Living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, I have always known that I was at a higher risk of developing Gestational Diabetes. I passed the 1-hour glucose test during my pregnancy with Addilyn. And I started my pregnancy with Lilliana at a lower weight than I started my first one, so I truly believed that I was good to go!
Was I ever wrong! I, apparently, failed my 1-hour test in a pretty big way. So the last day before we traveled for Christmas, mama got to go to the hospital and sit through the oh-so-pleasant 3-hour glucose test. I was SURE that I failed the 1-hour as a fluke and would pass this one with flying colors. Also wrong! I failed this one pretty badly too.
To be completely honest, I cried my entire one hour drive home from the hospital. I felt like such a failure. Like my body and my eating habits were just junk and I took the word FAIL extremely personally. That I had done something wrong and this was somehow all my fault. I was embarrassed and did not really want the world to know. Not to mention I was heading into Christmas vacation with strict orders to dramatically cut my carbs and check my blood sugars 4 times a day. How in the world was I even supposed to enjoy myself?? Why this week?? Not to mention the fact that my side gig is a home baking business and I am around sugar literally constantly…
Over the last two weeks, however, I have come to find some acceptance in it. Yes, your lifestyle can affect the test. But a lot of it is very much out of your control. I found a fantastic support group on Facebook and joined. I began learning all that I possibly could and absorbing so much information. I spent the week with my diabetic mother who was able to give me some tips and tricks, as well as help explain how things work to me. And I will be seeing my doctor this week to discuss my plan moving forward.
I also felt like God was telling me that He would not give me a struggle without giving me a purpose! I am, after all, in full-time ministry working with women who are having pregnancy and loss struggles. I chose to see this as a new layer to how I can help others, sharing what I learn and helping them to accept and overcome as well! If this is you, I encourage you to subscribe to my blog. Email me. Follow me on social media. Let’s connect and do this together! I also created a Gestational Diabetes Pinterest board that you should totally follow! I plan to pin all my faves there!
I am hoping that I will be able to cope in a completely diet-controlled way and not have to go on medication or insulin. I plan to share as I figure this thing out, so stay tuned for tons of recipes and snack ideas, as well as anything that I am able to learn to keep my levels in check! While I was sad about this diagnosis, now I am actually excited to finish this pregnancy much healthier than I started, and to share it with the world!
