Diet Changes

Monday I received word that I failed my three hour glucose tolerance test. I've officially been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I didn't have any problems passing the one hour test with my first two pregnancies so this has thrown me for a loop. I go in Thursday to see a diabetic counselor, receive a meal plan, learn how to test my blood and ask any questions I have. While this is a manageable pregnancy complication, I'd rather not have it. Of course. Why am I telling you this on my financial blog? Because I'm worried what the meal plan is going to do to our grocery budget. We've been eating more pasta lately because, well, it's inexpensive and quick and easy to make. I'll have to take the meal plan I'm given and figure out how to purchase the ingredients in the most frugal way. It's easy and inexpensive to have granola bars in the house for a quick snack. They're also loaded with sugar (even when I always buy the 25% less sugar variety) so I'm sure I'll have to replace those with something else. So, that's worry number one. Meal plan = budget fail.

My second worry is Thursday's consultation is at my local hospital, where I was referred from my doctor. In order to attend the counseling session, I have to go to patient registration first. The last time I had to go to patient registration? For my ultrasound. I'm worried this consultation is going to cost me my $150 hospital co-pay. I'm really not happy about that. I wish it could be treated as an office visit instead with a $30 co-pay if a co-pay is going to be required. At least this expense, whatever it turns out to be, can be paid for by our HSA. The ultrasound, if you remember, could not. It's either our HSA or our savings because I can't squeeze $150 out of our budget next month. But, I'll do anything for a healthy pregnancy and baby so if it costs me $150 for the nutritional counseling, then so be it.