It's Finger Prickin' Time!

Well, I failed my glucose screening test. And then I failed my 3 hour glucose screening test. What does that mean? I have been blessed with gestational diabetes.

What is it:
Diabetes is high blood sugar. When a woman has high blood sugar only while she is pregnant, it is a special type called Gestational Diabetes. Usually the blood sugar is kept in the normal range by insulin made by the body. Most of the time, pregnant women make more insulin to lower the blood sugar. However, some women cannot do this, and these are the women who develop gestational diabetes. This usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy and goes away after the baby is born.

Who Gets it:
The woman most likely to develop gestational diabetes has had:
Gestational diabetes before
a baby that weighed 10 pounds or more
a history of diabetes in her family
high blood sugar while using birth control pills
a stillborn baby
is very overweight

Treatment:

Blood sugar levels are managed by eating a strict low fat, low sugar diet that includes lots of meats and veggies. I will have to prick my finger before and after every meal to check my blood sugar. If blood sugar cannot be managed by diet, insulin pills are given. (Insulin counteracts blood sugar, its like the "eraser")

How does it affect baby?

Basically, if blood sugar levels are not managed, the baby can gain excessive weight. And no one wants a fat baby! Also, since the baby is so used to their own glucose levels being so high, they can sometimes have problems regulating their own blood sugar after birth. In that case they would be given insulin supplements.

I am meeting with a diabetes specialist today to discuss my new "diet". Yay. Please say a prayer that I am able to stick to this new meal plan. Food has always been a downfall for me, especially sweets!