I went in around November 13th, to take the initial glucose tolerance test - - the one that's one hour long, and where you have about half the nasty orange flavored drink to gulp down than you do for the 3 hour test. Then I got a call a couple of days ago, reporting that my test resulted in high levels of sugar in my blood. So now I have to go back and take the 3 hour glucose tolerance test, and drink twice as much of that nasty orange stuff that they have you drink. I'm very concerned about the possibility that I may have gestational diabetes. Having gestational diabetes increases your chances of having type 2 diabetes by 60 percent. It also increases the likelihood of your child developing type 2 diabetes at some point in his lifetime.
Further more, it increases the chances of having to have a c-section. I've been fortunate enough to have natural childbirth with my other 2, and have no idea of what to expect with a c-section. The only thing I know about most c-sections taking place these days is that they can be scheduled. That's the only good thing I've heard about it, as the recovery from a c-section takes much longer than the recovery from a natural delivery. It's because chances of a baby being larger than normal increase with Gestational Diabetes. My first child was 6 pounds 11 ounces, and my second child was 7 pounds 12 1/2 ounces. Will the pattern of each baby being a pound larger than the last continue? If so, this baby will be almost 9 pounds. Of course, I was almost a 9 pound baby as well, but my mother managed to have me naturally (back when they didn't do so many c-sections).
A friend of mine has had to do the 3 hour glucose tolerance test as well, but hasn't developed gestational diabetes. She suggested that I lay off the sweets. She also suggested that I walk around after drinking the nasty orange flavored drink. It's supposed to help the body to break down the sugars more efficiently, if you move around during the test, rather than sit around reading magazines. Not a problem, as I'll have a two and a half year old with me, and will probably be chasing her around - - especially if the office can allow me to walk around outside the office, giving me a relative time to come back to have my blood drawn.
Oh no, I almost forgot about having my blood drawn. What joy! It becomes something you quickly get used to when you're pregnant, unfortunately. I always try to find some picture to starre at in the room they take me to. Have you ever noticed that most blood labs do that - - have pictures to have your mind "walk into" while they poke for blood? I wonder if that's intentional. I think it is. Any phlebotomists out there to vouch for that theory?
The worst part of all of this idea of Gestational Diabetes is the time of year that this little guy is due: January 30th. So I have to go through the entire stretch of holidays without eating many sweets. It's hard enough to avoid the sweets if you're not pregnant. Hmm... I do know that I can eat some sweets, as long as I balance them out with some type of protein. At least that's what one of my sources has told me about having type 2 diabetes. I hope she's right. How can I handle avoiding all of those holiday sweets? I know it's nothing to brush off as a trivial problem. People have lost their toes, and even limbs, from Diabetes. The thought is pretty grotesque. The fact is, sugar is as addictive to some as booze or drugs are to others. Anyone know of a sugarholics anonymous group? I need to join one. Especially now. I would love to know more information on gestational diabetes, so that I can manage it better if I have it. I'd also like to know, as I said before, about any support groups for sugarholics.