Gestational diabetes glucose test

Phew, my midwife called me for the result of my 2-hour glucose tolerance (GTT) test, luckily she said,'only calling to inform you that you're ok.' I was so worried as we had diabetes in the family and the chance is quite high that diabetes is "in my gene."

Luckily it's over, as gestational diabetes will store too much sugar in the bloodstream and might cause an oversize baby that are too big for natural birth. Not sure if it's the psyllium fibre and Weet-bix I took the night before or other factor. After testing for the 1-hour glucose test and found that my blood sugar level is too high, I started reading more about diabetes before my 2-hour test.

I learned that any food that digest quickly, like anything made from white flour: white bread, pasta or sugar or carbohydrates...etc will cause the blood sugar level to spike. Anything that digest slowly is good, like Weet-bix (97% Whole Grain Wheat) or high fibre food like beans.

I also learned to read the label, a lot of food that name "Wholegrain" was actually made from wheat flour and not really wholegrain. I'm quite surprise to find that most food on NZ supermarket shelves are not the real thing. A lot of them contain less than 15% wholegrain but with the name 'healthy wholegrain' on it. I don't usually eat Weet-bix and this NZ favorite is actually the only thing I could find that contain real fibre.

Changing the diet and regular exercise will help with diabetes and I tried to walk half an hour a day during my lunch break. At first, I didn't know we have to book for the 2-hour glucose test, I took a morning off work and went to my usual Diagnostic Medlab (GTT instruction) and they said I need to book! Then went off to another one nearby and said the same thing but gave me an earlier day. But I can't take another day off, luckily called the one in Ellerslie and they had the drink available. The experience there was so nice, the nurse was so professional, I didn't even feel a thing when she inserted the needle. And she advised me I had 10 minutes to finish the bottle, instead of 'drink it and come back in an hour, and don't eat or drink and do any exercise during that hour' with the one I went for the first test.

Who knows? Maybe because I sip the drink slower for the second time, or had a comfy sofa to sit on or didn't have any breakfast or even the Weet-bix or psyllium fibre that I took the night before or the exercise or eating less sugar that make me ok for the second test, maybe not. But I'm glad that I don't need to go to the doctor every week to monitor my blood sugar level.