Gestational Diabetes

The Gestational Diabetes Test

I took the fasting gestational diabetes test on Tuesday, and I must say that being denied food and water for 11-15 hours (depending on if you fast for 8 or 12 hours before the 3-hour exam) while pregnant is particularly cruel and unusual punishment. Basically you fast for 8-12 hours (I fasted for 9), then you go to your testing place. They draw your blood for the first time; then they have you drink a flat, super-sweet drink (lemon-lime or orange were the two options) in 5 minutes. You sit in their semi-comfortable chairs for an hour. Next, they call you in to draw your blood again. You wait another hour, get your blood drawn a third time. You go back to your seat and fidget while you try to get comfortable. After a third hour of waiting, they draw your blood for the fourth time, and you are allowed to leave.

Important Things To Know About the Gestational Diabetes Exam

1. The people drawing your blood need to draw it every hour on the hour. More than 5-10 minutes late, and they’ll make you redo the whole test. So be proactive if an hour is up, and they haven’t called your name. (I wasn’t told this fact until the last time they drew my blood, and they’d almost let me go too long. By that time I was tired, hungry and grumpy, so I was not at all pleased to hear they almost messed up and made me do the exam again.)
2. Don’t plan on driving yourself if you get tired, grumpy, stubborn and light-headed when you haven’t been fed for extended periods of time. Puck dropped me off for the exam and picked me up.
3. Plan ahead for what you will eat. You could pack a snack to eat immediately following the exam, and eat somewhere where you will get your food quickly and where you don’t have to spend time making it. We went out for Indian since they have a buffet that provided immediate satisfaction.
4. Prepare your husband for the fact that you might not be at your best when he picks you up. You’re most likely hungry, tired and somewhat uncomfortable from the fasting and 3 hours in waiting room chairs with no convenient way for elevating feet.
5. Know that you might be exhausted after the exam. Even after a full night’s sleep, I crashed as soon I got home and slept for 3 hours.

The Results

I had a regularly scheduled Ob/Gyn appointment yesterday afternoon, and the doctor told me at the appointment that I did not have gestational diabetes (though my results from one of the four tests was a bit high) but I am slightly anemic. He gave me a prescription for an iron supplement in addition to my prenatal vitamin.

Today a nurse from the birthing center called to tell me that I do have gestational diabetes and dismissed the Ob/Gyn’s diagnosis. According to her, even one high score means I have gestational diabetes, and I had a second score that was just barely above the acceptable levels. Frustrating to have different people telling you different things? You bet.

What’s Next

So I’ll be going to a class about eating appropriately (spreading carbs out through the day, not eating carbs on their own, and eating somewhat low carb) plus I’ll be learning to use a glucometer.