I was surprised during my first prenatal appointment that they were planning to test me for gestational diabetes in the next two weeks. I had already read about the test, which is usually given around the 28th week of pregnancy. I was scheduled for my first at week 10. Having previously been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, this puts me at risk for various health problems. One of them being an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes.
This form of diabetes affects approximately 10% of pregnant women. Essentially, because of the fabulous pregnancy hormones in your body, they begin to affect your bodies ability to make and use insulin. Insulin is what your body uses to convert the sugar from your food into energy.
For the test, you are given a sugar drink. You need to drink it within 5 minutes, then wait 1 hour before they can do the lab work. I had heard some horror stories from friends and family who had previously had to take this yummy drink, so I had built up a little anxiety about it. Low and behold, it was not bad. Now it was sugary!! It was like Hawaiian Punch. I managed to get it down and keep it down.
No news is usually good news. I have not heard anything from Dr H's office this week, so I have decided to assume that all tests were good :-)
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