Gestational Diabetes

I don't know why they refer to it as a "glucose challenge," like it's supposed to be fun or exciting. I failed the 1-hour glucose test, and was on the high end of normal for the 3-hour glucose test that I took after Christmas, which incidentally wasn't administered exactly right. The time intervals were slightly off and they were not supposed to allow me to walk around or leave the lab (makes sense, you're basically 'exercising' off the glucose) in between blood draws.

My NP wrote up another lab and I re-took the 3-hour glucose test this morning. I felt better than the last time, but another cup of orange syrup, four pricks later and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Dang it! Two or more high glucose levels is the indicator, and I had three that were out of normal limits (all three blood draws, not including my fasting glucose).

I will be meeting with a doctor in the Adult Endocrinology department, and am signed up for five hours of group classes with a dietician and other nursing staff. On a positive note, I have heard good things about the entire clinic team from other moms that have regular diabetes or gestational diabetes. Thank you, everyone, for your support!

For more information on gestational diabetes, please see my earlier post, "The Dreaded Glucose Test."

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What is gestational diabetes?
Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes in the United States each year. We don't know what causes gestational diabetes, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin. Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.