Failed my test (pregnancy related)

I failed my 3 hour glucose tolerance test So I guess that means I have gestational diabetes (GD), never failed the test with my other 3 kids. I feel so horrible, depressed, and worried over this. I was told it could result in a big baby, so increased risk of a C-section, or the baby could be born with low blood sugar levels, or he could even die in utero at 36-38 weeks. I know I am overweight, but I haven't gained any weight with this pregnancy, I actually weigh 10 pounds less than my pre-pregnancy weight, baby is gaining weight though, at my ultrasound at 21 weeks he was a little over 1 pound which the tech said is in the 60th percentile. I get another U/S September 9th to check on his growth. Tomorrow I have to set up an appointment with a GD dietician and get a meter and strips, have I mentioned I hate needles! :shock:

Anyone here have experience with diabetes that can give me some tips/advise? Also if its not too much to ask please keep, the baby and me in your thoughts and prayers.

You're on my prayer list. Please keep us posted.

Best wishes!

You both will be in my thoughts and prayers. I had a false fail on mine so it might not be you. I found it is better to eat many small meals instead of three large means. Always balance fruit and meats, i.e.: for every large piece of jerky, eat half a medium apple. This will help keep the sugars balanced as well as TONS of water. Always have a bottle of water with you and also if you are not peeing clear, your not having enough water.

GD is one problem I did not have, though I almost threw up when taking the test.

Y'all are in my prayers!

JessicaR":23gqz3ph said:

I failed my 3 hour glucose tolerance test So I guess that means I have gestational diabetes (GD), never failed the test with my other 3 kids. I feel so horrible, depressed, and worried over this. I was told it could result in a big baby, so increased risk of a C-section, or the baby could be born with low blood sugar levels, or he could even die in utero at 36-38 weeks. I know I am overweight, but I haven't gained any weight with this pregnancy, I actually weigh 10 pounds less than my pre-pregnancy weight, baby is gaining weight though, at my ultrasound at 21 weeks he was a little over 1 pound which the tech said is in the 60th percentile. I get another U/S September 9th to check on his growth. Tomorrow I have to set up an appointment with a GD dietician and get a meter and strips, have I mentioned I hate needles! :shock:

Anyone here have experience with diabetes that can give me some tips/advise? Also if its not too much to ask please keep, the baby and me in your thoughts and prayers.

Click to expand...

We have been through this, most of the time it is manageable through diet, but just know, that C- section [if it should actually come to that] is still a viable option, we heard all of the medical scare tactics also, but, it served the purpose, and a strict diet was followed. [and a "normal" size child was born.]
But-- 60th percent is not a cause to panic, and is still very "normal", just remember, do your very best, and turn the rest over to God.

Miss M":3rtx5erf said:

GD is one problem I did not have, though I almost threw up when taking the test.

Y'all are in my prayers!

Click to expand...

Thanks everyone! :group-hug2:

Miss M, That stuff is nasty! The 1 hour test is bad enough with 50mg glucose, the 3 hour test is 100mg! I was nauseated, had a headache and got extremely tired, then afterwards I had to force myself to eat afterwards, despite the fact I hadn't ate or drank (other than glucola) for 15 hours, I just didn't feel hungry.

I go Friday for a 2 hour long counseling session on Friday. I am hoping to be able to control this with diet alone, I have started to do some diet plan research online and I am going to the library today to check out some books. So far from what I have read though I don't know how I am going to do this. The one site says to eat every 2 hours small meals and snacks, that is going to be hard to do because I am busy, plus I just don't really feel that hungry, half the time I have to force myself to eat a little lunch or I would just eat breakfast and supper.. I guess this is all stuff I will have to discuss with my nutritionist.

Managing your GD just means modifying your habits. Sagebrush is right about the meals; you need to have something every 3 hours - then walk after. Walking is low stress exercise and helps "eat" up the excess glucose in your body.

The 60th percentile is acceptable. I have had many women control their GD with diet/exercise and have "normal" weight babies. Heck, since you mentioned you are overweight, you may even lose weight with this pregnancy
(in the medical field 25 years)

You can do it! Once the "pill of changing/planning" becomes routine, it won't interfere with your busy life.

Do not stress yourself out! Stress can cause other problems. Walking is a great stress reliever ~ so a double plus

Most of my family has diabetes and half of them are normal to underweight. Weight isn't as big of factor as genetics and especially in a case like this where there is another contributor. I grew up eating small meals through the day and it causes problems with my husband. He grew up eating large amounts when he reached the point of starving so a small meal for lunch and a lot of supper is often it. We annoy each other when trying to decide what to eat and when. I fill in my day with a lot of eggs, fruit smoothies, fish (sometimes a fairly healthy small salmon fillet and sometimes not so healthy fish sticks), and soup or stew. I like when we make soup, stew or roast cause I can leave it in the crockpot on warm and eat a little whenever.

