What's That White Filling in Donuts?  |  Natural Diet Plan  |  Tortilla Soup Recipes

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Personal experience of Gestational Diabetes

Other than two prior miscarriages, I experienced no symptoms of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).  As with most pregnant women, anything out of the ordinary was simply due to 'being pregnant'.

My doctor decided that since my father suffered from diabetes, it would be prudent to get tested.  And I had lost my last baby when I was at five months along, so to him, that signaled an even stronger indication for testing.

Sure enough, I had good-old gestational diabetes and I remember my dad crying when he learned the results of the test. He had insisted to tag along with me when I went to get tested.  During the test, we escaped to the outdoors because after drinking a sugary substance, there was a waiting period before the blood could be drawn.

We found an ancient oak tree and picked up some of the acorns off the ground. Later that day, my dad planted one of the acorns and it's a fairly big tree now - about 21 years old!

After the doctor received the results of the test, he instructed me to carefully watch my diet and was concerned about the size of the baby, thinking at first that I might have been carrying twins.  

During my 24th week of pregnancy, I began going to the clinic to be tested weekly for sugar levels. The test included fasting. When I arrived for testing, I was given a sugary-tasting substance to drink - which made me want to hurl.  Although there were several flavors to choose from, I would rather have not.

After a spell of about half an hour, the testing began. A series of five to six tubes of blood were collected with a needle.  I got to where I would get very ill to my tummy when the needle would go in.  It was a queasy, sick feeling that I have only been able to equate with that situation over the years.  I believe that the sick feeling was due to the needle going in one time after the other over a handful of hours.

When the baby arrived, he was pronounced a healthy little boy weighing in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces.  He'd had a terrific time being delivered; a complication involving an excessively long umbilical cord being wrapped around his neck.

Needless to say, there were concerns for a long while after the birth - but all ended well.  He's a fine young man now, healthy and fit as can be.

Risk Factors and Symptoms for Gestational Diabetes Include:

None! (Yes, that's right - none!)

Being overweight

Family history of diabetes

Miscarriages

Health Notes Regarding Gestational Diabetes:

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus generally resolves itself within a few days after the baby is born.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is not the same condition as having Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes during pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus doesn't mean that the baby will be born with diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus increases risk for birth defects, as well as miscarriage.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus may OR may not reoccur with subsequent pregnancies.

An individual with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus has about a  70% (or higher) risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life.  Because my dad suffered from diabetes, by doctor said my risks were about 98% - so it's one of the things that motivate me to really keep a lid on my weight.  

If you have experienced Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, I want to highly encourage to drop those extra pounds.  It may help to know this....

Although I truly LOVE cake icing, the feeling that I have whenever I have to resist cake icing isn't anything when compared to the woes and pain of diabetes.

Diabetes is both an emotional and physical roller coaster, often claiming one part of the body, then another.  Whether it is blindness, kidney issues, heart problems, skin boils, or life-threatening incidents of low blood sugar, diabetes is no one's friend.  So please, don't invite Diabetes into your life.

Although we cannot ensure that by keeping weight down and activity levels up will keep Diabetes at bay, we can certainly greatly reduce our chances of getting Diabetes.

Return to Weight Loss Coach Articles

Site Map  |  Diet Bites  |  Site Disclaimer