Friday, June 09, 2017

GD, round 3

I feel like I won today. Not only did I get my 17P shot, but I also got full, official support for not taking the 3-hour glucose test because, yes, I failed my first one-hour test. When the coordinator (or whoever) called me to let me know that I'd failed and started explaining the test, I kind of cut her off, explaining that I'd already seen my results online and would like to decline the 3-hour test in favour of beginning treatment immediately.

"Oh, I don't know..." she hemmed. "It's very important to get an accurate diagnosis..."

"Is it, though?" I asked. "I had gestational diabetes with my last two pregnancies so my chances of getting it again are pretty high already. Considering I failed the one-hour test, I don't think my chances of passing the three-hour test are very good. Even if I do pass the three-hour test they'll have me retake the one-hour test in a couple of weeks, which I will probably fail, which means I'd have to take another three-hour test. Why put myself through all of that—keeping the drink down and getting my blood drawn and finding childcare... I would rather just not and call myself diabetic."

"I'll have to talk to the doctor about it and get back to you," she said, but she never did.

I just let it go because I have been fully expecting to have gestational diabetes again this time and have been careful about pairing my carbs with my proteins and eating smaller, more frequent meals, and exercising immediately after every meal. I'm pretty positive that if I had been keeping track of my blood sugar levels (which, admittedly, I haven't been) that they'd be pretty on the mark.

But load me up with 50 grams of sugar (double that for the 3-hour test)—which is, like, a whole lotta sugar—and of course I'm going to show up with high blood sugar. It's one of the joys of being me.

People are always saying how lucky I am to be thin because I can eat whatever I want and not get fat. Well, that might be true, but I can't eat whatever I want and not die. I have, like, zero risk factors for getting diabetes, aside from having had gestational diabetes (which I also have, like, zero risk of getting except for the fact that I just do); that and some botched genetics (thank to my stick-thin, active-lifestyle, yet-diabetic grandfather)).

Anyway, today when I went in to get my shot, the nurse said, "Oh, the doctor also wanted me to inform you that we got your glucola results back and they showed an elevated level..."

"I know," I said, wrinkling my nose.

"So, the doctor said since you've had gestational diabetes twice before you can skip the three-hour test if you'd like and go straight to the nutrition seminar. Unless you want to do the three-hour test, but with your numbers..."

"Yeah, no, I'm good. I'll just do the seminar."

Honestly, I was hoping to skip the seminar as well (because I have all the pamphlets and meal-plans from last time and don't need another "free" glucometer) but I guess I'll just take what I can get. If going to a seminar means I don't have to do the three-hour test then I'm happy(ish) to do it.


  1. I can't remember which doctor, maybe Trish Ewert?, told me that it is both the very thin and the very obese who are more prone to diabetes. Because both extremes have wonky metabolism. We are just extremist like that!

  2. I have all the risk factors for type 2...female, Mexican, chubby but type one...still never failed a gestational diabetes test that beast type 1 is just a genetic beast...I'm sorry :(