The diabeetus? I haz it.
I passed the first and last draw, but my middle two were "extremely elevated." It looks like I will be checking my blood sugar four times per day for a few weeks so they can monitor everything.
The hour after my phone call was spent as follows:
Wooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I want caaaaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddddyyyyyy!
Wooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Why is everything such a pain in the ass?
Am going to birth a gargantuan baaaayyyyybbeeee!
I want to go home and walllllllloooooooowwwwwww!
Etcetera.
My OB set me up with a company that handles diabetes, and it sounds like such a great place. They come to your house, teach you how to use all of the testing equipment, and bring all of the testing supplies right to you. And do you think that my insurance covers a program like that?
Um, not so much.
I'm waiting on my call from the hospital so that I can go to their diabetes class, and then they mentioned that I would have to provide my own supplies but I don't really know for sure.
Mostly I'm over it and it will be fine and blah blah blah. And partly I'm pissed, because ohmygod I just wanted to be reproductively normal. The last thing I want is more shots. And while I can surely handle a few finger pricks after twice daily stomach stabbings followed by months of 2 inch long needles of progesterone in oil in the ass, I still feel the need to be righteously indignant.
Me: Reproductively abnormal and righteously indignant...
...also, you may say that I am dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Or, drunk. This picture is very descriptive.
Anyone who has had GD: feel free to let me know how horrible, or not horrible, it was. Or how you didn't have a big giant baby. Or how you did. Whatever. I don't really know a lot of people who had this and I mostly just feel embarrassed like I did something wrong or something.
36 comments:
I am currently 37 weeks and have been diagnosed with the DIABEETUS....I am measuring ok (6lbs 9ozs at 36 weeks)- and it isn't so bad. :)
I am 29 wks (actually due just after you are) and got the diabeetus diagnosis last week. They gave me a meal plan and I had to go to a class, blah blah blah. I start the blood testing next week. It's not that bad, other than that it is the holidays and everywhere I look there are delicious desserts and candy. What happened to eating whatever you want when pregnant???? Good luck, you'll be fine, and our babies will hopefully not be giants!
You shouldn't be embarrassed. Especially with the descriptive picture. I don't know much about GD, but believe it is common and easily managed.
ooof! Such a bummer, lady. But seriously- you did NOTHING wrong. So hush that.
Still, sucks and I am sorry. But hopefully it will be something easily manageable.
Hey Jen! It's your OLD BFF from grade school, the one who had to pack 10 pairs of underwear to make it through a sleepover with you;-)I had GD with Ava, who is 1 now! I was diagnosed at 27 weeks, I had to test my blood and ended up having to take glyburide (by mouth meds that some OBs will give, some don't). Anyways the glyburide got me to 37 weeks as which point I was induced b/c they suspected that Ava was 9+ lbs and I was leaking fluid and I had the prior loss at 25 weeks before Ava. So, they decide it was time for her to get here. Ava ended up being 8lb 12 oz and had low blood sugar when she was born, which was easily fixed with a small bit of formula. She did end up having jaundice pretty bad and had to stay in the NICU for 4 days, but was never in any danger. So, all in all in turned out well. Now, I'm 26 weeks pregnant with a boy and was diagnosed with GD at 14 weeks, b/c once you have it with one pregnancy you have to get tested earlier and I just had to start insulin injections last week. I was pretty much devastated by this, but it has turned out to be not so bad and the finger pricking is actually more painful than the insulin injections and I, too, do progesterone injection 1 time a week to prevent preterm labor. So, basically the worst thing that could happen is you will once again become a pin cushion and you will have to cut back on the carbs and sweets - not easy when you are pregnant I KNOW! But, you and baby girl will be just fine and if you have any questions e-mail me at heatherglo@hotmail.com.
You can haz cheezburger now? Just not with bun?
Ok, so I am just a blog reader and don't know you, but felt like giving my two cents. I had two miscarriages and with my third pregnancy was diagnosed with diabetes ON HALLOWEEN!! I felt the same frustration of just wishing one part of having a baby could be easy, but it wasn't that bad! I have diabetes in my family, so I expected it! I was also put on Glyburide, and it didn't work, so I ended up on insulin shots (very rare, probably won't happen to you). They weren't bad at all! The worst part is what you are going through, no sweets at Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas, but a happy healthy baby in the end was worth it! They told me that my baby was going to be big and since I had some high blood pressure issues they induced at 37 weeks and she was only 5lbs 10ozs. I think the reason she wasn't huge is because I just followed everything to a T! I was scared that if I didn't she would be huge or unhealthy (somewhat irrational, but I couldn't help it)! You can do it, believe me, if I can, you can!
Ok, so I am just a blog reader and don't know you, but felt like giving my two cents. I had two miscarriages and with my third pregnancy was diagnosed with diabetes ON HALLOWEEN!! I felt the same frustration of just wishing one part of having a baby could be easy, but it wasn't that bad! I have diabetes in my family, so I expected it! I was also put on Glyburide, and it didn't work, so I ended up on insulin shots (very rare, probably won't happen to you). They weren't bad at all! The worst part is what you are going through, no sweets at Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas, but a happy healthy baby in the end was worth it! They told me that my baby was going to be big and since I had some high blood pressure issues they induced at 37 weeks and she was only 5lbs 10ozs. I think the reason she wasn't huge is because I just followed everything to a T! I was scared that if I didn't she would be huge or unhealthy (somewhat irrational, but I couldn't help it)! You can do it, believe me, if I can, you can!
