I saw the OB on Thursday; everything is going well aside from the checking blood sugar bits. Honestly, my test results weren’t that bad. In a normal, non-pregnant person a doctor wouldn’t even require the daily testing. In fact, they are probably pretty much where they have always been at that “pre-diabetic” or insulin-resistant level. (And actually, Unlike other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by blocking effects of other hormones (such as estrogen, cortisol and others) on the insulin that is produced, which is what insulin resistance actually is, so in a way, I’ve had “gestational” diabetes for at least the five or six years that we’ve been monitorring it). They set the bar lower (or higher I guess, depending on how you look at it) for pregnant women, to catch more potential diabetics. Also, pregnancy puts a lot of strain on the pancreas, and as it progresses, its quite common for blood sugar issues to get worse. Early monitoring can catch it before it gets to a dangerous level.
I understand that. Although gestational diabetes isn’t correlated with birth defects (unlike regular diabetes, where flucuating glucose levels in the first trimester can cause issues), it often results in overly large babies, which of course makes the birth more difficult and increases the risks of birth injuries. It can also result in the baby being born with low blood sugars requiring IV feedings of glucose immediately after birth, as well as potential respitory problems because too much insulin or too much glucose in a baby’s system may delay lung maturation (particularly a problem in premature babies of gestational diabetics).
Understanding the need doesn’t make it any easier though. I still cringe every time I have to pop the button on my lancer thingamajiggie.
I’m afraid that my food journal and blood test results are going to be unhelpful at the follow up class next Wednesday. I’ve had a cold since Thursday and my eating habits are abnormal.  I get hungry occasionally, but very little sounds good. All I really want is ginger ale – which I would be sipping all day long if I could. I’m certainly not eating 6 meals a day, each at least 2 hours apart without any carbs in between those meals (thanks to the gingerale). I’ve had only one reading in 12 that was really high (and not even high enough to be “quick call the doctor” high), and I’d been nursing my gingerale that entire two hours after the “meal”.Â
The OB did call a referral over to the diabetes education center for one on one nutritional counseling though. I put off calling yesterday because of my cold, but I’ll probably call Monday and see about scheduling it for later in the week.