My roller coaster of exercise training was quickly halted in August of 2012 when I found out The Man and I were expecting our first child! It was nice to have something besides my foot injury (still there btw) to focus on. I finally had a break from working out and was able to concentrate on this new chapter in our lives! I should have started blogging again then, because during the last 30 weeks I would have had many wonderful (and not so wonderful) stories to share... but I didn't. I thought this topic was important to talk about so I'm blogging now!
Most of you know I am a fairly healthy eater and I try to get regular exercise... the foot injury really put a damper on that, but I still tried hard to fight it. So when I got pregnant I put the training and borderline obsessive food logging aside and decided just to enjoy food for a change. I ate when hungry, indulged here and there (hello, pregnant over thanksgiving and Christmas is amazing) but also still tried to eat balanced, because nutrition is still important for this growing boy (yes it's a boy!!) inside me! So when it came time for my glucose test 2 weeks ago I didn't have any concerns. I have no risk factors, although I did manage to pack on 30lbs in those first 28 weeks I am not overweight and I do not feel like I look giant.
Glucose test #1- the one famous one hour test.
First let me mention my doctor told me to eat a normal breakfast that morning, and so I did. I made myself a nice green smoothie out of fruit juice, fruit, spinach and some chia seeds- drank it down and left an hour later to go start my test. Shortly after my test I would consider this a mistake, but after learning more about GD I have learned it was exactly what I should have done. The purpose of the test is to determine how your body handles glucose normally- if I had fasted for that test or otherwise messed with my normal food intake I may not be getting the support the BABY needs now.... also as you will read later, it likely wouldn't have made a difference either way fasting or not!
So I show up to my doctors office feeling unemotional either way about the test- no anxiety, nothing. They ask me if I want the lemon/lime flavor or the orange flavor- several other ladies in the waiting room encourage me to do the orange, so that is what I pick. They told me I had 5 minutes to drink it and as soon as I was done I was to return to the desk and they would start my timer. I drank that bottle in probably 1 minutes because I was overheating and it tasted like orange gaterade/koolaid- returned it to the lady and took my seat to wait the one hour for my blood to be drawn.
During that hour I got to see my OB for a normal checkup- found out my blood pressure was awfully high and was told to lay down. My blood pressure was 134/89- my doctor starts to consider bedrest at 135/90. That scared me... 15 minutes later they retested my blood pressure and it had dropped a little to 124/83. Doc was still concerned so he ordered a preeclampsia blood panel to be taken at the same time my glucose sample was taken (and an iron test for good measures). Shortly after I finished with my doctor my one hour timer dinged and I was sent in to get blood drawn- always a fun adventure for me. After 2 failed atempts in my arms (and ALOT of pain) the tech finally agreed to take it out of my hand (as I recommended in the first place)... she drew all the needed blood and told me my iron levels were perfect and I would get a call about everything else later in the day.... and then sent me home.
The next few hours of the day were a little stressful for me- the idea of bedrest does not appeal to me in anyway like it might some overly tired pregnant ladies- infact the idea of it about kills me. I was sure my glucose test was fine so I spent that time stressing over my PreE blood panel.... then I got the call that I failed my glucose test... by alot... Infact my number was 198 and I needed a 135 to pass- opps! I would need to come in the following Tuesday for the 2 hour test. Still, no big deal- at this point I'd gladly take GD over PreE and bedrest!! So I wait and wait and wait for another call about my blood panel and finally find out it was perfect... this is when I began the stressing over GD.
I spent that Friday researching GD, what the diet looks like, what the risks for the baby were... basically what would my next 12 weeks be like. I also tried to stay positive that maybe I would pass the 2 hour test- which I was instructed to fast for... I was angry that my doctor told me to eat that normal breakfast before the first test and was sure that the 40g carb green smoothie I had prior to the test had faulted my results. But just incase I started on the GD diet based on the stuff I could find online. After all, diabetes is no joke right- and I didn't want to hurt the baby.
Glucose Test #2- The Famous 2 hour test (previously 3hr test)
That Tuesday I arrived at my doctors office after 12hours of fasting a little nervous about the test, but certain I could handle failing again- the diet didn't seem too awful and at this point I'll do anything for this baby- surely eating healthier and poking myself a few times a day are little to pay for a healthy son! I was also optimistic that I would pass since I hadn't had that glucose loaded smoothie prior to my appt. The first thing they did was take my fasting sugars. I tested 78 which was well below the 90 I needed to continue the test- at this point I was laughing inside and yelling at that smoothie at the same time.
While getting my fasting blood drawn I noticed the lab tech across from me with some brochures in her hand talking to a young pregnant lady- she explained that she had tested 185 and needed a 180 to pass and so they were stopping her test early- she was getting her Gestational Diabetes diagnosis right then and there. I felt so bad for her as she looked so scared- I was swooped off to the waiting room before I could do any more eavesdropping.
I was given the same orange drink with the same 5 minute time period to drink it- and finished it quickly and took my seat. I was to sit in that waiting room for an hour, so I read some magazines, watched the clock... and waited. About 15minutes into my wait the girl I mentioned previous burst out of the lab area overcome with tears and ran out of the office- I truly felt awful for her! After an hour they called my name, drew my blood and sent me back to the waiting room for another hour.
When 50 minutes had passed and they called my name I noticed the lab tech had those same lovely brochures in her hand and I jokingly told her I was not happy to see them... She then informed me that I had failed the 2nd draw so they were stopping the test- my number was 202 (um yes, WAY higher then poor sad girl running out of the office). She told me the diabetic program from the hospital I would be delivering at would be calling me that day to set up an appointment to discuss what this meant, handed me a prescription for the materials I would be needing but told me not to get them until after my first appt with the Diabetic counselor and recommended I stay away from high sugar items until that first appt- she handed me 2 very vague brochures and then she sent me on my way....
