I’m going to be 28 weeks pregnant on Thursday, due mid-July. Last week, I took the one hour screening test for gestational diabetes, and failed it (sugar between 130 and 140 one hour after drinking the glucose drink). I took this one hour screening in my last pregnancy in 2012, and I guess I must have passed it, because I never heard anything more about it after that. I’m taking the three hour test tomorrow.
I’m freaking out, and I’d really like some reassurance. The idea of having diabetes really freaks me out, because I’m needle phobic. Is there something they can give you if you do have gestational diabetes that doesn’t require you to inject anything? I can’t even watch someone on TV get a shot, and I certainly can’t look when I get one. I don’t think they’d give someone an insulin pump for gestational diabetes, but I think that’s the only way I’d realistically be able to do insulin.
There’s also the fact that I do not do well at all on low-carb diets. I get really cranky and irritable after about a week. I think this is connected to my having depression (treated with an SSRI) and the body’s using carbs to make serotonin. Any kind of diet or exercise is going to be difficult, because I’m working full-time (until June) and have a toddler (she’ll be 3 in August). I feel like I’m stretched to my limit as it is. Mr. Neville is stretched, too- he’s trying to get travel for work in now, before the baby comes, so I can’t really ask him to do more. Our families don’t live nearby.
I’d love to hear some stories from people who failed the 1 hour test but went on to pass the 3 hour. I’m really, really hoping that’s what’s going to happen. Good thoughts, prayers, and sacrifices (at least if they’re of objectionable people or animals) are all welcome.
I failed my 1 hour and will take my 3 hour this Saturday. My OB said that he would not faint if it were positive, but that he would be very surprised. And my number was 153! He also said that it can often be controlled with diet alone. I don’t think that it means you have to stop eating carbs completely.
I failed the one hour but passed the three hour with my 2nd pregnancy. Take a deep breath and try not to solve problems that don’t yet exist, it sounds like you’ve got enough on your plate with what you have.
If you do fail the three hour they’ll give you lots of support and information to help out, but don’t worry about that until it happens (I know, I know, easier to say than to do)
Also remember that playing with your 3yr old totally counts as exercise and stress relief if you can find the happy place between something active that you both enjoy. I found aerobic’s tapes were the key to getting exercise when mine were little. Even when I didn’t feel like exercising they wanted to and would bounce around and sing, it’s not only adorable it actually was motivating too.
First of all, congrats. I did not know that you were pregnant.
I failed the first test with my last pregnancy, and passed the 3 hour one. So don’t panic until you get the results from that and talk to your doctor about it. But, especially if you are driving yourself home, do take a snack with protein for afterwards. My blood sugar dropped while I was driving home and it was Not. Good.
I failed the one hour and three hour test in my last pregnancy, but not by much. I was given a GD diet to stick to, but was not required to check blood sugars since my results were only slightly wonky. The GD diet stuck (I was allowed to eat some carbs, btw) - my baby’s five and I’m still eating that way, so it may not be as bad as you anticipate.
Hugs{{{{}}}}
I know lots of babies who’s moms had diabetes while carrying them who are great,smart,healthy kids and the moms are fine too… Take a deep breath,drink a glass of water and try not to worry until you really know. (Yeah,easy for me to say)
Even if you fail, you’ll just start out with some reasonable dietary advice and a blood glucose monitor. Gestational diabetes isn’t diabetes insipidus, it’s a usually temporary condition brought on by pregnancy; it needs to be kept in check, but it’s rarely a problem if it’s managed properly. My ex had it, watched her diet, kept her blood sugar low, and we had a healthy kid.
My wife failed the one hour and passed the three hour test with our first. When she was pregnant the second time, she and her OB/GYN agreed that she shouldn’t even bother with the one hour test, and go straight for the three hour test, which she again passed.
My understanding is that it is pretty darn common to fail the one hour and have no problem with the three hour test.
I failed the one-hour test–didn’t actually fail it but was very close to the line–but passed the three-hour one. Nurse suggested I have pancakes for breakfast that morning, so I did. (That has always kinda mystified me.)
I’m sorry you’re going through this and that is has alarmed you, but try to be calm about it, especially since you’re pregnant and any added stress isn’t going to help. The last thing you need now is high BP during your pregnancy due to stress.
I’m just going to say this - contrary to popular belief, conventional doctors are not gods and don’t know everything. You are smarter than you know, Anne, and I would greatly encourage you to do your research on how you can control, if not completely heal, the diabetes as naturally as possible. And it can be done! Know that. Regardless of your hectic schedule and depression, you can do this. If you really hate needles as much as you claim, then again…you can do this, and you’re capable of finding a way to solve this health crisis.
Do your research. Answers are out there, not just in a doctor’s office.
85% of women who “fail” the 1 hour test pass the 3 hour test. Don’t panic. Chances are far greater that you’ll be in that group than the other. And if you’re in the other, you’ll deal. And only 15% of those 15% who “fail” the 3 hour end up needing insulin. So your chances of needing insulin, no matter what, are really low.
(I don’t know if that was helpful or not. I hope so. When I was dealing with the higher risk parts of my last pregnancy, numbers helped me a lot.)
I, too, failed the one-hour, freaked out, and then passed the three-hour. It was with my second child and I didn’t end up having the same issue with my third (it was 8 years later and I was 41 when I got pregnant with him, so I was ready for all sorts of trouble, which, mercifully, never happened).
I failed the three hour test. Miserably. In fact, they stopped drawing after two hours, because I was up at 200+.
There were, of course, options. Since I was in a place where they don’t give Metformin during pregnancy, my choices were low-carbing it or insulin. I hate shots, so I low-to-no carbed it with the dieticians’ advice, tested sugars before and after every meal and exercised. Beans is a healthy 19mos, no problems at birth with a natural delivery.
I think in the US/UK Metformin is the first option? If that doesn’t work, it’ll come down to what you hate less. Even then, as they told me, you might still wind up on insulin.
Had the followup test yesterday. No call from them yet, but I don’t know if they would call me on my cell or not. They do have my cell number, but they don’t always call it. I’ve got a meeting at work where it would be helpful if I weren’t crying and freaking out (I did cry and freak out after I got my results from the screening test), so I’m not going to call them, get the results online, or anything (in case the result was not good). I’m mostly trying not to think about it. If tears (but not freaking out) do slip out, I’m planning to blame allergies (which, to be fair, I have been having).
I’ll find out when I go home tonight if they left a message on my answering machine at home. Yeah, I know, I’m a wuss. I will be at least cautiously optimistic if there is no message on my machine tonight. I wish I could have worked from home, but, stupid meetings.
Will they do that? Part of what I’m freaking out about is that I’m worried they will just tell me, “this is what you have to do, and if you object you’re being a big baby and/or a bad mother”.
Whatever the results, you and the baby will be fine.
Gestational diabetes can usually be controlled with diet if you do have it. Millions of women have had it, and usually didn’t know it, so testing is a good thing for many, many reasons.