I failed my test as well...but at the opposite end of the spectrum. My sugar was WAY TO LOW. I see the dietitian tomorrow.
So I just found your blog the other day and a can already tell that you are a hoot.
I've got about a month until my GD testing, but I'm a bit nervous as I am insulin resistant and already on Metformin to control it as well as a restricted low carb/low sugar, high protein diet. It's not super fun having to be so careful, but if I splurge on too many sweets, it literally puts me in bed for awhile, so ultimately it's worth it. (That and the doctor said I could easily gain 80 pounds if I wasn't careful... so yeah - no thanks!)
There are some great low-carb recipes and things you can eat to get your sweets fill though... like did you know that sugar free jell-o with regular fat-filled coolwhip in a can only has 1g of carbs??? That's may fave snack right now. And just yesterday I found that Weight Watchers makes a low-carb bread so I can continue to eat my peanut butter and (sugar-free) jelly sandwiches.
Anyway, I'm rambling now.
:) Carrie
One of the moms in our co-op preschool had it. She ate so well during the last 10 weeks of pregnancy that she weighed 20 lbs less after giving birth than she did when she got pregnant. I hate her.
I failed my one-hour but then passed my three-hour, so I was in the clear. However, I still gave birth to a ginormous baby (9 lbs 14 oz). Go figure.
For what it's worth, I laugh out loud every time you write "the diabeetus." My husband asked me what was so funny, and when I told him, he laughed too.
I'm sure that makes it worth it, right?
You never cease to crack me up. :) I'm so sorry the Diabeetus has descended upon your doorstep. I've got no advice, but I hope it is easily managed and provides you with an smallish bundle of love.
I had gestational diabetes. Like I said, its do-able...not fun though. I had to do insulin injections. I did in fact have a giant baby. 9lbs 12oz. And my husband wonders why my body is so shot.....asshat!
Start eating really healthy. Watch the fruit intake. Stupid sugars. Hopefully you'll be able to manage with just the diet. =)
Must've been the ghost of Wilford Brimley (is he dead? I'm not sure) paying you back for mocking him.
No, seriously, that's a big fat suckatude. As a nurse, I'll give you the one piece of advice that I can: when you test your BS (hehehe), test from the SIDES of your fingers. Sounds like it would hurt more but not so! The pads of your fingies are more sensitive.
I had GD and my baby was born at 6 lbs 7 ounces, a wonderful size. First they will probably try and control via diet. If you can't do it solely via diet, then they may put you on a pill called Glyburide. I couldn't get my morning blood sugars under control so I had to take the pill. I think if that doesn't work then they move on to insulin. Hopefully you can control it with diet and exercise.
My sister had it with her second kid (why not her first? I don't know). The second one was two pounds bigger than the first. I'm sure part of that was because he was the second and they typically are bigger.
By the way- I have given birth before and trust me when I tell you that two extra pounds on a baby doesn't feel any different. A baby is a baby and when they come out it really doesn't matter if they are 6 pounds or 8 pounds. (Unless they are like 10 pounds- then you feel it!)
Damn placenta! It's all its fault not yours. My best friend went through it with all 3 kids and she did everything right. I think you can successfully say that it is just the crap UN-luck of the draw. I am sorry that you will have to go through the holidays monitoring everything you have to eat especially considering how much most people over indulge at this time of year.
Not sure if this will make you feel any better, but we have a friend who's 3 year old was diagnosed with diabetes this year and he still enjoys a pretty normal life. Testing sucks, but you get used to it and at least you'll already be on a healthy food kick but the time the baby is born. You'll be back to your normal svelte pre baby figure in no time. :)
I feel for you, Jen! I TOTALLY get the whole pissed-off and indignant thing! Don't you feel that after going through so much medical intervention to get and stay pregnant that you're entitled to a perfectly normal, trouble-free pregnancy beyond that?!? I know I feel that way! I'm at 25 weeks, so I'll have my own GD test soon, and I know I'll be just as pissed if I have it too! Best of luck to you with the treatments and dietary changes!
A very close friend of mine had GD, and her baby was somewhere in the eight pound range, which I thought was pretty normal. Like anything else with difficulties in conceiving, pregnancy, etc. I am going to guess you did nothing wrong. Just sucks. Sorry you have an extra issue to deal with.
I did not have the diabeetus, I just wanted to maybe help calm your fears of a potentially larger baby. I had my 9lbs, 8oz son vaginally (with an epidural, thank you) with no problems. Big babies are cuter, anyway! <3
All I can say is, bless your heart! And you're right, after months of PIO shots you've gotta be golden on the finger pricks.
My ass hurts!!!
