Jul 24 2008
Gestational Diabetes
At 9:22 this morning my cell phone rang. The caller ID on the screen indicated that it was my OB/GYN’s office calling. With my appointment only a day away, it could only mean one thing: my 3-hour fasting glucose tolerance test came back positive for gestational diabetes.
I answered the phone and steeled myself for the news.
“Your results came in this morning,” the nurse began. “Your levels were elevated…”
She went on to tell me that they scheduled me for an appointment next week with the Fetal Diagnostic Center at Kapiolani Medical Center and enrolled me in the Sweeter Choice Program which includes a 4-hour class on how to manage my gestational diabetes. One thing I am grateful for is the support and education that is available to expectant mothers these days.
From the Kapiolani Medical Center website:
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to use sugar and as a result increases your risk for health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and atherosclerosis. As a diabetic, you should be under a doctor’s care and should regularly monitor your blood sugar levels.Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is important for all pregnant women. As a woman with diabetes, it is particularly important for you because you are at increased risk for complications during pregnancy. Diabetic women tend to give birth to larger babies, and therefore are more likely to need a Caesarean section. There is also an increased chance that your baby will be born with low blood sugar levels and may need to be treated in the intensive care unit following delivery.Can you minimize the complications associated with diabetes?
You can prevent many of the complications associated with diabetes simply by controlling your blood sugar levels during pregnancy. To control your blood sugar levels you will need to modify your diet, exercise regularly, and you may need to take insulin.
Needless to say, I’m bummed. Truthfully, I’d rather become a vegetarian than have to adhere to a diabetic diet. Taming my sweet tooth is going to be the toughest part of this ordeal, but perhaps this will force me to make wiser eating choices and prompt me to exercise more often (i.e., daily). Now it’s not going to be something that’s just good to do, but it’s now something that I MUST do.
I’ll be keeping a daily food diary and exercise log at the team Health & Fitness blog that I’ve been neglecting. Perhaps this will keep me from cheating (too much) on my diet. 
Day #1 is already posted.
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
Don’t fret … i feel that it is more common than you think. My neighbor (same fertility dr as you) had the same treatment about the same time in her pregnancy and even me toward the end of my two pregnancies. You will keep it in control and you and baby Krislyn will be fine. Isn’t it frustrating when you have been eating so healthy and gained soooo little weight !! They are just making sure that Baby will be born healthy. By the way, I’ve heard that diabetic mommies have BIG babies …that’s enough to make you watch your diet rather than suffer ….haha!
hugs,
lindy
Wow, sorry to hear that. When I saw your tweet I was immediately worried about the baby so comparatively I’m a bit relieved. Don’t take that the wrong way. However, that still sucks. Sorry to hear that. I’ll be keeping you and your baby in much prayer…
-Joe
@Lindy: Thanks for the encouragement! This will serve to help me be even more conscious about staying healthy for the baby. Yes, I read that about big babies, too!!! SCARY! Can you imagine me giving birth to a 10-pound baby? Ouch!
@Joe Philipson: I realized that after I tweeted that it must sound awful and have caused alarm to some. You’re right though, considering the alternatives, gestational diabetes isn’t awful. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers! I really do appreciate it!
The staff at Fetal Diagnosic Center are wonderful!
I visited them TWICE a week until Tai-Tai was born and they always made me feel so comfortable. I didn’t have gestational diabetes BUT I had a LARGE baby. LOL.
Your friend, Lindy, is quite right - gestational diabetes is more common. I met a new mommy at the pediatrician’s office who said she had gestational diabetes and it was very manageable. She and her wee one were happy & healthy!
@Roar: Glad to hear it! A nice staff is always good - especially when you are going through an ordeal! Hubby is doing a good job of keeping me positive. I know with his support, we’ll get through it just fine. Thanks!
As a type II diabetic, I can tell you it’s not all that fund to follow the diet but I will also say that having been diagnosed probably saved my life. The one thing that would concern me is that gestational diabetes is considered a 50% indicator for type II diabetes.
@Ryan S. You’re absolutely right. I’d rather be diagnosed and be able to do something about it now rather than suffer the consequences later. I hope that the diabetes goes away after I deliver, but either way, I’d probably want to take a cautious approach to how I eat/live even after pregnancy.
yea, i came right over to make sure you and baby were ok, even though we’re just “tweet” buddies. I’m relieved to hear that it’s not something worse. But I know it’s frustrating and a bum, because you can’t eat all the sweets that you want right now. But don’t worry - in the end, it’s all worth it…. hang in there.
hugs n’ aloha,
jen (lologrl on tweet)
@jen: Thanks for your concern! I know that all of my efforts will be worth it — especially when I will finally get to see her face-to-face.
Hi Donna, like I’ve said my wife went throught gestational diabetes and she and my daughter were just fine. Obviously, you should follow the prescribed precautions, but this is totally manageable. More prayers sent.
they say women with a sweet tooth make the best moms. by “they” i mean my uncle kimo.
Don’t worry. I had GDM with my first (not my second or third). The Sweeter Choice program was great.
And, if you keep your diabetes under control, you won’t have a gianormous baby (mine were all less than 6. lbs). Plus, if you DON”T control your diabetes, it will INCREASE baby’s risk of developing diabetes as an adult.
It will be okay. And it is temporary. Once the baby is born, you can go back to eating normally (it’s the hormones from the placenta that cause the GDM).
In the US, there are a lot of consumer products for diabetics like special ice cream, cookies and chocolates. Some taste pretty good. Give it a try and let your readers know what you think.
*HUGS* I had GD with my daughter. I got diagnosed @ 24 weeks and had to take insulin from 25 weeks onward. My daughter was born healthy and happy, at a perfectly normal weight and size.
All cases are different but diet and exercise are key to controlling any type of diabetes. I had to take. Here’s hoping you don’t have to take insulin like I did but since you’re already used to shots, it may not be as bad.
Being honest about your food intake is vital to controlling your GD. I used to be on GD boards where mamas would complain about their numbers but admit to cheating on their diets. Your diabetes management team is your best resource.
While I was on the GD diet, I didn’t eat a lot of the diabetic snacks. They didn’t fit into my carb count — which was 30g total carbs not net carbs which is what diabetic snacks count — but I found I didn’t like the taste. Everyone’s mileage varies in that regard.
If you have any questions, you can always ask me
I’m eager to share my experiences. It was hard being a pregnant foodie with GD but my daughter and I made it through just fine!
Hi Donna,
Judging from all the responses, you have a great support group to get you through this time! You are doing great and Baby will be here before you know it! Yes, being honest with what goes in your mouth will save you from a lot of stress and heartache, especially when you have to call in your numbers each week/see the Diabetic Nurse and Dietician like I did–and I was just “borderline.” Hang in there and please don’t hesitate to ask if/when you need encouragement–or anything!!!!!
hey donna…i know that you’ll be able to manage your GD…it’s tough but it’s worth it!!! you don’t want a big baby…i just delivered last week at 39 weeks and baby was 8lbs 11.3 oz and delivered without pain meds…carefully watching your blood glucose levels benefits you and baby tremendously!!!
if you have any questions or anything feel free to email me or pm me on hawaii moms. good luck girl! the hardest part of this is the mental part…somehow when they tell you to limit the stuff you want, it makes you want it more…
hi donna! aww, sorry to hear about your disappointing news, but it’s not that bad. matthew’s mom had the same thing, and while it was a bit annoying for a few weeks, it totally went away immediately after he was born. they did have to induce the labor when her due date came around so that he didn’t get too big. he was an average sized and healthy little baby!
btw, the fiance and i will be visiting oahu next month so there’s a chance that we might run into you!