I have gestational diabetes. What should my blood glucose be THREE hours after a meal?

I've been doing so well with this gestational diabetes diet that I've grown a little bored testing. But today (I'm 36 weeks and two days pregnant), I had a small lunch OUT at a restaurant, where I didn't really know exactly how many carbs I consumed. Probably too many carbs and not enough protein. My one-hour-post-lunch test is supposed to be less than 140, per my doctor, but it came back high: 159. Opps. So I had a bad lunch after all. But after two hours, I tested again, and it was 175! 120, I am told, is what the max should be after two hours. What should my level be after three hours? Everything I find online gives the levels for the three-hour glucose screening test. This is just a regular after-meal test, three hours later instead of one or two.

I failed my glucose screening test primarily because my sugar after two hours went higher when it should have gone lower. But I don't want to have my afternoon snack before my blood sugar comes back to a level where it should.

Gestational diabetes is a form of Type II Noninsulin Dependent Diabetes, which is a risk factor for the development of diabetes in the nongestational state.

Gestational diabetes is associated with a number of pregnancy and newborn problems and complications the most common being excess weight gain by the mother and the delivery of a newborn who is heavier/larger than would be otherwise expected.

Your blood glucose level 3 or more hours after any meal should be close to that of a fasting level which is in the 75-125 mg/dl range. A single reading of 159 or even 175, if your other glucose readings are in the range I quoted, is not something to worry about. The effects of diabetes are due to prolonged exposure to elevated blood glucose levels.

Review your dietary recommendations as your glucose level at any point in time is due to three factors:

1. Your total recent caloric intake (not the proportions of carbohydrates, protein and fats).
2. Your recent energy expenditure (exercise!).
3. Any medication you may have taken for diabetes.

While overall the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and fat is very important in the control of diabetes all of these food sources will raise your blood glucose (not gram for gram equally). Testing your glucose at one and two hours after eating is going to provide you with confusing results due to the unpredictability of pancreatic insulin release after eating a given meal, your state of hydration, hepatic glycogenolysis (glucose release from liver stores), the rate of absorption of nutrients from your intestines, the degree of insulin resistance you have (the primary cause of Type II Diabetes) amongst several other factors.

Your goals are to:

1. Follow closely the total daily caloric intake recommended by your physician which should take into account the additional needs of the growing fetus.
2. Follow closely the physician-recommended levels of exercise (even daily walks) which will act to keep your glucose down.
3. The proportion and types of carbohydrates, protein and fat you are eating as recommended by your physician.
4. The times you are to measure your glucose.

Remember, it is not a single glucose reading that is important but it is the trend of readings which determine glucose control. Also, be sure to keep a check on your glucose level long after you delivery your baby as Gestational Diabetes is a risk factor for development of Adult Onset Diabetes.

The following link is an excellent resource with other important links for Gestational Diabetes. It is by the American Diabetes Association:

http://diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes...

Congratulations and Good Luck with your newborn!

DrEarp

Well you splurged. Drink plenty of water and start walking. This will help to lower your level. Just be careful with what you eat the rest of the day.

Please ask your DOCTOR about this rather than asking non-experts on the internet. I wouldn't trust strangers to answer this question for me, and I hope you won't either.

Ask your dietition about that, because if you followed the plan, then there might be something wrong. And you don't want to endanger your child. There could be several reasons for the spike, for instance if you exercised, or sweat a lot, or were extremely stressed. Or maybe you need different meds, the weight gain from the pregnancy might have affected their effectiveness. Check with a professional, just in case.