Type Two and a Half?

No easy way to say it; Mom failed the 3-hour test, making the diagnosis of gestational diabetes official. Apparently only 2%-4% of pregnancies have this complication, so Mom was a bit surprised given that she only matches 2 of the 6 high-risk categories. She has spent some time trying to do research on the topic, though there is a lot of conflicting information out there, as well as some controversies surrounding the tolerance testing procedure.

Some of the risks to Mom if left untreated: a long, difficult delivery of a big (>10 lb) baby, a C-section delivery, an early delivery, no Xmas cookies at all.

Some of the risks to Bif if left untreated: a premature birth, a long difficult birth, being born obese, a sugar crash shortly after birth, extended jaundice, respiratory distress syndrome, and a higher chance of developing Type II diabetes later in life.

Some comforting points: none of the above apply if the condition is treated with a blood sugar regulation program of some kind (i.e., diet/exercise or insulin); most treated GD women go on to have normal and healthy babies; Mom's blood sugar regulation mechanisms return to normal after the birth; there is nothing Mom could have done to predict/prevent this (it is a placental-hormone problem associated with uncontrollable high risk factors, like age, family history, ethnicity, etc.), thus self-criticism of diet, exercise, weight-gain, and work-stress up to this point in the pregnancy is a waste of time.

Now what? The midwife has referred Mom to a dietician who will develop a tailored meal plan, and a nurse who will go over the monitoring procedures. This appointment takes place tomorrow. In the meantime, no juice, pop, or sweets, or milk outside of meal time. Weight loss is not allowed. Eat 6 small balanced meals per day.