My glucose test
Well, I didn’t faint yesterday during my glucose test. Thank you for your prayers.
I did, however, realize with some alarm that I was talking much too loud, much too quickly, and my speech was peppered with maniacal laughter. It seemed like a good idea to check my own glucose levels as I was leaving. I don’t think the result was too bad (116) but it had been nearly an hour and a half since I drank the glucose concoction, and another check soon after showed that it was falling quickly. This leaves me to wonder just how high it was when my midwife drew my blood. I’ll find out in a few days.
I pulled into the Walmart parking lot 45 minutes after leaving the midwife’s office and checked my blood level once more. 53. Usually I’m shaky and nauseated in the 50’s, but I felt fine so I decided to leave my lunch on the seat of the car and go shopping before I ate. I’m not sure why I did this. The only excuse I can offer is that logic and rationality are not typically associated with blood sugar levels in the 50’s.
Quite predictably, I was shaky and woozy within 10 minutes. I frantically dug in my purse for my stash of almonds and dried apricots - good for maintaining blood sugar levels but not so great for a quick boost. I tore the bag open, spilling them into the dark recesses of my purse. Then I stood there picking them out one by one, checking for hair, and eating them. Why didn’t I just buy a candy bar? Remember that bit about logic and rationality?
I wish there was a punch line to this story, but there’s not. After 15 or 20 minutes, the fog began to clear and I was able to make logical and rational decisions as I finished shopping, except for the part where I didn’t buy any diapers or shampoo.
And we all lived happily ever after. The end.
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Filed under: Everyday life, pregnancy/labor
I feel your pain honey. I have low blood sugar issues while pregnant or not. I’ve had those foggy brain moments more times than I’d like. I have to tell myself that I’m NOT losing my mind and that its just my blood sugar before I go into a full blown panic. Not a fun experience especially if you’re standing in the middle of a store with your kids and you get really confused or if you’re driving down the road with all your kids and all you want to do is get home before crashing the car.
I have those lapses in judgement too where I think I can do a few more things before I eat. But it usually doesn’t work.
Prayers for normal blood sugar levels.
Nikki
I have diabetes, so I can totally relate with having low blood sugar- in the 50’s I definitely feel so out of it! I can hardly do anything but just sit there and let the food work, allowing my blood sugar to rise to a normal level. By the way, most candy bars actually are NOT a good choice to eat when your blood sugar is low because although they have sugar, they are also high in fat which causes your blood sugar to take LONGER to rise (like chocolate or nut candy bars). A better choice is fruit, juice, or hard candy (so the dried apricots are a good choice!), something that raises blood sugar very quickly.
Oh, and I wouldn’t worry about your blood sugar being high when your midwife checked it- usually your blood sugar peaks 2 hours after you eat/drink something. It was probably not much more than 116.
Luckily I won’t have to have this glucose check later on in my pregnancy- they already know I have diabetes
And I don’t like my blood being drawn either- it’s so much easier just to prick my finger and check my blood sugar as I do many times each day. I’ve always wondered why they don’t just do this for pregnant women….it gives instant results too. I guess things have to be all technical- sending it to a lab and all.
Amy
I am glad that your trip turned out okay. I am sure that was no fun.
Ugh! I despise that test. My last two pregnancies, I took the 1 hour test, and registered at 1 point over the line where they make you take the three hour test. Both of those tests came back negative, but having to drink that nasty stuff again and get needle sticks just for 1 lousy point is irritating. I wonder if that will happen again this time?
I can relate to this so much! Glucose test: yuck…whacked me out the rest of the day. Low blood sugar levels: yuck…lots of stupid stuff happens in my life when I have low sugar levels, and I run around in a panic trying to eat everything in sight. Both these things only seem to happen while pregnant…but I just remember the beautiful reward at the end and it makes it all worthwhile. Praying for you!
Ah, don’t you love pregnancy hormones & the craziness that they can cause in your body! Such a *crazy* feeling… I’ve been there, too!
Amy
Take care of yourself! Try to keep a fun-size candy bar (what’s fun about it?) in your purse and eat it as soon as you start having that shaky, woozy, sick feeling. Also drink some cold water immediately. Works for me. Glad you’re OK.
“After 15 or 20 minutes, the fog began to clear and I was able to make logical and rational decisions as I finished shopping, except for the part where I didn’t buy any diapers or shampoo.”
That is the punch line! However, the story wasn’t funny because I can totally relate to this scenario. I remember one such incident some years ago. My daughter was with me. We were going shopping. She had some money. I made it about 4 or 5 miles and had to stop at a mini-mart place. She went in and bought me a soda and a candy bar. I only remember one time after that this similar thing happened to me. I NEVER not eat anymore.
Oh, I can’t even count how many times I had to take that awful glucose test. About 15 minutes after downing that nasty orange syrup I would get sweaty and nauseated and, inevitably, run to the bathroom and vomit. Then I would have to return to the nurse’s station and admit my failure and reschedule the rest for the next week. It was miserable. I had three babies and I think I attempted the test 8 times. Yeesh.