I exited the building got to my car and made it about 2 blocks before the tears started... I was so angry and mad at myself- and confused. I was a pretty healthy person, I didn't have any of the standard indicators (overweight, family history, poor eating habits, ect)... maybe all the candy I ate was the cause and oh man what a guilt trip I laid on myself right then and there. My brothers had both cautioned me against eating so much candy (although I honestly didn't eat nearly as much as I think they both thought I did) and I could just hear them now rubbing that in my face and calling me a horrible mom. My doctors had actually encouraged me to keep hard candy with me so that when I was feeling tired or lightheaded I could perk myself back up- I'd say most days I had maybe 5ish jolly ranchers, and maybe once a week I would indulge in one of those single serving bags of candy (like from the grocery checkout).... but at that moment I was certain that candy was the reason for my diagnosis.
I made it home and waited for my call from the diabetic program- didn't get one. The next day I decided to call and their computers were down so they were going to have to call me back... long story short I didn't get into my first session until a week after my official diagnosis- talk about a stressful week. I continued to follow the information I had found online and although I was much more accepting and confident in my ability to manage this effectively I was still worried about what all it meant.
The Joslin Center- Diabetic Counseling
And that leads me up to the first appointment at The Joslin Center. I finally made it into the class. There were 4 other girls besides me and we started out with a nurse who gave us a very basic overview of what is happening in our bodies because of the diabetes. Infact that candy I had eaten was in no way to blame for my diagnosis, what a relief it was to hear that! She then gave us our meters and showed us how to use them. I poked my finger a good 4 times before she came over and showed me that I was indeed able to get the blood I needed if I would just squeeze my finger a little... I felt foolish, but also so thankful I decided to try it there instead of at home by myself! I was 2 hours past my last meal so she said I would need to be under 120 (130 an hour after the meal, and under 95 any other time)... I tested a wonder 104 and was pleased with myself. I was also pleased that the finger poking was not bad at all- nothing like the finger pokes they do at the doctors office that is for sure!! She also showed us how to fill out our handy dandy record books too- fabulous!
Next up we had class with a dietian who went over food portions and what our diets should look like. This part was somewhat boring for me- I've measured and weighed my food for YEARS, I know how to read nutritional panels, and I sure know the difference between a smart choice and a bad choice... I was surprised to hear that she wanted me to eat at the higher level of my carb allowances, but agreed to it anyway and then asked her to send me requirements for protein and fat intake as well- if I have to monitor one I might as well monitor them all.
My diet will look like this
Breakfast 15-30g Carbs
Snack 15-30g Carbs
Lunch 45-60g Carbs (stick to 45g)
Snack 15-30g Carbs
Dinner 45-60g Carbs (try 60g)
Snack 15-30g Carbs
Really not hard to follow at all (cept breakfast- no cereal... BOO)
She also said things like not to worry about the carbs in condiments, peanut butter, even a serving of creamer in our coffee didn't need to be counted.... I started wondering why I was so worked up over this in the first place and immediately felt calmer. She also instructed me to eat whatever I wanted at my baby shower that weekend, one day of high numbers wouldn't be a problem.... I loved her!
I drove home feeling MUCH better about my diagnosis. The testing wasn't awful- the food part wasn't bad either, infact they wanted me to increase my carb intake over what I had been eating this last week- how could that be bad!
First Post Meal Testing Experience
Since the dietian recommended I eat closer to the 60g carb allowance for dinner I decided to try it out that night- I measured and weighed my food on my food scale, and enjoyed every bite. I then waited the appropriate hour after the start of my meal as instructed during class and broke out my testing equipment. I washed my hands as recommended and proceeded with the test... my reading 180.... I almost cried. I need to be under 130. But I then rememered her saying if you get a high number you should test again... so I did.... 146... WHAT?? Ok, so which one is right now? So I tested a 3rd time.... 177.... seriously now I was mad. So I wash my hands again, change the lance (needle) in the poker and tried one more time... 132. Seriously?!?!?!?! This all happened in a 5 minutes window, and I washed my hands inbetween each test. 180 or 132... which is it? Because it really does matter.
Meter Issues- Maybe Not
I called the meter company and they inform me that the standards say readings should be within 20% of eachother, and mine appear to be about 12% so they believe the meter is working just fine. But they also agreed to send me some control solution- supposedly I will use it to test the accuracy of the meter to determine if it needs to be calibrated. The next morning I called the Joslin center to talk with my nurse and she recommended throwing out the bottle of test strips and starting with a new bottle. She told me the numbers shouldn't be that far off, to record the lowest number I had gotten and to keep using it for the remainder of the week- If I get readings in the normal range record them, if I get higher readings test again and record the lowest one, and if I am still having problems we will get me a new meter next week when I have my followup visit.
Learning Curve
This morning was my first "fasting" draw and my numbers were in the desired range which made me happy- took a few pokes and a few test strips to finally get a reading on my meter (I dont bleed well... so I wasn't getting enough blood the first time) but I was happy to be in the "safe" zone. I ate breakfast- a slice of toast with peanut butter and half a glass of milk rounding in around 20g of carbs...then I anxiously watched the clock for an hour to check my levels. One hour later I washed my hands and 3 pokes and 2 strips later finally had enough blood- my score was a very acceptable 107 (needed to be under 130). I was very pleased! Perhaps it was just that vial of test strips. I am hoping soon I'll figure out a rhythm and will only have to poke once and use one strip each time- I hear the strips can get expensive and insurance doesn't like to pay for extras...
So look for more updates on my journey with GD over the next 10 weeks of my pregnancy- maybe some newly diagnosed mom will get some comfort in what I have written... until then XOXOXO
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