coping...

...with Gestational Diabetes (GD), that is.

I just came from my OB today and got the news that I have it. Thank God that I already prepared myself for the news and I thank him that Ale and my mom were with me when the news was relayed. When I failed the first test, I was really disappointed because I watched what I ate this whole time. I mean, I wasn't always good but I knew I was more conscious than other pregnant women -- I barely ate white carbs, I almost completely cut off fruits, pastries, cookies, I didn't drink soda or juice. However, after taking the 3-hour test last Monday, something my beloved dad said struck me. He said "Anak, finding out whether you may or may not have this condition truly made travelling all the way to the U.S. worth it. Kung para dun lang tama lang na pumunuta tayo dito." :) We would not have been able to figure this out if I was in Manila but God sent me here and rang a bell on my doctor's head to have me tested. :p

My condition may have been triggered by the little sweets that I still ate but the doctor said it's a combination of a lot of things. There's heredity and there is the reality that my pancreas do not produce enough insulin due to the many bodily changes that come with pregnancy.

The "bad" news is that I am now on a strict diet (as in ala South Beach!) and am required to test my blood several times a day via a Glucometer. I have to control what I eat to make sure that Teo doesn't get too big.

The good side of this, at least if you ask me, is that my weight gain will stop! YEHEY! The baby is already big enough that the controlled food that I will take in the next few weeks will be enough to sustain his growth. :) We found out today that even with GD, Teo's size is normal!!!

The GD should be gone 6 weeks post-partum. :) After that, however, I will still need to control my sugar intake just to make sure it doesn't develop into the real diabetes.