I am happy to say that after my last doctor appointment and receiving my blood work back, I do NOT have gestational diabetes, nor was I anywhere close to the required numbers. In fact, I almost passed out on the way home, from having to fast for the test and not eating. How could I even have qualified or been so far off?
As it Turns Out
Both thebump.com and whattoexpect.com share that about 25% of people fail their 1 hour glucose test. So I asked around at work and talked to my friends and family, and the results were even higher. Almost everyone I talked to failed their first test but passed their second one.
The blood work lab also seemed to have little concern that I would fail again. After all, the cookies, fudge, and chocolate covered pretzels I had eaten before, clearly hadn't helped my cause. But it seemed like sweets like that weren't the only things failing people. If you have yet to take your test pay attention!
Anything high in sugar can give you poor results. Even fruits! That's right, fruit. One of my friends failed hers for eating sweetened applesauce and a banana prior to her test. So here's a list of a few other things to avoid:
fruit juices, sodas, and energy drinks
sugary cereals
white breads, bagels, and pastas
fruits canned in syrup or high in sugar (bananas, mangos, pineapples, etc)
french fries
anything deep fried
pastries, sweets, cakes, cookies, and candy
My doctor also shared that the best time to go is in the morning, after a healthy low carb breakfast like eggs or a short fast of 2 hours.
A Lifestyle Change
In reality most of this shouldn't just apply to preparing for your glucose test, and if you truly have gestational diabetes no amount of clean eating the days before will help pass the test, nor would you want it to, as the best thing for you and your baby is a diagnosis that can be monitored.
I can honestly say that despite the fact that I don't have gestational diabetes, the minor scare and false diagnosis I gave myself was a sign enough for me that perhaps I needed a lifestyle change, for not only my baby, but myself. I found tons of healthy recipes, started a much healthier diet, and even started looking up some pregnancy workouts. And I will post all about them as I begin to try them out!
So besides urging you to talk to a professional and do your own research, if you have been diagnosed or if you too are ready for a lifestyle change here are several things you can do to get started on a better path.
start exercising
drink lots of water
participate in healthy eating (whole grains, low fat, & reduced sugar options)
use portion control
avoid sweets
monitor what you eat & when (to see how it effects your body)
find what works for YOU & YOUR BABY
Want more information on something above? Fill out the poll to vote for our next topic!
What Other Gestational Diabetes Topics Would You Like to Know More About?
GD Eating Habits
Best Recipes for GD
GD Exercise Ideas
You can vote for more than one answer.
Wondering how my journey of Gestational Diabetes investigation began? Checkout my original post The Dreaded 1 Hour Glucose Test.
Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the homepage to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on more exciting blog posts! Or Follow us on Instagram at @startedwithababy
Comments