Well first day of testing done (minus morning fasting levels) Got the amount of carbs I am allowed to eat each meal/snack. 30g for breakfast and snacks (2), 45g for lunch and dinner. So far my levels suck, surprisingly my breakfast testing wasn't too bad it was 138 two hours after breakfast, should be below 120. I ate a sausage egg and cheese McMuffin and a med orange juice from McDonalds before my class. (after I learned I shouldn't drink any fruit juice) For lunch I ate 1 packet of instant oatmeal and 1/2 cup of mandarin oranges levels was 152 after 1 hour, should be under 130. Then I had my snack of 1 cup of mandarin oranges, which equaled 30g like he said to do, next was dinner 1 had 1 bratwurst on whole wheat bread, 16 French fries, and 1 tablespoon ketchup total of 46g 1 hour blood sugar was 182! :shock: Oh and I also walked for 45 minutes in between lunch and dinner. So besides the glass of oj for breakfast, I followed the carb load, measured and counted and my sugar level is still too high

The hardest thing so far is eating so much, I just don't feel hungry so soon after eating, so I am forcing myself to eat my snacks, heck I had to force myself to finish dinner, and that's only going to get worse the further along in the pregnancy I get. Of course it could also be the heat. Its almost 90 with high humidity, I usually don't feel like eating much when its hot out.

So I am keep my journal of what I eat and my sugar log, all that gets turned in next Friday to my Midwife I guess I will see what she has to say.

I didn't deal with GD... hyperemesis was my problem. The whole time. I wasn't gaining weight, and they finally threatened me with bed rest. I had to find a way to keep enough food down.

I hope you're able to get it all sorted out! :clover:

Just thought I would post an update. I am now 30 weeks along so only 10 more to go! I have been following the low carb diet pretty strictly with an occasional treat, like the pumpkin pie flurries the ice cream stand has right now. Walking 1 mile everyday. I have lost 10 pounds in 1 month! Midwife says that's fine, since the baby is still growing good, he is now 3 pounds 10 ounces so in the 70th percentile and breech, hopefully he turns soon.

Unfortunately my sugar levels are still too high, especially my morning fasting levels. So now I have to get insulin They don't deal with that at the office so I have to go to a specialist that's 1 1/2 hours away, that's going to suck! I should still be able to deliver at the hospital here though, as long as everything looks good and we can get my levels under control. I really don't know how I am going to do this. I hate needles, I don't even like poking my finger, now I am going to have to give myself insulin injections?

(((HUGS)))

I'm sorry you are going through this. I wish I knew what to suggest to help!

Here are a some sites that might give you some alternatives:

http://www.homeremedycentral.com/en/nat ... betes.html

http://www.healthherbsandnutrition.com/ ... abetes.htm

http://healthy-ojas.com/diabetes/diabet ... athic.html

http://www.milehimama.com/natural-help- ... -diabetes/

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/diabete ... abetes.htm

http://www.birthingnaturally.net/birth/ ... es/gd.html

I'm glad the baby is growing well, and that you are exercising and have lost some weight. Ten pounds in a month is pretty amazing! :clap2:

JessicaR":2yyh3v77 said:

I really don't know how I am going to do this. I hate needles, I don't even like poking my finger, now I am going to have to give myself insulin injections?

Click to expand...

I don't know how I would manage to give myself an injection either. I bet once you do it a couple of times it wont be too bad. :encourage:

If your critters ever need shots, I bet they will appreciate your experience though... your technique should get pretty good!

I wish you the best of luck!!! :cheer1:

I'm sorry you're going threw this, it must be tough

I started my first day of insulin yesterday. I have 2 different kinds to take. One is a fast acting insulin that I take before I eat, the other is long lasting that I take before bed. The injections are not bad at all, I couldn't even feel the needle! But my problem now is my sugar levels have been higher now taking insulin than they what they were without. :shock: Still eating the same thing I did before insulin, still walking 1 mile every day. I have to monitor the results and fax it in to the Dr. every week, if the results don't get better soon he is going to have to adjust my levels.

The good news is baby is doing just fine, he is now around 4 pounds! So while he is a little bigger than he should be, he is not too terribly big. The ultrasound I got was neat, they checked the blood flow to the heart, kidneys, and umbilical cord, so that was different, seeing the blood pumping. He is also stubborn :lol: he kept turning so she couldn't get a good view of his heart or he would move his arm in the way. After some poking and rolling on my side and back, she finally got a good view. He is no longer breech, but he is still keeping his feet up at his head :roll:

You and your little one will be in my prayers.

I hope it all goes very well for the last few weeks, and you have a healthy baby boy.

Quick update.
Still cant get my fasting and after breakfast levels down They increased my insulin once and will more than likely be doing it again tomorrow. I now have to get an ultrasound and fetal non stress test once a week on top of seeing my midwife once a week, so yay 2 times a week I get to go to the Dr.'s, but baby jumped up to 5 pounds 7 ounces :shock: so definitely need to watch that!!