Recent notice to shield (Feb 2021) and history of gestational diabetes

[HelloViroids]

This has popped up on a few other threads and had blindsided me today so thought I’d make a thread in case others want to discuss.

I had gestational diabetes but have since been tested for type 2 diabetes and don’t have it. I know my risk of type 2 is increased though. I’ve now have notice to shield and (separately) link to book vaccine.

I have no other significant risk factors (overweight but not obese, ethnicity more risky - but NOT asthma or any other respiratory conditions or similar), so I am assuming the GD must be the reason I am now being treated as CEV. Someone pointed out on another thread that gestational diabetes is a factor in the algorithm being used to add people to the list (digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/risk-assessment) - but I had thought that would be current GD not historic?!

Just wondered if anyone else has been surprised by this - or if anyone has had GD but NOT been told to shield? I wasn’t expecting lockdown to get worse at this point

ireallyneedaname my guess is either pregnant women are being notified so they can shield, or the list was put together based on data analytics with a lack of sense check....

Gestational diabetes is now specifically listed as a risk factor, so either for shielding pregnant ladies, historic cases or they didn't think it through.

I thought some types 1 and 2 were, depending on other factors.

www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus

I had GD two years ago, went after birth, and got an email today, was very suprised as not had one before. I'm in the obese BMI so I originally thought it was that, maybe it'd for GD now.

Nope. I had GD in both of my pregnancies and have hypertension but haven’t been asked to shield

It's all very worrying.

I knew that you were supposed to be offered a diabetes test every year after having gestational diabetes, but my GPs has never automatically offered it, and want to know what symptoms you have if you ask for one (I have none). I've just realised that I haven't had one since 2016 (GD was several years before that).

I test my own blood sugar at home, but that's not the same, I know. This has frightened me and made my health anxiety much worse. It's been 9 years since I had gestational diabetes - I've even had another pregnancy without it since. Sorry - I realise this isn't what this thread it about really, but the shielding letter has totally thrown me today.

@NoseinBook3 is your BMI in the normal range?

@painbrain you’re entitled to one, you don’t need to have symptoms. Just call up and book it - it’s in the NICE guidelines too

@doireallyneedaname Thank you. I'm annoyed with myself for not pushing the issue before. I just bought a glucose monitor and check myself at home, and it's always normal, but I should have contacted the surgery.
I just realise that this letter today has caused anxiety to a lot of people!

I had GD in my last pregnancy 5 years ago (skipped out after the blood test straight for the biggest sugary Costa I could find, assuming I'd be fine again ) I also have steroid inhalers for asthma, so it's been quite the week for bouncing around theoretical priority groups.

Anyway, I haven't had anything about shielding but just to reiterate, we are at increased risk of developing diabetes so it is worth getting an annual Hb1ac test. I always have to request it and get the 3rd degree every time from the GP receptionist, I just say I had GD and have family history of late onset type 1 and they book me in.

I had GD in 2016 with DS1, but didn't have it with DS2 in 2019. Still have a high BMI now, but blood sugar is fine. Also have pernicious anaemia which is classed as an autoimmune disease.

Got an email this morning advising to shield. I've been at work for the past 12 months and tested positive at the beginning of Feb 2021 and haven't been back to work yet!

How strange.
I'm T1 and haven't had a letter/heard anything about this. Is it specifically GD as risk includes preg?

• pregnancy

All a bit of a mystery, no real pattern, let’s hope some further information comes out soon

Personally I think the most likely explanation is the one from a PP that some people’s GD status was left open on their records (meaning they. could come up on a search as currently having gestational diabetes) and some people’s status was closed meaning it was clear it’s past

GP on here is saying that when they close the GD status they are finding the high risk status goes away

[quote doireallyneedaname]@NoseinBook3 is your BMI in the normal range?[/quote]
No

Oops I thought I'd caught up on the thread then realised it hadn't all loaded after I posted

I had previous gd in pregnancy in 2016 I didn’t have it in 2019 pregnancy. I also have under active thyroid and endo I haven’t got a letter . I think it’s on bmi or postcode of high area maybe as seen loads of people had them .

@xXxMummyof2xXx

I had previous gd in pregnancy in 2016 I didn’t have it in 2019 pregnancy. I also have under active thyroid and endo I haven’t got a letter . I think it’s on bmi or postcode of high area maybe as seen loads of people had them .

I got the email but I don't have a high BMI or live in a 'deprived' postcode. I do also have an under active thyroid (autoimmune) but I've never seen this on any of the high risk lists, so I assume it must be the GD 4 years ago. Too many people with former GD have had the letter/email for it to be a coincidence..

I didn’t say deprived area I said postcode meaning on high cases I have seen loads of people on the gd group that had babies about same 4-7 years ago no other July and health conditions they just said there bmi is on the higher side not obese thou . I was wondering how it was calculated to say you have to shield x

I am really confused still. I’ve never had any extensive tests done or had any diagnosis, so there simply cannot be anything that I “don’t know about.” The only risk factor I can see is GD in a 2019 pregnancy and the fact that my BMI was 31 at the time. By weight was taken at my postpartum check and BMI was 23, so it must not have updated?

Other considerations -

Blood type? I am A! (Rumoured to be higher risk)
I am half Greek, though I don’t think this could affect the ethnicity part.
I have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, though my health is fine.

I phoned the Gp this morning and was told it was a mistake of you had a letter.just because of Gd and people who have had it are not thought to be at any greater risk unless have other issues. Thats a relief, although they confirmed.should have a text yearly and mine is overdue, so now i m worrying about that!

@Mother40 Whilst it does “feel” like it is an error, I am surprised at a few GP’s saying it’s it’s a definite mistake when others are saying it’s genuine. If there had been an official release to them then you’d expect them to all be signing from the same song sheet, so it feels like guess work.

I don’t like the idea that you could actually be high risk and not be offered your vaccine due to your GP.

They need to let people know either way. I would like to know if I am available to have the vaccine now or not. It is really not good for your mental health being messed about like this.

Have a listen to the start of The Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2 today (Vanessa Feltz presenting), they talked about this exact issue and had a GP on to explain that having GD itself is not a increased risk for Covid, but having had it in conjunction with other risk factors (other conditions, BMI, ethnicity, etc) is.

I had GD 14 years ago and no notice to shield. Didn't know I am supposed to have yearly checks either! How many of you get checked yearly out of interest?

Cavemum did they reference whether it was current or historic gd?