#ogtt

LOOOLLLLLLLLL @asktheboywholived

What has even

what is even happening right nowI’m sorry I shouldn’t laugh bwahah but it is truly funny XD

((ooc: Hey there! If you’re looking for gif advice, I am going to kindly direct you to OGTT’s (Asktheboywholived) amazing resource here. That covers making gifs and it’s amazeballz. There’s another resource floating around, I think Jess has some as well! But if that doesn’t cover it i’m always open to chatting, I just don’t have anything comprehensive on it that’s as well put together as theirs.

IF the question is about content and not technical stuff, I definitely have strong feelings about that. Your content should come from your heart. Sounds so lame and cheesy, but that’s what gets me so excited every day. Telling stories. So think of what matters to you, and portray it! Don’t need anybody’s permission.

I used to think pregnancy was as simple as hearing your baby’s heartbeat and you’re good. You wait for the next visit, take your vitamins, and count the weeks until you finally meet your little one. But I was wrong. Pregnancy comes with layers of care—tests, measurements, and numbers you never thought you’d worry about. It’s not just about the baby growing, it’s about how your body adjusts and fights for both of you. I slowly realized that it takes more than excitement and prayers for a pregnancy to prosper. It takes awareness, discipline, and a whole lot of patience.

During my second OB appointment at 8 weeks, my doctor, Dr. Portia, told me to take an OGTT test soon. At that time, I didn’t think much about it. I was still adjusting to my new routine—working, running our small business, keeping up with the house—and honestly, I delayed it. I finally went to the lab at 11 weeks, three weeks later than I was supposed to. I even laughed at myself, saying, I’m really bad at this, but deep down, I knew I had to get it done.

That morning, I went to the clinic fasting. No food, no coffee, just water. The nurse took my first blood sample, then gave me a small plastic cup filled with a clear, sweet liquid. It was the glucose drink, and super sweet like melted candy. I had to finish it in five minutes. The taste stayed in my mouth as I went back to our house and wait for my next blood draw. Every hour, they called me again—three times total. The first test, then after one hour, then after two hours. I felt lightheaded and tired, my stomach empty, but I kept thinking, Just a few more hours and I can eat.

When the results came out a few days later, my world went quiet for a moment. The numbers were high. It didn’t pass. I didn’t know what to think. I panicked. All I could do was stare at the paper and imagine what it could mean for my baby. I feel bad for my baby. I kept thinking about the Toblerone I ate 2 days before taking the test, the Potato Corners that my husband was buying after work, the extra rice, comfort foods, and all the cravings that I ate during first trimester. I have eaten a lot, I admit. I was always hungry.

That’s when I learned about Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)—a condition where a woman develops high blood sugar during pregnancy. According to medical sources, it happens because pregnancy hormones interfere with how your body uses insulin, making your blood sugar rise even if you didn’t change your diet much. It’s more common than most people realize, but still, when it happens to you, it feels personal. It made me realize how delicate pregnancy really is, how even a small imbalance can turn into a big concern if you don’t act fast.

So, at 12 weeks, I decided to take control. I told myself, I’ll learn this. I’ll manage it. I started with my meals. I removed sugar completely, limited or even eliminated rice, and began eating in smaller, more balanced portions. Every label in our pantry, I started reading "Carbohydrates". I checked packets of crackers, noodles, even milk, to see how many carbs and sugars they had. It became part of my day—learning what I could eat and what I should avoid.

My meals became simple but intentional. Breakfast was usually boiled eggs with sautéed green beans or ampalaya. Lunch was grilled chicken or fish with a mix of vegetables—broccoli, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, kangkong, or okra. Sometimes tofu with cucumber and tomatoes. Dinner was light, mostly stir-fried mixed veggies with fish or tofu. I also started drinking more water and fresh green juice from S&R.

It wasn’t easy. There were days when I missed sweet things so much. I’d open the fridge and look at Leche Flans we made for our lechon business, like leche flan, and just sigh. I’d tell myself, Not now. I replaced my cravings with vegetables or a small bite of fruit, sometimes just a spoon of peanut butter when I really needed it.

Every day, I checked my blood sugar using my glucometer. Sometimes I’d get 95, sometimes 105, sometimes lower, sometimes higher. I noticed my post-meal readings were getting better, but my fasting still didn’t want to cooperate. That’s when my OB explained that fasting glucose is often the hardest to control because it’s affected by hormones and how your body handles sugar overnight. That made sense. It also made me realize I had to stop being so hard on myself.

I started walking after meals, even just around the house or outside for ten minutes. It helped lower my readings and made me feel more active. Slowly, I began to see improvements. My post-meal sugar stayed within range most days. My fasting was still unpredictable, but at least I understood it now.

There were nights when I still worried. I’d lie down with my hand on my belly, thinking, Is my baby okay? Am I doing enough? But then I’d remember why I started all this. Every careful bite, every small sacrifice—it’s all for my baby. I caught my condition early, and I’m grateful for that. I may have been three weeks late, but maybe it was still right on time.

Now, as I write this, I’m 15 weeks and 5 days pregnant. My numbers have been steady, usually between 85 to 110 mg/dL. I’ve learned how to listen to my body, how to balance food with movement, how to rest without guilt. I’m still learning, but I’m no longer afraid.

This journey taught me that pregnancy isn’t only about waiting—it’s about becoming. It’s about learning to trust yourself again after every test, every result, every small worry. It’s about knowing that progress doesn’t always mean perfection.

There’s no magic formula. Some days I still crave sweets, some days I feel tired of all the checking. But then I see that small line move on the glucose meter and remember: this isn’t just for me. It’s for my little one, growing quietly inside me, relying on me for everything. And that’s enough reason to keep going.

What I’ve Learned Along the Way

Don’t panic over one high result. Focus on your overall progress.

Walk after meals, even for 10–15 minutes—it really helps.

Fill your plate wisely: half vegetables, one-fourth protein, one-fourth complex carbs.

Stay hydrated; water helps more than you think.

Fasting sugar is tricky—it’s not always your fault.

Rest matters. Stress can raise your sugar too.

Celebrate every small victory. Every good reading means your efforts are working.

SPEECH DEFECT LINKED TO INSULIN USE IN PREGNANCY

Can a child’s speech defect be linked to insulin use in pregnancy? A patient with gestational diabetes at the antenatal clinic asked if insulin causes speech defect in children. She feels one of her child who cannot speak at age 4years was due to the insulin she used to control her blood sugar in that pregnancy. The other child has no problem with speech because she did not use insulin while…

Si chiama test di carico orale di glucosio (OGTT) e riesce a prevedere l’insorgenza del diabete con 5 anni di anticipo. Ne hanno valutato la validità i ricercatori della Società italiana di diabetologia che hanno pubblicato i dati sul Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Un test del genere esiste già nella pratica clinica. Si esegue assumendo del glucosio (75 gr sciolti in acqua) e…