Thursday, June 30, 2011

Gestational Diabetes the next step

So MW has been testing for about 2 weeks now and is doing ok. She has scored below the limit after every meal, but is still scoring high on her morning scores. She is going in tomorrow to figure out what the next step is. She may end up on insulin or sugar control pills before bed. I guess the way the body works is that insulin is naturally suppressed over the night and into the morning. Because MW is already having issues controlling her blood sugar that extra suppression is pushing her over the limit. I will update again after her appointment tomorrow

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Damn you Carbohydrates...damn you

MW and I went for our appointment with both the endocrinologist and the nutritionist yesterday.

First of what does this mean?
Endocrinology is the study of the biosynthesis, storage, chemistry and physiological function of hormones with the cells of the endocrine glands and tissues. In essence the endocrinologist deals with the way your hormones act.

A nutritionist is well versed in the ways that food works. This is not only whats a carbohydrate versus whats a fat, but more into the actual way your body interacts with different kinds of food.

Anywho MW got her glucose meter and is now required to test her blood four times a day for the sugar levels. Once right before breakfast and then once two hours after every major meal. All of this information is recorded on a sheet of paper that we will then review with MW's OB/GYN

The nutritionist went over the different ways carb's work and then gave us carb levels to meet at each meal (more so at lunch and dinner, less so for snacks.) This diet is designed to help keep MW's GD under control. Its defiantly a hard transition to no cookies or ice cream. But we will make it!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Glucose Results

MW and I spend all of Saturday morning in the Beverly Hospital lab fasting and getting blood drawn to do our second glucose test. Because MW got 1 pt above the max on the first test this tset was to further check on the possibility of Gestational Diabetes.

The lab called this morning and told us that MW was above the glucose levels on her first two blood tests during the 3 hr test. What does this mean? Before we go into what it means lets go into how the body works.

Insulin is the hormone central to the metabolization of carbohydrates and fast in the body. In the simplest term Insulin is what metabolizes sugar. Insulin is made in the Pancreas and moved throughout the body to metabolize sugars (glucose) into a storable/usable energy source (glycogen). When pregnant the Pancreas has to produce around 3X the normal amount of insulin due to the other hormones in the body.

MW is just on the borderline of keeping up with her insulin needs. So technically that means she has Gestational Diabetes. So what does this mean?

First off is a trip to the doctors/dietitian. Because her levels are so borderline MW's GD (I am going to shorten it as its a pain to type Gestational Diabetes) can be controlled by diet and exercise. Working with her doctor and dietitian we will be able to put together a diest and exercise program that will keep her sugar at an acceptable level.

GD is not the end of the world! It affects 1-3% of all pregnant woman. This is why the hospital does tests such as this. Now they will be able to keep an eye on MW and make sure that everything goes wonderfully with JW's birth. For those of you who want a little more info on GD here are a couple links.


Thats the nitty gritty of it. I will post more after our trip to the doctors.


Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Glucose test part Deux

Well MW's needed to score below a 130, but she scored a 129. So Friday night is fasting and Saturday morning its back to the lab for the 3 hour glucose test. This involves drinking the same sugary drink as before but a longer testing period with more blood tests.

I will update after

Ps our little guy is doing very well. He has been active and kicking which is excellent and loves to watch the Bruins game! (could be because he usually gets ice cream around that time though...)

Monday, June 6, 2011

Glucose test

MW and I went for our 28 week checkup this morning, which means MW also got to take her glucose test.

For those of you that don't know what that means MW had to drink a super sugary solution, wait an hour, then get her blood drawn. This test will allow the doctors to see if she is having gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is when a pregnant woman begins to have trouble handling her sugars. This doesn't mean that the mom to be has turned into a diabetic or anything like that. Sometimes during pregnancy hormones interfere with insulin, therefore making an abundance of sugar in the blood.

The test involves some really sugary solution (see below) like a college kid playing flip cup. Down the hatch as fast as you can, you only have 5 minutes, and yes they do time you.

I will update when we hear about the results!


I was reminded by MW I should have credited this picture. I didn't take it it came from http://thisgirl-amanda.blogspot.com/2011/05/glucose-schmucose.html