babyblog

So, I have Gestational Diabetes

The 2 and a half hour long session at the hospital's 'Diabetes Education Centre' today was very interesting in parts, dull in others, and also slightly overwhelming.

Apparently if you've had GD once, there's a 99.9% probability that you get it again. In otherwords, I - along with 6 others in the class - have it. Although as I said a few days ago, I still have that thing where I don't quite believe (despite all the evidence!) I had it last time seeing as they totally failed to diagnose it in time for D's birth. But I need to realise that I do have it.

Anyway, the first session was the most interesting. The nurse told us about Gestational Diabetes and what it was, etc. Of the 7 of us in the room, 50% will need insulin during the pregnancy. Funnily enough the day you give birth it all goes away, however severe. She handed out bags which contained rather expensive digital blood sugar monitors which are ours to keep. She then told us how to use them and we had to do a test on ourselves.

The second session was the tedious one - a dietician came in and handed out lots of paperwork which had allowed foods / not allowed foods, meal planners, etc on. Basically common sense stuff plus I knew most of it anyway. It dragged on a little as she insisted on going through every single piece of paper and also a few people asked alot of inane questions, but I suppose it had to be done.

Finally the nurse came back and handed out prescriptions for more needles and test strips, & appointments at the High Risk Pregnancy clinic and informed us that we'll be seen there every 2 weeks throughout pregnancy where we will consult with both an Obstetrician and an Endocrinologist (diabetes doc). Later in the pregnancy we'll be seen every week.

Amazing level of care, really. I'm quite overwhelmed by it all. Given all the problems I had with Dylan, I think this time it is better safe than sorry and if I can avoid having another huge baby, too much fluid, blood clots, and goodness knows what else, the better.

For you diabetics out there - I have to check my blood sugar 4 times per day, before breakfast, 1 hour after breakfast, before supper, and 1 hour after supper.

The range has to be as follows:

Before Breakfast: 5.5 or less
1 hr after: 7.0 or less
Before Supper: 5.5 or less
1 hr after: 7.0 or less

Oh, and I have to test my wee every morning for Ketones.

I just did my first test at home, prior to supper, and my level was 6.3 -eek! If it is too high more than 3 times I have to call the hospital. Bloody do NOT want to end up having to have Insulin, I am having enough needles as it is!!!

Posted by katie at January 12, 2004 05:51 PM