Permission to eat revoked

Today I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GD).

We actually got the call yesterday but were out all afternoon. My OB called me on the home phone and my mobile and sounded increasingly worried. She had already booked me into see the physician for today. So we went in to see him and my fasting glucose tolerance test showed a level of 10.9 after the 2 hours. That is quite high, particularly when you think I'm also on the metformin which is supposed to regulate my insulin levels.

The specialist explained everything but it wasn't anything I didn't know already (I do have a bachelor of science with a minor in medical biochemistry - some things do stick in that brain of mine!). He even showed me an insulin pen and tried to tell me that the needle was really small and you could hardly see it. The pens are really similar to the IVF pens so I just replied that I had done 8 rounds of IVF, I know all about those pens! I have to admit I was getting a little annoyed with him. Maybe its the background that I have but I did know what he was talking about. Nevertheless, I had a little cry in his office.

So I know how to test my blood sugars 4 times a day, and need to see a dietitian as soon as possible (which is proving a little difficult with people on holidays). If I can't keep my sugars down with diet and exercise then I will need to go on insulin, but given the high reading that is likely anyway as the pregnancy progresses. I don't really know how I can exercise as my pelvis is just killing me and gets worse if I walk. I suppose I will have to force myself to go to the gym and swim in their pool.

The things I don't know are how to manage the diet. I know I can cut out some treats, but the day to day diet just seems overwhelming. Particularly when I find so much food makes me feel sick. And that varies from day to day too. Yesterday I was eating a ham and cheese sandwich and could only eat half of as I instantly felt sick.

So I have been feeling quite upset and emotional all day. I know it is a relatively common thing and quite easily managed, but it just feels like one more thing to pile on. I feel a bit better now than I did earlier as I managed to do my first glucose test before dinner. That was stressing me just trying to work it out. And of course it is one more expense. The glucose meter and the strips today alone cost me over $100 but hopefully I should get quite a bit back from our health insurance.

But we did manage to get out yesterday. We spent the afternoon at White water world and Charlotte had a ball. She LOVED the kiddie sized water slide and went on it again, and again and again. The wave pool scared her at first but she loved swimming in the water. They also had a big bucket of water that filled up regularly and tipped over and she was a bit wary of that. However today she has been going "bucket, swoosh" so I guess she did like it. Tomorrow we are planning on going to Underwater world which I know she will love too. I just hope my pelvis holds up as yesterday really made it flare up.

There is one positive thing about the GD. They generally don't like you to go over about 38 weeks as it can lead to big (and potentially sick) babies. As I can't be induced that means that we will definitely have the c/s. It is only 10 weeks until I'm 38 weeks. That is just over 70 days. Wow. I guess I should probably start planning then!