The One In Which I Fail My Glucose Test.
Yeah, so that happened.
I used to wonder why women who failed their tests or ended up being diagnosed with gestational diabetes felt guilty. I mean, it’s not really something you can control. A healthy diet and continuing to exercise throughout pregnancy can help to reduce your chances of getting GD, but it won’t eliminate them. If you do those things and still end up with GD, there’s nothing to feel guilty about—gestational diabetes is the result of pregnancy hormones blocking the insulin your body produces from doing its job correctly, resulting in higher glucose levels in your blood…and we all know you can’t control pregnancy hormones. It truly is one of those things that is kind of out of our hands, so I never understood the feelings of guilt.
Until now.
My doctor’s MA called yesterday to inform me of my test results. Everything looks good, except…my levels were at 146 and my doctor’s cut-off is 140. Granted, I had just eaten lunch right before my test, so who knows if that skewed my results at all (I touched on this on Twitter, but I had no idea I was having my glucose test that day. I went for my regular appointment and they sent me to the lab. I actually really like this approach, as I didn’t have time to dwell on the test…and since I had eaten what is a normal breakfast and lunch for me, I felt like the results would be pretty accurate. Which clearly turned out to be a double-edged sword in this case).
So I now feel horribly guilty, like I’m not doing something right and I’m failing my son already. I’ve been so lucky to have such an easy and enjoyable pregnancy so far, and I can’t help but feel like this is karma kicking my ass about that. I know that these feelings are unfounded, but I still feel them. I mean, I eat a healthy, balanced diet; I’ve continued to exercise throughout pregnancy; and I try to take good care of myself in general—I get a lot of sleep, try as hard as I can to keep my stress levels low, and just be as healthy as I can be. My weight gain has been excellent, my blood pressure has been nice and low, and the size of the baby & my fluid levels have measured right on track. So why did I fail my glucose test?
Risk factors for GD include:
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Being older than 25 when you are pregnant
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Having a family history of diabetes
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Giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds or had a birth defect
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Having high blood pressure
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Having too much amniotic fluid
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Having had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
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Being overweight before your pregnancy
Of these, I have two of them, one of which I wasn’t aware of until recently. First off, I am 29 years old while pregnant, so definitely over the age of 25, and secondly, I just recently found out that my mom actually had GD while pregnant with me (but not while pregnant with my younger sister). Women with GD can have larger babies, which increases the chances of complications at birth, but luckily that was not the case with my mom—I was only 6 pounds 10 ounces when I was born (and 22 inches long…talk about a long skinny baby!).
I know that I shouldn’t feel guilty and I also know that I am jumping the gun in thinking I’ll be diagnosed with GD. The next step is actually the three hour test, which I’ll take tomorrow morning. PLENTY of women fail their one hour and go on to pass the three hour test just fine, so I’m trying to keep that in mind. I have found Mrs. Wagon’s series on gestational diabetes really helpful in keeping me calm about the whole thing (read part one here, part two here, and part three here).
What have been your experiences with the glucose tests and GD? Anyone fail their one hour and go on to pass the three hour? Share your story and give me some hope for tomorrow!
I freaked out about what to eat/not to eat before my first test, then completely failed my first test. The 3-hour test, while it’s a beating, came out just fine. Good luck!
I honestly wouldn’t worry about it.
I’m sure you’ll pass with flying colours.
I failed my first “screening” (as I prefer to call it) with my first born and passed the three hour one.
I skipped the “screening” when I was pregnant the second time and just did the three hour test and passed it just fine.
This time around I haven’t done one at all (as I’m in Uganda and apparently it’s not typical to screen every single person for GD).
Bring a good book and enjoy the time to yourself.
Good luck with your three hour test tomorrow! I’ve heard many more stories of people who have failed the 1 hour and passed the 3 hour than those who have failed both.
Also, I’m not there yet and haven’t taken the test but given that my diet so far has NOT been the healthiest (baby loves cereal and bagels, not such a big fan of green leafy vegetables), I’ve been wondering about how this is going to go… but like you, all I can do is focus on what I know now, which is that weight gain has been fine, BP fine and will just try to add veggies when I can!
I’m SURE you’ll pass the 3 hour test. I know A LOT of people that fail the 1 hour and pass the 3 hour. I was only allowed to take one 2 hour test where if you fail you fail. And well I failed. It’s been 2 weeks and I’m still coming to terms with it and trying to figure out what to do to stay within the extremely tight glucose levels they allow after meals. It’s WAY stricter than for people with diabetes!
