Ah, the glucose drink:
equal parts Hi-C and Satan’s semen. #fact
I had five minutes to consume the repulsive concoction. Always the overachiever; I chugged it in
two.
Oh boy, did I feel lousy!
My heartburn was off the charts. I
was sick, unfocused and sluggish. But as
I waited the requisite hour for my blood draw, I tried to remain positive. It will
all be over soon I repeated to myself.
At least that’s what I thought until the nurse called today
with the results. 158. Almost 30 points over the normal level.
I’d have to schedule another test – this time a three hour
fasting blood draw. Again I’d suffer the
saccharine solution. Again I’d starve. Again I’d be KO’d for 48 hours.
Of course, next up in the parade of feelings was guilt. Did I do this to myself? Could this have been prevented? Have I endangered my baby?
A few deep breaths later I did some research. Here’s my rudimentary understanding so far:
During pregnancy, it seems the placenta is created to manage
baby’s food and water intake – like some kind of bloody, amorphous nutritionist.
 |
| "...the placenta is created to manage baby’s food and water intake – like some kind of bloody, amorphous nutritionist." |
Unfortunately, the placenta can step on your
own insulin’s toes. With baby’s new food
management system interfering with yours, the body produces more insulin to
compensate… and away we go…
I read somewhere the normal pregnancy weight gain for a woman
of my BMI is 1 pound a week – if that’s true, I’m right on target. And while gestational diabetes does occur
more often in females over the age of 25; it seems without a history of obesity
or familial diabetes I had no real reason to fret ‘til now.
If this all a fluke – great!
But even if it isn’t, I read most women with GD go on to adjust their
diets; birth healthy babies and quickly shed the condition themselves.
I should know one way or the other early next week. Until then, I’m resolved to walk a little
more and eat a little better.
I’ll keep you guys posted!
