What to expect at the glucose tolerance test
Late in my second trimester, I had to do what every pregnant woman gets to do in the mid-20th weeks – take the glucose tolerance test. Well, I failed the 1-hour test, and I was really trying to be optimistic about having to take the 3-hour test. Unlike the 1 hour, you have to be fasting for the full 3 hours.
So not only do I have to skip breakfast, but I have to have my blood taken 4 times, before, and at each hour after drinking the extremely sweet stuff, and not be able to eat or drink anything until the test is complete. I took a mental health afternoon from work that day since I knew by the time the appointment was over I’d have a massive headache and would be in no condition to drive to work and think anyway. So I scheduled a hair appointment instead.
The test itself was a bit worse than I expected. I felt so nauseous the first hour and was very worried I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I was in the waiting room with everyone else waiting for some blood work at the lab so it wasn’t like I had a comfortable place to go lie down. I just leaned back in my chair against the wall and tried to relax until it passed. Immediately after my final blood draw, I had my husband meet me and we went and had an awesome lunch at Chili’s, which included their amazing giant cookie skillet dessert! YUM. Oh man, I want one right now.
What first-time moms should know about Gestational Diabetes
Anyway, unfortunately, I flunked the 3-hour test as well (yes, that is what my nurse told me – I “flunked” it). So that meant I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes and needed to meet with a dietitian to discuss my results. She told me my first and second hour results were very high, but that by the third hour my body kicked in and processed the stuff ok. My fasting number was fine too.
But the risk with my body taking several hours to process a large number of carbs/sugar is the baby is getting too much food and can grow too quickly. The last thing we want is a huge baby with health problems, so for the remainder of my pregnancy, I need to be on a controlled carb gestational diabetes diet. The dietitian explained to me that I can have 30 grams (aka 2 servings) of carbs for breakfast and for each of my snacks, and 45 grams (3 servings) for lunch and dinner.
So as long as I watch the labels of my foods and try to be careful with the amounts (because servings are tiny ok!) I should be fine. Then she gave me a device to prick my finger and measure my blood sugar and said to measure my blood fasting, and 1 or 2 hours after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not fun at all, let me tell you. Especially pricking my finger at work. Gross.
Thankfully my OB only wants me to record my fasting blood sugar. He said as long as I follow the diet, I only need to provide him with a trend of my daily fasting numbers to see whether I need insulin. So far my numbers have been fine, hope that continues to be the case.
The first two weeks of being on this diet I actually lost two pounds. I wasn’t expecting to be losing weight while pregnant, but I did have plenty that I recently put on with my “I’m pregnant, I can eat whatever the hell I want” first trimester diet. I’ve also noticed my feet haven’t been swelling up as much, but I don’t know if that is related. I’ve been doing this for almost a month now and I’m finding it not too difficult to stick to the diet unless people try to tempt me with dessert. I haven’t been attending the office monthly birthday parties since it is always cake and ice cream – none of which is on my diet right now.
I know I’ll splurge a little at my own baby shower – yes I have at least one more put on by my Houston friends (and maybe work will throw me one) but that’s it. For now, as long as I eat a good dinner of meat and salad, I can still have the skinny cow ice cream that I enjoy. So I guess it could be worse, right? So not only am I counting down the days till I can have sushi again, but I’m also counting down the days until I can eat a giant cookie dripping in fudge and ice cream.
Just bring those to my delivery room, ok?
Miranda says
I failed the first test but passed the second – I had to follow a special carb-heavy diet prior to the second and had a much easier time with it than I did the first! Did you have to follow a special diet before yours too?
Julie says
I wasn’t told to eat a special diet for the 3 hour test but I researched online and I heard some people ate carb heavy before it. Well I ate carb heavy normally so that didn’t change, but it sure has changed after my diagnosis heh.
Heather {Woods of Bell Trees} says
I am sending you virtual cookies! But hang in there, I know you can do it! Cheering you on!
Julie says
Thank you for the virtual cookies 🙂
Farrah says
I hope sticking to the diet is going well! It’s nice that it has a definitely end date where you can celebrate with a splurge. I hope the cookie at Chili’s was delicious enough to hold you over.
Julie says
That cookie thing was absolutely amazing, but I don’t know if it can hold someone over for a couple of months heh. I’m already craving more.
FabEllis says
I’m really glad I read your post today. My husband and I have been thinking more about having a baby and due to my being overweight, I’ve been doing some research. This form of diabetes was one of the risks I discovered and read up on. I appreciate you sharing your experience! Not too long before you’re back to the real food. LOL!
Julie says
It is one of the risks if you’re overweight, yes, but doesn’t always mean you’ll have it. And you may have it with one pregnancy and not with another. I lost a lot of weight before getting pregnant, but still was high according to the BMI chart. Stupid BMI. Good luck to you 🙂 Maybe you’ll be lucky and this will skip over you completely.
Angela says
Ugh.. I remember having to take that test and it was horrible. I guess I was lucky because I weighed over 350 lbs when I was pregnant and didn’t develop gestational diabetes. It all depends on your body I guess.
The lower carb diet definitely has something to do with your feet not swelling. You aren’t retaining water as much. That’s a good thing!
Julie says
Glad you didn’t end up having GD. It really seems to be luck of the draw huh?
Skye says
Hang in there, mama! You can get through this.
Julie says
Thanks 🙂 At least I know I’m not the only one who has had to deal with this.
Heather @ Divas Run for Bling says
Good job staying on top of things…high blood pressure and gestational diabetes runs in the women of my family so it’s something I will have to keep an eye on when I get pregnant
Julie says
It kind of seems to be a crap shoot on whether you’ll get it or not, so just something to be aware of, but not necessarily expect to get.
Tammy says
My DIL had that with all 4 of her children and she didn’t know how bad it was until she was pregnant with the 2nd one. She said she got so tire of eating bacon and eggs. It was rough but worth it in the end. Good luck to you.
Julie says
I like bacon and eggs fine, but I miss chocolate heh 🙂
Sallie Borrink says
I had gestational diabetes as well and had to do insulin for several weeks. Then my body adjusted and I didn’t have to do insulin the last month or so of my pregnancy (although I still had to test and eat according to my guidelines). The good part is you and the baby are healthy and you definitely don’t gain extra weight! LOL! I gained five pounds in one week and my doctor didn’t even blink because he knew it had to be water since my diet was so controlled. 🙂
Julie says
I’m hopeful that I won’t need to go insulin because that sounds like it adds a new layer of complication but as long as baby and I are healthy and this helps, that’s what matters.
Michelle says
Good for you for being on top of this and managing your health! I flunked the 1 hour glucose 4 different times & had to do the 3 hour, which I did pass. But, I desperately despised the orange crush nastiness that was the glucose drink.
Julie says
Wow they let you take the 1 hr multiple times?