TMI: Glucose Intolerance — week 6 or so

Again, if you don’t like reading the nitty gritty, feel free to stop reading here. This one won’t be near as bad as the last though. 🙂

Anywho, I went to the Kaiser class (yes, 8 years of childbirth experience and I still had to attend the Kaiser class, which was thankfully only 45 min.) in which they told me I had to get a 1 hour glucose test because of my family history of diabetes. I glumly went and took it, and it was high. SO, that triggered the need for a 3 hour glucose. I had an awful time when I had to take it with Spencer but I went anyway (thanks to some help from some friends — can’t stand the fact I waste 3 hours doing absolutely nothing). So, for those of you not versed in this, during the 3 hour glucose tolerance test (which is pretty-well only given in pregnancy) you get your blood taken (a fasting result), then you drink a VERY sugary drink (I think it has something like 150 mg of sugar or something), and you have your blood taken 3 times (every hour) thereafter. Here were my results:

My body obviously had a pretty severe reaction to all that sugar (I am in no way a candy whore, more a baked treat whore). Anyway — as I was reading online guzzling down a gallon of OJ after the test I read that anything less than 40 usually goes into a coma. Of course, I was driving home, picking up Spencer, feeling the “joy” (I had taken a PB and honey sandwich with me, which Drew LOADED up the honey on — so that is probably what kept me from dying). I felt absolutely awful the rest of the day, and of course it was a band day so I had no assistance with children — isn’t that always the way? I actually threw-up the next day, which is the first time I have ever done it in any of my pregnancies.

ANYWAY, because my initial fasting was high I have what is considered fasting glucose intolerance. It can also be termed pre-diabetes, which isn’t surprising since I have a pretty severe family history and I’m still overweight (but not obese!– YAY).

Kaiser had a dietician call me, and she was really helpful (most places would only place you on a diet if 2 of the 4 results were bad, but Kaiser has found it’s helpful to start the diet portion at least, if only one result is bad). So this is my diet now: I eat 3 meals during the day, and these consist of 30-45 mg of carbs with some protein. I also have 3 snacks during the day which consist of 30′ish carbs and some protein (plus any low carb veggies to my heart’s delight). The dietitian was concerned that I don’t eat after dinner. I haven’t since I started my fancy diet back when I was losing weight. She said that’s a myth that eating later in the evening makes you gain weight, we just need to be careful of WHAT we eat. Essentially I would eat around 6 pm and then not eat again until 7:30′ish am (and I work out before I eat). She’s right, I haven’t gained weight, but I’m also eating a smaller amount then I might have normally and the food is better for me (lately it’s been a portion of sugar free pudding and possibly some roasted soy beams).

So far the diet is really helping. I don’t feel nearly as nauseated (I’m not supposed to eat fruit for my first meal, and I noticed when I did that I would feel REALLY nauseated afterwards — and the times when I’ve REALLY gone off the diet I have felt pretty nauseated). I haven’t gained any weight so far and I enjoy the things I’m eating. Now, I must admit that in 2 of my 6 meals, I a most likley eating cheese (as my protein), but really — it’s my crystal meth. Also, I’m not eating a ton of it so that helps. There’s not supposed to be any sugary stuff. So no halloween candy, no treats at FHE, nothing like that — but so far so good. I am sure I’ll probably mess-up a couple of times during Christmas but when I feel sick afterwards that is a good reminder to stick with what they told me.

Anyway, I don’t have to check my blood sugar, so that’s a bonus (but I don’t actually know what it is when I’m feeling sick). I will have to take the test again at 28 weeks (well, the 1 hour, and then if I fail that I will have to take the 3 hour again — although, my doctor is going to stop it at 2 hours so I don’t go into a coma this time). I’m bummed about that — but Spencer was a 9 pound baby. He’s probably only gained 21 pounds in his 4 years on this earth so I think something was up with that pregnancy. I’d prefer to go under 9 this time if I can.

And there you have it. Glucose intolerance in a handy blog entry. 🙂