*delurking* My SIL had the gestational diabeetus too, and her kid was 7 lbs even at 40 weeks gestation. So not a huge baybee.
*relurking*
I was diagnosed at 17w, I am now 23w and I have to start insulin tonight (only 2 units once per day) as my morning (fasting) levels are too high. Apparently these levels are hormonal and you can't do much about them. My other 3 levels during the day I have been able to control through diet. As for size, it's still early for me but bub is measuring only 3 days ahead and if levels are kept within normal ranges then there will be little to no effect on the baby or it's size.
Good luck with it....yes it's a pain, but it's only for the short term! :)
Hey Jen, You didnt do anything wrong. It happens to the best of us. Why isnt anything easy for us infertiles? Like someone else said, just follow everything to a T and she will be born normal size and healthy. Zach would've been between 7.5 and 8 lbs had I gone full term. Zach need a little bit of formula to bring his sugar up right after birth, but his blood sugar only dropped just below their cutoff. You'll find it really wasnt any big deal..after it is all said and done. I doubt you will need the insulin shots like me. I know how strong you are and this will be like no big deal to you. It just sucks. If you have any questions feel free to ask. =)
Wilford,
I'm a gestation diabetes educator - it seriously isn't that bad. Seriously. Most women love it after the fact because the carb restricted (usually ~ 40 grams per meal) diet restricts weight gain and you come out of the whole thing a skinny mama. With a normal sized baby. The only thing you did wrong was make a kick-ass placenta that's kicking out good hormones.
It all sounds good. Just don't read my last blog post. Seriously. Avoid it like the plague ;) I'm all talk.
Yesterday was a bad day for the fail.
No advice, just sympathy at ONE MORE thing to deal with.
I'm 33 weeks, and also have GD. I won't lie; it kind of sucks, especially for a pasta-freak like me. But it's honestly not that bad. Finger pricks hurt less than either Lupron or PIO, and pretty soon those tests just become routine.
FWIW, in my first pregnancy, I had to follow the GD diet because my 3-hour test results were borderline. M was born at 38 weeks weighing 6 lbs, 4 oz.
I haven't had GD, and I hope I don't with this pregnancy. I have to tell you the twins like it when I eat!
Good luck! Love the pic of you at the party dressed as Dorothy. Too funny.
Bummer!!! Don't be embarrassed. It happens. Just take care of you and follow your doc's orders. If you manage the GD properly, you shouldn't have big baby. :- ) Cheer up!
I know nothing about the diabeetus. It scares me too. I don't think you and the DH could produce a really big baby even with GD.
I just had to comment that my DH and I are cracking up about the cat that looks just like Wilfred Brimley. And of course your constant wittiness.
sooooo sorry about your pregnancy struggles! i completely agree that you have the right to be righteously indignant!
on the up-side, your sense of humor is absolutely bewitching!
Merry Christmas from a fello SITSta!
I was infertile and after I finally got pregnant, I wa diagnosed with GD. (I failed the first test so badly that they didn't bother with the 3-hour). I am also very healthy, though; I tend toward a low-carb diet anyway, and I exercised through my pregnancy, so I was really angry that I'd done everything right and still ended up with GD. I do have a family history, though, so I wasn't exactly blindsided.
All the testing and keeping track of food and having to eat six times a day was very time consuming in an already busy life, and quite frustrating. BUT...my blood sugar tended toward the low end with just exercise and diet. I lost a little weight when I first started the diet, and ended up with a total gain of 22 lbs. My daughter was born too small, 5 lb 2 oz at 37W5D, so we had an extra night in the hospital, but all worked out well in the end. I will mention a few things that helped me...1) I love dark chocolate, which can be quite low in sugar, and has protein. 2) You can still have the occasional treat, as long as the carb serving fits. (For example, 1/10 of a 13x9x2 pan of brownies is 2 carb servings for some brands.) This may work best in the afternoon or evening when your pancreas works the best. 3) There is nothing you could have done, or not done, that would have changed this. 4) My daughter is beautiful and perfect, so it's worth the struggle.
Best of luck!
Hi Jen,
I had the GD w/both pregnancies, the first was controlled via diet and lots of walking. The second pregnancy I was on insulin by 6 weeks! Sweetie you did nothing wrong just think of yourself as a Ferrari not just a typical car...you need more maintenance and there is nothing wrong w/that!
boo sorry about the GD! I hope you are able to get through it all without toooo much hassle!
Found your blog from the SITS sight...just stopping by to tell you I'm sorry about the GD. I hate the thing. Check out my blog post about how I managed it: http://livinginmaryland.blogspot.com/2008/03/managing-gestational-diabetes-for-me.html
Of course, I had twins and it's a little different but it might give you an idea of what to do. Good luck!
Hi Jen,
I had GD also with my IVF preg. I was kind of bummed at first..you know after going through all the IVF stuff and then the GD..sheesh. Everything turned about fine. The little guy was 6lbs 2oz at 39 weeks. So no biggins baby here. I only had to do the diet and to be honest it did kind of suck but...all I wanted was a healthy baby in the end so I was crazy strict with myself. Hang in there!
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