I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in week 31 of the pregnancy -- and I'm already at week 33.
I had to do the typical glucose tolerance test, which required fasting all night and a good part of the morning, and drinking a small bottle of sickly sweet soda and having my blood sugar levels tested every hour for 3 hours. Apparently my readings did not make the cut of typically normal sugar level readings.
It was a bit unsettling at first, to receive a voice message from the nurse, and then to speak to one of the doctors in the practice, who immediately told me the levels were "out of normal range" and referred me to a specialist.
When I first heard the words "gestational diabetes," I thought of daily insulin injections, large babies and potential pregnancy complications. Then when I spoke with other moms, I found out that some of them had GD too, and were able to control it with diet and exercise, and never actually got to the insulin stage. They apparently eliminated the diabetes postpartum, which gave me even more hope.
To an extent, understanding the condition makes it more manageable. What's happening is that due to pregnancy hormones and other factors, my body is either not making enough insulin or my cells are not using it properly. This causes the glucose to build up in my blood, hence the high blood sugar readings.
I can't say having GD is the easiest thing in the world to live with, but it's not the worst either. I have to prick my finger 6 times daily to measure the blood glucose. I keep logs of these levels as well as what I eat daily, and see an epidemiologist and nutritionist every two weeks.
Sometimes monitoring the glucose can get confusing, if not somewhat contradictory. You attempt to lower glucose levels by lowering your carb intake, then find out that your carb intake has to be higher to keep the keytone levels in your blood low, and the baby's needs met. You try to eat less, but then find out that a GD patient has to eat more frequently to keep the levels stable -- every two to three hours, ideally, plus a late night snack.
Sounds a bit schizo I know, but since I have changed my diet, pretty much avoiding all simple sugars and starches, my moods have undeniably changed for the better! Although I occasionally get upset and start crying uncontrollably from time to time, provoked by causes sometimes out of left field, the instances are rarer. More and more I feel like I am on level train tracks versus a roller coaster. All things for good, I tell myself, and also, this too shall pass, G-d willing.
