My personal favorite test so far was the 24-hour urine collection. One Sunday, I spent the entire day drinking water and peeing into a plastic container. What a very odd and undignified activity! The urine then had to be transferred to a sealed container that was kept in the refrigerator all day and night. Luckily, we received a brown paper bag to carry the bottle into the lab. This test is done to see how a diabetic's kidneys are reacting to the pregnancy. I am pleased to report that I had no protein in my urine! (Man, the things people with diabetes get excited about.)

Since most diabetic mothers-to-be cannot take a nine-month vacation to tend to their pregnancy, it is best to be organized from the beginning and be upfront with your employer about the time commitment these appointments will demand. My organizational system basically revolves around a medium-sized binder which holds my daily logs, appointment recaps from the doctor, a calendar for all of our appointments, and other notes about diabetes and/or pregnancy. It is helpful to have everything in one place.

While it is a lot of work, being pregnant with diabetes is a rewarding endeavor. Seeing tangible results for my hard work in encouraging test results, such as a lower A1c, has kept me motivated to stay healthy for both myself and our baby.

Wow, now I'm tired... time for a nap.