Aww I am so sorry to hear that you failed. And I really hope you’re not beating yourself up about it. I just read something that helped me feel better–the person wrote that it’s really a “genetics” test, not a reflection of anything we did or didn’t do. Anyone can fail their tests and anyone can get GD no matter how healthy they are. Some people just get it and some people don’t.
Hang in there! XOXO
I failed my one hour and passed the three hour just last week. I had a similar result as you on the first one (147 and my cutoff at my office is 139). But my levels all came back perfect on the three hour. Make sure you’ve got lunch ready to go as soon as you are done. I was famished by the end because of the fast and having to provide so many vials of blood. Even after I ate a hearty meal I still felt really weak and miserable for the rest of the day. I wish I had just taken the whole day off of work, but I just sat in my office chair and tried to rehydrate and feel better.
Good luck on your test tomorrow! I’ll be thinking of you – I’m sure you’ll pass!
Good luck tomorrow! You’re so close to the cut off, I bet you’ll pass the 3 hour test. My GD isn’t until September at 28 weeks, but my doctor specifically told me to eat a low-carb breakfast before the test. I usually do that anyway, but occasionally I want some pancakes or a bagel so I’m glad he mentioned that.
I didn’t read all the comments, so forgive me if this is a repeat of a repeat. I failed my test MISERABLY! No, seriously. I was 12 over the cutoff number. So, I worried and panicked and researched and worried some more. I went back for my full lab (which, not to worry you, but just to prepare you- SUCKS ASS-more on that in a minute)…and passed without any issue. Even though I passed, I still started watching what I was eating regarding complex carbs-you know, just in case, lol.
So before the next test, I just want to let you know my aunt failed all of her tests, leaving her with GD. Her daughter was healthy and beautiful, and a WHOPPING 7lbs 6oz (the same as my non-gd daughter. There have been 0 complications and she is now 5 years old. My aunt had to test her blood twice a day but it didn’t bother her at all. She controlled it with her diet, so she never needed injections, but even if she would have, the outcome would have been the same. I truly think books/internet/our brains are great at picking up the worst case scenarios…Oh, and I failed the first test with both of my kids…
Ok, so just so you pack appropriately, if the tests are the same as they were two years ago, you will have to go a fairly long time with a lot of sugar in your bloodstream and no food in your belly…PACK SOMETHING. I was so hungry when the three tests were over, it was kind of ridiculous. Like I was beastly crabby (that happened a lot while I was pregnant and hungry). The tests weren’t bad. Drink some strong orange soda…wait…blood draw…wait….blood draw…wait….blood draw…results….EAT!!!…take a deep breath, because regardless the results, you are doing a fantastic job, are taking amazing care of that baby, and GD or not, you will both be happy and healthy when he is delivered. So keep smiling. Call, text, email, facebook, or blog if there is ANYTHING I can do to help. I don’t know much, but I do know I was a nervous wreck most of my pregnancy, and I truly thought people would have thought I was crazy if they could read my mind…so, I get it, and you are welcome to share your crazy, unrealistic fears, questions, or expectations with me
Take care!
Oh, and I also don’t have time/don’t care to proof read, so ignore grammar/punctuation/etc!
I had GD with you and look how you turned out – one health happy baby, aka Vanna White-hee hee hee
Love your moms comment! Haha, and fingers crossed you pass your three hour!
Although I have nothing to say about this since I’m a guy …….it’s the same old story. Happens to alot and no worries. You won’t be any different. Hang loose there are many other things that will be more worrisome in the future. Like when he gets his drivers license. Love ya,,,,you’ll be fine and pass the test.
Oh, I hope you pass your 3 hour test today!! Your numbers sounded pretty good, so I have hopes that you will. It’s awesome they were able to do the 3-hour test so soon after the first test. Good luck!!
This is something I wonder how it will work out for me if/when I get pregnant, since I have PCOS and am insulin resistant. I find it so interesting how one pregnancy to another you can get GD or not- that happened to B’s cousin’s wife. It just proves how every pregnancy- like every child- is different! Good luck with your 3 hour test (or did I mis it because I’m so behind on blogs, LOL!) and keep doing a great job cookin that cute little babe!