Gestational Diabetes question for a dietician or professional?
Julia asked:
I am 30 wks pregnant and just got my test results from my blood glucose test. Apparently anything over 140 is high and mine was 171. The doctor said I should go in next week to the hospital for a 3 hr test. Should I get this done right away or wait until the end of the week to try to reduce my blood sugar? Is there anything I can do to reduce the sugar level before this appointment? Obviously it is to early for a meal plan. Please help.
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I am 30 wks pregnant and just got my test results from my blood glucose test. Apparently anything over 140 is high and mine was 171. The doctor said I should go in next week to the hospital for a 3 hr test. Should I get this done right away or wait until the end of the week to try to reduce my blood sugar? Is there anything I can do to reduce the sugar level before this appointment? Obviously it is to early for a meal plan. Please help.
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You really cannot do anything to reduce your blood sugar if you have gestational, other than to eat a diet with as little processed sugar (e.g., table sugar, the stuff in the sugar bowl) as possible. This means no cake, ice cream, cookies, donuts, popsicles–anything with sugar in the first four ingredients is not good for you, even with a “normal” blood sugar reading.
140 is indeed the high end of the range of “normal” for a fasting blood sugar. I am assuming that you did not eat anything for eight hours before the test you already took. If you did eat, your body may not have had enough time to process that sugar, and there may not be any problem at all.
If you did “fast” (didn’t eat anything for at least 8 hours before the test), and your blood sugar was 140, then I would not waste any time before getting the three hour test, which is probably the “glucose tolerance test.” If you do have gestational diabetes, you need to know it ASAP to protect yourself and your baby. (Congratulations, by the way!)
Meantime, it is never too late to adjust your diet. A general helpful rule is not to eat anything white–no white sugar, no white rice, white flour, white bread….
Complex carbs are very good for you–whole grains (that includes popcorn, actually!) can be very tasty and interesting, and can be satisfying even though if you are used to eating processed sweets a lot, there will be a period of adjustment.
But do go get that 3 hour test. Don’t wait.
diabetes testing
Exercise is one way to bring down blood sugars. Since you are pregnant you may be limited, but walking is an excellent exercise. You don’t need a dietitian to know that sweets you eat will raise your blood sugar. Carbohydrates change to sugar in your body also. Get the test done when the doctor says to do it. It isn’t an emergency at this point and 171 will not put you into a coma.