Thursday, August 28, 2008

Gestational Diabetes

I don't think that I've got it, but my initial screening test last week resulted in being close to the suspicious range. So this morning, I had to do the three hour follow-up test.

Here's how the test goes (sorry to those who are slightly squeamish):
I have to fast (not eat) for 8 to 12 hours before the test
I get to the lab and they draw blood for a baseline blood glucose level
I drink 10 ounces of lemon-lime flavored sugar syrup (it tastes like Sprite or 7-Up with carbonation) within five minutes
For the next three hours, I get my blood drawn every hour on the hour

In the past, I've had issues with having my blood drawn. Not because I'm squeamish and hate having my blood drawn, but I think it's because my body keeps the lowest level of blood necessary to keep me conscious. Any loss of blood, and I'm fading to black. And now, I've got low blood sugar because I've been fasting and they are taking blood like it's going out of style? It's a miracle that I didn't pass out today.

Hopefully, my results from this test will show that I do not have gestational diabetes. I really don't want to have to deal with that. That would bite. To have an uneventful pregnancy up to now and then to get diagnosed with that?

1 comment:

Shennie said...

Lots of women get it and once they squirt out the kid, the body goes back to normal. It's probably cuz the kid is so sweet!

Good luck, hope your test is negative. I had to have it YEARS ago and I was fine - actually very close to leaning in the OTHER direction. But that stuff you drink can be nasty. My teeth hurt thinking about it.