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03/05/2007: "My placenta is kicking my pancreas' ass"
The bad news is that it seems I failed my 3 hour glucose tolerance test in an emphatic way. The good news is that I am, as usual, a medical anomaly. My numbers make no sense as far as I can tell. Hooray!
For anyone not in the know, the glucose tests are checking for gestational diabetes. Given my age, weight and luminous family history, I'm a prime candidate for gestational diabetes. I was tested at the beginning of my pregnancy because of the miscarriage. My midwife wanted to rule out undiagnosed diabetes as a contributing factor. I passed that one just fine. So we know that everything that's happened over the past week is the fault of the placenta, which is pumping out god knows what hormone and kicking in the teeth of my poor pancreas, which lies, huddled in the corner, weeping piteously (because we know for damn sure it's not busy pumping out insulin).
I took the 1-hour glucose challenge last Tuesday. (And I have to say, I love the name of the test "The One Hour Glucose Challenge". Sounds like a reality TV show, doesn't it?) Suffice it to say that I failed the 1-hour test. They were looking for a number below 140 and I was 153. So I got the singular joy of taking the 3-hour challenge.
This test involves fasting for 8-10 hours and then showing up at the lab to have your blood drawn 4 times over 3 hours. They take a baseline blood draw and then have you chug the nastiest, syrupiest lemon-lime sugar drink ever. Fortunately it was cold because if it hadn't been refrigerated I would have revisited that drink in about 3 seconds flat. Then you wait around for 3 hours and pop in to have your blood drawn at 1 hour, 2 hour and 3 hour intervals. While you wait for the hourly puncture, you have to stay at the lab and you can't move around. You have to just sit there. Nothing but water can pass your lips.
It gets tedious.
I called for my results this morning. At 1 hour, an abnormal reading is 180 or higher. Mine was 118 - good! Then things went south quickly. At 2 hours it's supposed to be under 155. I was 203. Not good at all. After 3 hours, we're looking for under 140 and I had an improbable 211. Higher than my 2-hour number. I have no idea how it went up or what that means. Shouldn't at least some of the glucose have gone away?
I see my midwife tomorrow and we'll work out a plan, I guess, because I know what this means. I have gestational diabetes - surprise! I'm actually not shocked at all and not quite as freaked out as I thought I'd be. It's managable, and while I love my carbs, giving them up until June cannot possibly be the hardest thing I will do for this baby. So I'll just do it.
Of course, that sounds all philosophical and great now, but I have no idea how I'll really react when I get the full instructions. I'm sort of bummed because all my vices are forbidden these days - no wine in a hot bath to relax, no rock concert (Sting, I'm looking at you), and now no sugar.
The payoff though... the payoff is so worth it.
Replies: 1 Comment - Go read it!
on Tuesday, March 6th, Jeannie said
At least you're not puking every morning. I mean.... hugs... and comfort... and.. I'll be right back.... :crazy:
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