Ah the Glucola test.
The ONE test that all us mama's dread and some get the opportunity to do it twice. In my first pregnancy, I failed the one hour Glucose test, but passed the three hour with flying colors; however, with this current pregnancy, I unfortunately failed both the one hour and the three hour Glucose test.
It was a complete shock to me. After all, I had passed with my previous pregnancy and the only risk marker that I hit was being of an older age(though 32 mind you isn't old). I ate healthy, I was kind of active, but unfortunately when those results came in through my online portal I couldn't help but feel my heart sink down into the pit of my stomach.
Like most mama's that get the news of their diagnosis, it was a culture shock. All the what-ifs and what did I do? swarmed my head; however, it's as simple as this: I did nothing wrong, it just happens and all I can do now is watch and track what I eat throughout the remainder of my pregnancy. Fortunately, it SHOULD go away once I deliver and it's fairly rare that diabetes sticks around even though I do have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life.
So what now?
About a week after my initial diagnosis, I got my supplies from the pharmacy, went through my diabetic classes with a registered dietitian and then was instructed to test my blood sugars 4 times a day: Fasting sugar first thing in the morning and 2 hours post breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'm reportedly NOT a breakfast eater at all, pre-pregnancy you were lucky to just get a cup of coffee in me(which I've actually cut out for the duration of the pregnancy as I have read that caffeine can elevate some people's blood sugars) and then be solid until lunch time. Now I'm finding it's all about balance with GDM and you are constantly on the tightrope doing a balancing act of making sure your sugars are in a nice, happy medium place and not dipping too low or spiking too high.
For me personally, my OBGYN wants my fasting sugars to stay between the range of 70-95 mL, then post meals 70-120 mL. I've found that each OBGYN wants something different, so if you get your GDM diagnosis, go with what your care team wants you to do.
For the most part, I think I have a fairly good handle at it, I've been going at this for about 4 weeks now and only had four spikes in total(though I'm sure as the pregnancy progresses that number is sure to change). Everybody tracks their levels differently, but as we all know I'm extra with a capital 'E' and I created a Google-sheet where I could access it either via computer(which I'm tied down to a lot during the work day) or my cellphone(which I always have on me).
I have the Freestyle Lite machine, which works pretty well. The lancets don't hurt(though I will say that my fingertips are starting to get sore) and the machine itself reads pretty quick.
This is a reading two hours after drinking some water and eating a multi-grain skinny with peanut butter on it. A pretty light breakfast, but since I had to go to the office this morning after dropping Lou-bird off at daycare, it was something easy for me to munch on when I drove into work.
This is a pretty typical breakfast reading for me, which is good since they say your blood sugar levels can be harder to control in the morning.
The Good ole' ball and chain, I have this little bag on my person everywhere when I'm out and about. It fits nicely in my Lululemon belt bag(yes I'm one of those girls) next to my wallet. I have plenty of lancets, the test strips and the machine itself for quick readings if I'm out and about. I always try to wash my hands when I need to get a reading for the most accurate result; however, I also have some alcohol pads tucked away in the pocket as well as a bandaid if needed.
All and all, I've kept a pretty positive outlook on my diagnosis. Sure, I have downs where all I want to do is eat ALL the cookies and ice cream my little heart desires; however, I wouldn't say my diet itself has changed drastically. I've always generally ate pretty low-carb, but there are certain things like french fries and potatoes that make my blood sugars go bananas(learned that the hard way). I generally always try to load up on protein and healthy fats, veggies that are complex carbs(broccoli is a staple in my household) and always look at nutrition labels and menus when shopping for groceries or even going out.
Which is a whole other can of worms when dealing with GDM.
So far I've had good luck with Chick-fil-A and Mexican food. When eating Chick-Fil-A I opt for the 8 piece chicken nugget(regular not grilled) and the side salad. I'm actually not a dressing eater, so I always just eat my salads dry and toss the chicken nuggets on top of the salad with 1/2 a bag of those crunchy bits. I've eaten this combo twice and my numbers have always turned out amazing!
Mexican food I've had a couple of things that have so far worked for me. For starters, I stay away from the tortilla chips(ugh I know torture) and opt for either the chicken fajitas or I had the pollo loco(it's basically a grilled chicken breast smothered in cheese sauce and onions) with refried beans. Beans are one of those complex carbs that take longer to break down and I can usually tolerate a few bites of them as long as I eat my protein first. Again, great numbers, just have to stay away from the tortillas!
Now I know what the next question is.....what about if I have a sweet tooth?
It's simple, moderation; however, as I progress I'm trying to stray away from eating too many sugars just to give myself peace of mind. Though if I am hankering for ice cream(it's starting to get warm in Iowa), I always opt for either a Yasso bar(so far my favorite is the Mint Chocolate Chip) or the Enlighten bars. They're lower in carb and satisfy that sweet craving, also I've heard that dairy helps stabilize your blood sugars over night so that your liver doesn't glucose bomb you because you've fasted too long.
In addition to me making subtle diet changes I've tried to increase the exercise....and not including chasing around a VERY active 4 year old little boy. During my lunch breaks I try to at least get a mile walk in if not a mile and a half. If the weather is nice outside, there is a trail right outside of my office that I can walk and enjoy the sunshine, otherwise I fully take advantage of the treadmills my work provides for us. If I'm working from home, I take the opportunity to take our doggo Rey on our 'hot girl walk' around our neighborhood. She loves it, though I think lately she thinks mommy is probably pushing her too hard.(Yes, I'm one of those weirdos that refers to her dog as one of her kids, she'll ALWAYS be my baby).
All and all if I have any words of wisdom to provide for you if you are going through this as well is "It's going to be okay".
It's completely normal to feel guilty when you spike and to go through all the emotions when you are going through this, because IT IS HARD. I always try to take it one day at a time and make the best decisions for that day and if you have ANY questions, contact your care team with your concerns. That is what they are there for! :) And it is perfectly fine that even if you cannot be diet/exercise controlled and need to get put on Insulin or Metformin, that is okay too! At the end of the day, we're doing this for our little babes growing inside of us and it'll be all worth it in the end.
So chin up mama, it's not forever <3
I hope to continue to be able to manage my numbers with diet and exercise alone and so far I'm doing very well. I will have a growth scan around 35/36 weeks to make sure that he isn't too big(though Lou was a whopping 8 lbs 14 oz and I anticipate him being around the same size), but other than that my OBGYN care team have told me that as long as my numbers continue to stay managed and nothing else changes, I could technically go all the way up to 41 weeks; however, if I wanted to get induced around the 39 week mark I could have that option as well. We'll just have to see, he'll come when he comes.
-XOXO Midwest Mommie
