I'm trying to stay inside as much as possible given that it is minus 30 outside! G walked D to the bus stop earlier and said his nose hair froze in the 10 mins he was out there... lovely! On a more serious note research shows that anyone prone to blood clotting is at increased risk by spending time outside in severe cold temperatures. It's why old people sometimes die of embolisms after going to a funeral, because they have been standing out in the cold. Given my history and current situation, I think it's wise to avoid it as much as possible.
Yesterday I had a phone call from the Diabetes clinic at the hospital which was a little weird. The woman introduced herself and said she'd had a referral for me. "Have you?" I said, "I wasn't aware of it!". Turns out that I'm automatically enrolled into this clinic due to my previous encounter with Gestational Diabetes. Apparently this first session is a 2 and a half hour long class to learn about Diabetes management. I have mixed feelings about it - on the one hand I think it's obviously better safe than sorry this time...... unmanaged GD (like last time) can lead to (and did) the baby having problems with blood sugars crashing soon after birth and breathing difficulties as a result.... I'm sure there are other issues but that is the main concern.
The thing I'm trying to come to terms with, I suppose, is that last time my GD wasn't diagnosed until the day Dylan was born. So in some ways it wasn't 'real' if that makes any sense at all. I didn't have time to accept that I had it, I didn't have to manage it, and there's part of me that is in denial about having had it and doesn't want to admit that it will probably happen again. This time I will have to change my diet and monitor my blood sugar which I selfishly (although I know I have no choice) don't like the idea of. I'm really bad at being denied any kind of food, as soon as I can't have it I cannot think about anything else. It becomes a total obsession and compulsion & I can't imagine having to go without anything sugary for the next 6 months. The other concern I have is that when I am being anti-coagulated my blood will be super thin. Even a small paper cut will bleed for 48 hours. So if I have to do the finger-pricking thing, chances are I'll be constantly bleeding and buying shares in Band Aid.
Posted by katie at January 9, 2004 10:16 AMBloody hell babe! Nightmare :o(
Posted by: boo at January 9, 2004 11:13 AMHeh, at least I'll have something I can moan about to you about ;)
If they didn't catch it until D was born last time round then I'd think it's likely it won't be too draconian to control, you won't let it run your life :)
Posted by: Aka at January 9, 2004 12:36 PMOh I always forget you're a diabetic! I don't mean to say I'm glad you are, but I'm now glad that I know someone who is!
I don't think last time it was too serious in that obviously nothing too physical happened to me, but I basically stuffed my face full of sugar non stop and couldn't stop doing so......unfortunately many of the signs of pregnancy are also similar to those of early diabetes (peeing alot, drinking copious amounts of sugary drinks, being tired, headaches) so I guess that didn't help diagnose it. Only traces of sugar or protein ever showed up in my wee on my infrequent visits to the midwife, but by all accounts the only way to accurately diagnose it in a pregnant woman is the glucose tolerance test where they make you drink loads of glucose and then take blood at various intervals during a session which lasts a few hours..... I think, at least.
Posted by: Katie at January 9, 2004 01:08 PMWell, you knew going into this that pregnancy wasn't the easiest thing in the world, and that you had additional medical complications that would make it more difficult. So pile another one on :-)
Hopefully, since it wasn't too severe last time, it won't be too severe this time, either, and perhaps easier to control than for a "real" diabetic.
I guess you'll have the fun of the glucose tolerance test to come... having just changed my insulin I can sympathsise about the blood tests btw, I've been doing 4 a day over Xmas and my fingers look like a detuned TV with the "noise" being made up from the tiny scabs from the pricker.
I can see you having real fun with the pricker btw... mine operates on a hair trigger and there are still some days when I can't make the damn thing fire even though I think I'm pushing as hard as I possibly come, isn't the mind a wonderful thing!
Posted by: Aka at January 9, 2004 03:35 PMDon't forget me!
Posted by: neil at January 9, 2004 03:50 PMYi! Just how many diabetic friends do you have?
Posted by: Steve at January 9, 2004 05:56 PMI had it with both pregs too!! Oh my dad is a type 2 also!
Posted by: boo at January 9, 2004 09:04 PMThat'll be lots then
Posted by: Aka at January 9, 2004 09:37 PMblimey - you weird bunch!
does it mean i'm not allowed to eat *any* chocolate now?
Posted by: Katie at January 10, 2004 11:35 AMYup. Give it all to me and I'll find it a good home.
Posted by: Steve at January 11, 2004 07:26 PM