Thanks to the increased hormones produced to carry more than one baby, we mother-to-be of multiples have an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. Apparently, these hormones interfere with the babies' ability to process the insulin.
I had my first test for gestational diabetics at week 16 and thankfully, the results were negative.
Back in my former ward when I was still in the 4-beded room, I had a roommate who was diagnosed with gestational diabetics. She had to test her blood sugar level several times a day and give herself daily insulin jabs, as well as count her daily calorie intake. Not fun!
Gestational diabetes can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby. These complications may include:
- Macrosomia (oversized baby)
- Increased chance of cesarean section delivery
- High blood pressure during pregnancy
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in the baby immediately after delivery
- Stillbirth
- For the child, risk of obesity and developing type 2 diabetes later in life
Come last Thursday, the Obs decided to have me retested for gestational diabetics earlier than scheduled. Sucks! I had a nice marble cheese cake and three cup cakes in my mini fridge and now I felt nervous about eating them. So after an 8-hour fast, I had my blood taken, then drank a cup of sickly sweet glucose, and waited another 2-hours for my blood to be taken again. I've read about the sugared drink that comes in several flavors - cola, orange, and etc. but I guess they keep it pretty basic here at a Malaysian government hospital.
More than 24 hours later, I was still waiting for my results! The nurses kept on saying that they have yet to receive the results, and the medical officer said that she will go and check on the results but that was it. No news after that! In a private hospital you can get your results pretty soon after the test, but not so here. Finally, when I complained to MIL who visited me with lunch, she went to check with the nurses and hey presto, the results were already in. Just that nobody bothered enough to inform me! Not even the medical officer who was happily sitting behind the nurse counter. I guess no one here really cares about the anxiety of a patient waiting for her blood test results :(
Anyway, the blood test revealed that I'm not too sweet! I passed! I passed! I don't have gestational diabetics! Yahoo!!!
Time to celebrate with a cupcake
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