That’s for gestational diabetes…which I found out yesterday that I do have…which I am NOT very happy about.
So I spent most of yesterday reacting. The morning was mostly spent sobbing in frustration. Then I sulked a good bit of the rest of the day. I was pretty much bummed. As if the next few weeks won’t be hard enough, now I have to deal with this, too. YUCK! (Can you sense I’m still not totally over it…)
By last night, I was trying to focus on other things and was even able to laugh a little bit about it (well, at least about my reaction). And I had a nice time at our church’s moms’ group so that helped.
This morning, I had to meet with a nurse to get started on stuff. I’m slightly less frustrated now. She had me watch a video and walked me through some stuff. Here’s the results:
- To “fail” Wednesday’s glucose test, the blood sugar had to be high in 2 of the 4 blood draws. Mine was high in 2 of the 4 blood draws. And both were about 10-12 milligrams (or whatever measurement they use) over the limit, which doesn’t seem that high to me. But basically, I have this “issue” ONLY because of the second placenta. That’s pretty much it.
- Editorial comment: I find myself very resentful of that placenta. Not the baby, of course, I want the baby. But I’m mad at the placenta. I know it’s necessary for the baby. But I’m bitter about the whole thing. Dumb placenta.
- I now have to test my blood 4 times a day until the babies are born. She gave me my very own monitor and a starter pack of test strips, etc, and taught me how to use it. I have to test about 2 hours after every meal, and I have to keep a meticulous log of the readings.
- Editorial comment: I have to prick my fingers to get the blood reading, and it does hurt a little. Also, I will now have to plan into my day how I’ll get the testing done after each meal. I guess I’ll have to take the meter everywhere with me or never leave the house. Boy, doesn’t the next (hopefully) 8 weeks sound like fun for me?!?
- Next week, I have to meet with a dietician. That was one of the most frustrating things of all. I have to start testing now, but won’t have much help on what to do about the readings until late next week. Thankfully, today’s nurse did give me some basic food guidelines since I have no real idea of what a meal plan should look like. But it seems I’ll be guessing for a week, so hopefully we can figure something out…
Okay, enough of my bitter, cranky spirit. I’m sure I’ll get used to it eventually. But it’s still hard right now. I want to spend a lot of time whining to God about “Why me?” and “Poor me”. But seriously, it could be much, much worse. In fact, at 29 weeks of a twin pregnancy, I should be ecstatic that this is the worst thing that’s happened so far. Still, I know God and I need to do a lot of work on my attitude.
Oh! And on a totally random side note, a spider attacked me this morning! Okay, maybe not attacked, but while driving home this morning, a huge, fuzzy black spider started crawling up my belly! And I couldn’t get it off me! I had a small panic attack, trying to get it off me while keeping my car on the road. I’m sure anyone who saw me thought I was having a seizure or something. Still, I did finally manage to flick it onto the floor and it’s probably hiding under my seat, plotting its revenge for the next time we use my car. Maybe I’ll make Eric drive it next… 
So sorry about the GD and the spider! 🙁
So sorry to hear about this, as if pregnancy isn’t tough enough! I am sure you will get through this though once you get some help on diet etc!
BUT remember you are so blessed with your healthy little ones, Praise God that:
a) you are pregnant and
b) you have 2 healthy little ones growing inside you.
Maybe if you try and remember that then it will help get through this. At least it isn’t forever and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
This is from a girl who doesn’t understand really what having GD means but I wanted to encourage you that there is an end and you are very blessed!
Sorry to hear about this. Just know I am keeping you in my prayers. Have been anyway but now I know how to pray.
I’m sure this will be a challenge but, the outcome…after the pregnancy is so worth it! I went through so much with my last pregnancy…weekly shots to keep the baby in…7 weeks of total bedrest…many infections…all kinds of “yuck”. I know how tough it can be to have something unexpected thrown in. Praying for you!
@mke813 – I suppose a better way to say it is that my pancreas can’t quite over-produce enough to outdo the extra hormones from the second placenta. I guess most women’s bodies can though (lucky for them)…I’m still annoyed mine can’t!
I burst out laughing at the spider thing. I imagine it plotting against you and I giggle a little.
Sorry about the diabetes! I was very glad I didn’t have that. I wonder how they blame it on the second placenta. I know many women who had two babies/two placentas, and none of us had diabetes.
Even more sorry about the spider. I don’t know if I could have kept the car on the road with a spider in the car with me. And I would definitely make Eric drive it next. I look around for spiders even if know I killed them the first time!
is there a correlation with GD and petite people? just curious-it seems to be a trend.
i’m so very, very sorry you’re facing this. i haven’t faced this before, so i don’t know what it’s like specificially. but, i know that anying complication like this is no fun at all. hang in there. I’ll pray for you.
HUGS to you – so sorry you have to deal with all of this. I’ll be praying for you that you can accept this new challenge and deal with it as best as possible.
*Sigh* When you were going in for the second test, I had a feeling it would be positive. (I was praying otherwise though!) I completely understand your frustration. Don’t let it get the best of you! And hey, you get to have your babies early, so you don’t have to prick yourself nearly as long as most pregnant mommies!
When I took the second test, I was only over the limit a bit in one out of four (the first hour), but I was so close in the second, they diagnosed me anyway. Super, super frustrating…especially when it meant twice as many doctor appointments. Retrospectively, I’m glad I went through it all and everything turned out fine, because if it happens next time (with same borderline results) I will agree to change my diet but I won’t pay for the extra doctor since I learned all the techniques the first time. Obviously if I’m way over the limit I’ll have to see the specialist but otherwise, I’m putting my foot down. I’m a stubborn person. 
Oh, and you know what really irked me? When I went into the hospital for a special non-stress test and a sono around week 34 (the baby decided to sleep through the NST at the doctor’s office) they knew I was GD and yet they made me go without food for SIX hours! How stupid can you get, seriously?! I didn’t have anything with me, my hubby had to go to work, I got horribly nauseous, and was SO mad I had to lay in a hospital bed and wait for a sono even after they knew the baby was moving again. Gah.
Ha, sorry about the rant.
If you need any advice about the whole GD thing, let me know! Biggest thing that worked for me: no huge meals with tons of food all at once. 
Those were the only three times my blood sugar was too high…when I ate big meals at Chili’s. Oh, and DON’T pig out right before going in to deliver! Normal pregnant women can do this, but if you’re GD they’ll test the babies’ blood sugar after birth and if you ate too much before delivering, their blood sugar will probably be a bit low, which causes nurses to freak out and try to forcefeed the babies (which never goes well because newborns aren’t supposed to need to eat much right after birth anyway). Totally happened with me and I wished someone had explained that possibility to me before I had my “last” meal (which, of course, I pigged out on). They took the baby to NICU and I wasn’t allowed to nurse right away because of that. Really sucked.
I had GD too with Hudson. In fact I failed the first glucose test so bad that my dr didn’t feel it was safe to do the 3 hr test. 🙁 So I know what you’re going through.
If you have any question feel free to ask, I just went through this 🙂 Praying for you!
So sorry to hear this, Shan. I’m praying already, but as you get more specific information, keep me posted so I can adjust my prayers accordingly.
I HATE it when critters are in the car with me. It makes spiders, bees, whatever, 10 times worse when it’s in the car!
Prayed for you just now, Shannah. I keep wanting to wallow today too. I’ll pray God helps you focus on your blessings!! (and I never had GD, but several friends/family did, and nearly all of them said it wasn’t as bad as they thought it’d be)