosed until pregnancy.

And people like me who have severe insulin resistance. I pretty much live like a diabetic under normal conditions (And PCOS is definitely a spectrum, I'm at one end where I require an endocrinologist to lose weight and IVF to get PG whereas other PCOSers can conceive on metformin and lose on WW--they won't get as bad as me for a few more decades). For me, the problem with PG is that I have pretty strong food aversions to the things I should be eating and thus, I've eaten more carbs than usual.

Lastly, the one thing that always amazed me about human anatomy is that the pancreas has a finite capacity. Unlike other organs, it can't just keep going or repair itself, it can only make so much insulin. If you suck it dry with an intensely high carb high sugar diet, it will poop out on you sooner as opposed to later. Hence I have a lot of respect for my pancreas and try not to abuse it,particularly now when it's showing signs of stress.

I wish I could just ignore the whole GD thing, but I'm definitely from the better safe than sorry camp. Type II Diabetes is forever and if a few months of eating a low sugar diet will a)help my pregnancy and b) decrease my potential of developing a lifelong condition that totally SUCKS to live with, then I'm all for an ounce of prevention.

V

[Violet2]

Oh and Amber, I totally agree that you can fail the test but have great numbers on a home monitor.

They could do better with GD testing and I think some new studies are going to be coming out soon that focus solely on pregnant women. Currently GD is diagnosed with Type II criteria which is not quite the same thing. (Although, unfortunately, from what I've read, they're going to suggest lowering the numbers even more for pregnant women with much more strict post meal goals, which is not what I want to hear.)

But I have passed a three hour test before being pg, so failing it now would indicate a physiologic change despite the fact I never gag down 100 grams of carbs in less than five minutes as part of my daily diet. So it does give me some feedback, but most people have probably never had a baseline GTT.

My home numbers have been excellent with a few borderline readings when I've had ice cream or some other treat.

V

[rabrog]

My doc wanted me to monitor my sugar levels while taking Metformin (which helped me get pregnant). He had some sample testers (full retail testers that the manufacturer just gave the clinic) and then wrote me a script for the strips. Might ask if they have any around the office.

Lots of protein and water, low sugar, low carb (some veggies are just starch so watch out there, too). Fruit in moderation - 2 to 3 small servings a day - is good.

Jenn

[rik8144]

As I stated, It is a concern for me....but not for everyone. I personally have seen the effects of GD on a baby. When we checked the blood sugar of an infant aprrox 1 hour old, the infant was jittery to the touch, lethargic and had poor muscle tone. The blood sugar was 29. I have also seen babies from GD that were perfectly fine and had a great bloo sugar after birth....but there is no way to tell before hand which one you will have.

It is up to the individual to decide what they want to be concerned with.....if you believe that there is no benefit from treatment either way then that is your baby and your body. If you choose to believe that it is better to be a little more cautious then just watch your sugar intake....and monitor if needed. Either way, I have seen babies from both spectrums.

[lovethyspirit]

I went to the grocery store last night and got all the healthy stuff recommended. I finally was able to go to sleep around 11pm last night, which is super late for me since I worked till 7 and didn't get home till 8:30. Thankfully my friend helped me with my groceries since i can't ask my roommates for anything.

The only issue i'm having now...is that last night I noticed the top of my right foot is numb. I cant feel it but i can move it without issues. Is the baby just laying on a nerve or is from the GD? Does anyone else have numbness? Will it go away when my glucose levels are normal?

[pampered_mom]

Don't forget Henci Goer's article on GD at http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/gdhgoer.html

[lovethyspirit]

Well I called the nurse and she told me to go to labor and delivery at the er. I went and they hooked me up to monitor thebaby. They said the numbness is due to seans positioning, he keeps laying on my siatic nerve, causing the numbness in my foot. He's strong and healthy otherwise. I'm going to talk to my doc about the chiropractor trick to make sean move into the right position, head down, instead of transverse. Hopefully he can write a referral.