In the second trimester of pregnancy, specifically in the sixth month appointment, you get prescribed a very specific kind of test. It is a blood test to evaluate gestational diabetes and it is something most pregnant women are apprehensive about; especially if the sweet cravings are off-charts!
However, I wasn’t apprehensive at all because I was never a sweet tooth, but pregnancy had increased my sweet cravings significantly. I was particularly fond of raw sugarcanes and usually ate about a 30-40cm long sugarcane stick every week, and an occasional sweet. Turned out, I should have been apprehensive, LOL.
How the gestational diabetes test takes place
On the day of the test, the first step is to go to the hospital early because there is a long waiting period on this one. The nurse handed me a glass of glucose drink containing a mix of 70 grams of sugar as prescribed by the doctor. The prescription can vary from 50-70 grams but its too sweet to gulp down with ease anyway. This is an important step because the gestational diabetes test isn’t testing our sugar levels – it is testing the efficiency of our body (insulin) in processing sugar levels in the body during pregnancy. And so, after consuming this (ridiculously) sweet fluid, we are asked to wait for two hours during which we can drink water and use the washroom but not consume any other food.
Since we lived quite close to the hospital, I chose to go home during the waiting period and rest. I could have walked around and stayed active but I fell asleep instead – that could have been a mistake. When I went back and got my blood tested, my doctor revealed to me that my sugar levels were a little high. She told me it was no reason to be concerned but I had effectively failed the gestational diabetes test. I don’t know the margin of failure; but it meant some consequence anyway.
What after failing the gestational diabetes test?
The doctor did not reveal the margin of failure to me but she did tell me that it wasn’t that serious. Nonetheless, the next step was to go fully sugar-free for the next two weeks and test my sugar levels on an empty stomach. And so, my sugar-free fortnight began.
Except for some fruits, I resisted sweets and sugars for fifteen days and got two blood tests done on the sixteenth day – one on an empty stomach and another, on the same day, two hours after lunch. The results read 80 and 87 respectively, validating that my sugar levels were rather low and there was no reason for worry at all. I was extremely apprehensive about being prescribed diabetic medicines or worse still – there being any risk of diabetes for the baby but the fears were banished by the results.
What was the possible-worst case scenario?
The fifteen days of sugar-free diet did not go by without anxiety. I went through all the worst possibilities of a failed sugar test in my head and on Google – figuring out what it would mean in the worst case scenario. Here’s a list of the worst risks I discovered –
- Excessive Birth Weight (Macrosomia): This was my biggest fear. When a mother has high blood sugar, the extra glucose crosses the placenta. The baby’s pancreas then has to work overtime to produce insulin to process it. All that extra energy gets stored as fat, potentially making the baby very large, which can lead to complications during delivery.
- Early (Preterm) Birth: High blood sugar can sometimes trigger early labor, or a doctor might recommend an early induction if the baby is growing too large or if the mother’s blood pressure is affected.
- Hypoglycemia for the Baby: Ironically, the worst-case for the baby after birth is low blood sugar. Because their little pancreas is used to over-producing insulin to handle mom’s high sugar, they might continue to do so after the cord is cut, causing their own levels to drop temporarily.
- Preeclampsia Risk: There is a known link between unmanaged gestational diabetes and high blood pressure (preeclampsia), which is why those routine urine and blood pressure checks at every appointment become even more critical.
Why My “Nap” Might Have Been the Culprit
I mentioned falling asleep during my two-hour wait. This could have made all the difference. In reality, our body processes sugar more efficiently when we are slightly active. While you shouldn’t run a marathon during the test, a light walk helps the muscles use up some of that circulating glucose. By sleeping, my metabolism likely slowed down to a crawl, leaving that 70g of sugar just sitting in my bloodstream when the nurse drew my blood.
What can be done if you failed the gestational diabetes test?
If by any chance you are on the same boat as I was or are just apprehensive about the gestational diabetes test (maybe because of sugar cravings in general or weight), here are some things that do help. I am not a medical expert, these are just things I did during the fifteen day window alongside the sugar restricted diet.
- Occasionally chew on guava leaf buds: This is a traditional remedy often used to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Guava leaves contain compounds that can help slow down the absorption of sugar in the blood after a meal. Don’t overdo it though, a small bud once in two-three days is enough, or you can make a tea of it and sip it.
- Stick to fruits for sweet cravings: If the dessert cravings hit hard, reach for low-glycemic fruits like berries, apples, or pears. They provide the sweetness you crave along with fiber, which prevents the sudden “sugar spikes” that refined sweets cause.
- Track your water input: Dehydration can actually lead to higher concentrated blood sugar levels. Aiming for 2.5 to 3 liters a day helps your kidneys flush out any excess glucose effectively.
- Take your morning/evening walks seriously: Unlike my “nap mistake” during the test, moving your body is the most natural way to burn off glucose. A 20-minute brisk walk after lunch or dinner helps your muscles use up the sugar in your bloodstream for energy.
- Focus on fiber and protein: When you do eat carbs (like rice or rotis), always pair them with a good portion of protein (dal, sprouts, or paneer) and fiber (leafy greens). This “cushions” the carbs, slowing down how fast they turn into sugar.
- Swap ‘white’ for complex: Switch from white rice or white bread to brown rice, millets, or whole wheat. These complex carbohydrates take longer to break down, keeping your levels steady rather than erratic.
- The power of small, frequent meals: Instead of three large meals that might overwhelm your insulin, try five smaller “mini-meals.” This prevents your blood sugar from dipping too low or spiking too high.
- Avoid ‘hidden’ sugars: Be careful with store-bought juices or flavored yogurts. They often have more sugar than a piece of candy! Stick to fresh, whole foods during this fortnight to ensure your results are as accurate as possible.
Ultimately, the gestational diabetes test is less of a “pass/fail” exam and more of a conversation your body is having with you about its current limits. Looking back, my sugar-free fortnight wasn’t just about avoiding a diagnosis; it was a much-needed pause to reset my habits after the sugarcane-fueled craze of the second trimester. If you find yourself staring at a borderline result, don’t let the Google-induced panic take over. Take the two weeks, embrace the walks, and trust that your body is doing its best to manage the incredible task of growing a human. Whether your bump is “invisible” or you’re navigating the sugar-free life, remember that every hurdle is just another chapter in your unique story of endurance. After all, the peace of mind that comes with those healthy final numbers is far sweeter than any sugarcane stick!
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