I Failed, Y’all (Or, The Dreaded Glucose Tolerance Test)

/ Katie

If you’ve been pregnant, you know what I’m talking about. And hopefully, you got a better result than mine.

Because I failed.

Let me back up.

With the disclaimer that I am not a doctor and I’m only giving a high-level overview based on my understanding, here’s what I know. One of the standard tests you get when you’re pregnant is a blood test to see how your body is processing sugar. You start with a screening test, and it’s important to do, because it can determine whether or not you have gestational diabetes, which is bad, if left untreated. Your medical provider will give you a super sweet, syrupy beverage to drink in five minutes – I promise it’s not actually that terrible and tastes mostly like a melted popsicle – and then an hour later, will draw your blood to check your sugar level. Sounds simple, and really, it is. If you pass, you’re good to go. It gets a little more complicated if you fail.

Which I did.

Not by much, but by enough that I am now required to take the three-hour diagnostic test. This test will tell me definitively whether I have gestational diabetes. It’s an important thing to know, and I think something like ten percent of women will develop gestational diabetes in their pregnancies. From what I’ve read, it’s often not a result of lifestyle choices, and has a lot more to do with hormones and how your body reacts to having a placenta. I’m grateful to be alive and pregnant in a time when this test is routine and available, and when gestational diabetes is something we know how to manage. But man, I’m just not looking forward to that test. It’ll be a total of twelve hours of fasting, a larger sugar drink, and four blood draws total over the course of three hours. It’s not going to be fun. But it’s worth it. It really is.

So, I’m planning to take it easy this weekend. I’ve got a short story to write, which I’m planning to post on Monday. (And by then, it will only be eleven days late!) And then the test on Tuesday. Work in the kitchen continues, and we’ve officially got three months until Baby Girl’s due date.

Things are happening, y’all. It feels like barely controlled chaos in my house (in my life, I think) right now, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

36 thoughts on “I Failed, Y’all (Or, The Dreaded Glucose Tolerance Test)”

  3. Just do the next thing, ’cause that is really all any of us can do. 🥰 My favorite thing the first year was rocking J and repeating the little poem on the nursery wall: “quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep; I’m rocking my baby cause babies don’t keep.” Nothing is more important than you taking care of you both. Wonder what that story is going to be this time?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. So glad you have good medical people to support your pregnancy. Sorry about those pesky tests. I like to take a snack with me and a healthy drink like water or coconut water when I have a fasting blood draw. That way I have something short term to look forward to when they’re finished.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Stay positive, Katie! Even though sometimes health care providers order another test, it turns out there’s nothing to worry about. (happened to me too during pregnancy. I don’t know how much blood and pee I gave to them haha!)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. The NHS uses fasting blood tests instead of the GTT. My urine always showed up sweet at my monthly midwife check, so over I would trundle to the hospital to have blood taken. I was always clear thank goodness.

    Good luck with your test. I’m sure that you are in good hands.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you! I am, and I’m so grateful. The different approaches are interesting. I’ve heard of women here tracking their sugars for a week, which feels a little harder to me, but then, I’m a wimp when it comes to finger pricks and such. It’s just good to be able to get tested and be able to act accordingly. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. I am late catching up on posts, but I came to say oh no! For the failing of the first test but I see above you passed the second! Woohoo! Congrats, my sister in law had gestational diabetes during pregnancy and I felt so sorry for her. I also love following along your journey and learning all about pregnancy!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I’m still so relieved that I passed! I’ve had friends who’ve been diagnosed with GD, and it just seems so stressful, on top of all the other stress. I’m sorry your sister in law had to go through it.

      Thanks for reading and for following along! It’s definitely been a journey so far! Hard to believe we’ll be 32 weeks on Friday. Coming to the finish line!

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment