gestational diabetes

[Helgand]

Have been told today I have to have a glucose tolerance test next week to check if I have gestational diabetes. This is connected to having slightly too much fluid around the baby. Am currently 32 weeks pg. Anyone out there with any advice on diet to try and avoid having to inject insulin? Anyone out there with any advice or experience on what I have ahead of me? I am already very high risk because of previous prem baby and emergency section, plus prolonged reduced fetal movements this time around (prob because of all that fluid!) and to top it all, the radiographer told me the baby is breech legs extended today! I only went in for a check up!

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. [[https://www.mumsnet.com/pregnancy/gestational-diabetes
If you want to read more about gestational diabetes, we’ve got some information here]]. MNHQ

Had only seen obs the last 4 times & they seem not to measure the fundus. LAst time I saw a midwife she said if was all fine. But the scan picked it up. Have another next week thursday with a obs appointment. So let hope the diet control has somewhat lessenend the effect.

Interesting any bread spikes me, rice seems not to, have not tried pasta yet. Oats with 1 teaspoon sugar also does nothing which is a releif with the cooler weather.

Do you know how long after the actual delivery do we still have to go on checking our sugars? Forgot to ask that question yesterday.

My ring finger & pinkie as SO sensitive. So no magic formula just find the least sensitive fingers.

Hope you get some rest in the new house. Well it's all exercise in the end which uses your bodies sugars for energy & gives you beter readings.

We had drinks @ the office last night. Besides the wine (which I really miss the taste off) they also had percy pigs!!! It took EVERY ounce of willpower not to have one. As you said previously pic's to be posted as soon as baby pops out with chochlate/wine in 1 hand & breastfeeding baby in other!!!

Good luck with finding space for all your stuff in a new space.

I had GD with DD who is now 3 and a half - she was born by c-section at 40 weeks and was 10lb 14 oz - but is now an average size for her age! She looked like a 3 month baby when born!

I managed my diet with checking bloods 4 times a day and had antenatal appointments every week at hospital in a special diabetic pregnancy antenatal clinic. Was all ok but a bit of a shock to find out! Was tested 3 months after birth and all was back to normal but worried if have another child that it will all kick off again! Best of luck!

Did someone mention Percy Pigs - Yum.

I've just about managed to get the hang of this GD stuff. At first I found that everytime I got my blood sugar down my ketones would go haywire. I've sussed that now by just eating more carbs.

One of the twins has just tipped over the 95th percentile for growth, the other is not far behind. Diabetes consultant says this is OK as the twins have always been (since first scan at 12/14 weeks) in the upper quadrant/close to the 95 percentile for growth anyway.

He said they would only worry about this if there had been a sudden increase i.e. starting out at the 50th and moving upto the 95th percentile.

At 29 weeks the scan suggested they were nearly 2 kilos (over 4lbs) each! Don't have another scan till 34 weeks now, but consultant is talking about delivering them at 36/37 weeks, and I'm happy with that!

Yes, I had it too from my 6th month. I managed to avoid unsulin injections by cutting out sugar as much as humanly possible, and taking 2 twenty minute walks a day, am & pm. It worked for me, and both me and my son have escaped with no lasting effects.

I've been trying to increase my amount of carbs at each meal to see how much I can take & still have a reading less than 8. Even managed to eat chips which eases the hardship slightly. Thank God for chocolate Muller Light yoghurts. The small ones have about 10gms so they're an ideal snack.

I'm seeing a new consultant nest week who specialises in GD so I'll hopefully find out what her protocol is for GD women in labour.
Capie I was told by the dietician to eat normally after the delivery & not to bother checking my sugars. I'll have another GTT at 6 weeks to see if it's gone but I'd like to knw before then so I might check my levels anyway. Its one thing to cut down in pregnancy but I don't want to be dieting whilst I'm BFing.

Godenoldie when I saw my MW last Thursday she tested my wee but her testing strips didn't check for ketones, so I'm non the wiser. I've only had 1 result lower than 4, which was a fasting one anyway, so I just had a larger bowl of bran flakes to bring it up. Good to hear you've mastered it. Not long now, though. Out of interest, will you be BFing your twins? If you are, I'd be interested to know if you're given any dietary advice for that.

Nearly threw a tantrum last week. When buying a magazine in WHSmith, the sales lady asked if I'd like a half price HUGE bar of Dairy Milk. I said "No, I'm not allowed them cos I've got diabetes". She then replied "Oh, I thought you were going to say it was because you're too fat!" I consoled myself with the fact that one day I'd be thin again but she'd always be ugly.

Goldenoldie
TWINS both big! OMG. I'll be thinking of you.
I am in my last few weeks with just 1 & seem to have fogotten how uncomfortable one can get. 2nd pg.

KM - cannot believe the sales girl told you that, but as you say - she still ugly afterwards!

I had my baby shower on Saturday afternoon & the girls took me for high tea. Needless to say I did not even check my sugars after that! What a treat it was though.

Well this might be my last week @ work - Thursday we have a scan & obs meeting & then we will know if they are going to do a CS & when.

Will keep you posted. Must say the fingers seem to be getting used to it now.
I am using thumb, fore & middle fingers. Both sides - one for before meal & the other for after. Also using both hands - this @ least give the one 24hours to heal. Seems logical to me, but then I'm pregnant & who really know!!

Capie, hurrah for high tea!! I had a load of chips last night at the pub quiz night. They were bloody good so I ate rather a lot & had a reading of 8.5. Oops. Only a one-off, though. Finger-wise, I've found that my left middle finger doesn't hurt at all now.

Yesterday, I had a visit to one of the hopsitals I can book at. I've just moved & have to change hospitals. I was able to spend some time talking to the staff on SCBU about what could happen after the birth. She reassured me that they would endeavour to go with BF before formula. I was told that skin to skin was good but only for about an hour, as it wasn't the best way to keep baby warm. I should then get her dressed as cool babies use up their glucose to stay warm & will go hypo quite quickly. Obviously, I'll be latching her on asap which will help. She will have her sugar levels checked within 2 hours, then four hourly for 24 hours. If they're ok, I can go home. So much for my 6 hr discharge! I'd be on the transitional care ward which has a door from my bay straight into SCBU (if thats where she is, but if sugars ok, she'll stay with me.)

I feel much better about the whole thing now, especially as I've been able to keep my levels down. I hope I can get another scan out of this, so fingers crossed.

Karma - Managed to successfully BF my DS for 7 months and I will have a go at BF the twins during the day as long as DH does a bottle at night with (hopefully) expressed milk. If not, I've got a load of ready made formula in - just in case! Not going to punish myself tho - will take it day by day..........

Don't mind if they have to give them a couple of bottles in the hossie. My DS had to have some and it never affected his or my ability to BF.

Cheeky cow in WH Smiths. I noticed they were giving choc bars away with the Standard last week. Typical, just when I can't eat the stuff......

Hi am late joining discussion, hope you don't mind. Was diagnosed at 32 wks with GD. First reaction panic + starvation = v. low blood sugar and lecture from doctor. Was told just to eat normally & note what causes spikes, then work it out from there. Am fortunate to be under the care of both a Consultant & Midwife who specialise in GD, so have received plenty of help and advice. Have successfully managed to maintain levels around the 8 mark for the last few wks without being too restrictive - have ordered large bar of galaxy to be chilling in fridge after the birth.

Only problem is her size, scan at 35+5 her estimated weight was 7lb10z - and the sonographer called her a porker, which was charming! I'm booked in for induction at 38 wks (20th) to stop her getting too big, but am still getting scared as I'm told the problem with large GD babies is they put extra weight on their belly's, so the head is no longer the largest part & baby can get stuck!!
anybody any info / experience on this???

Welcome FrostD! The more the merrier.
I had a chat yesterday with a nurse from SCBU & I wrote about it earlier. I did ask her about shoulder dystocia but, being a nurse (not a MW) she wasn't sure about it. I have heard on here that growth scans aren't always that reliable, if it helps. Shoulder dystocia can occur with any delivery if baby is big enough but most MWs can anticipate it & act accordingly. If you are able to keep your levels below 8, one would assume that baby's growth might not escalate further. Thats what I'm hoping for, anyway. I was wanting a water birth but I really don't want to get out of the pool if the head is out but the shoulders are stuck.

Good luck, & hopefully some MNers can help you further.

KM - sounds like a good hospital you're @. May I ask which one? My hospital neo natal is 1 floor down & it was quite the issue last time with DS1 who was there for 2weeks

my obs told me that the baby will be VERY hungry for a few days because of the diabetes. So I have to be ready for more frequent BF. don't mind that.

Pasta does not spike my sugar - yipee. do like pasta salads for lunch!

FrostD - Welcome! Well done on the management of the spike just via diet. Don't worry about the induction too much because of the diabetes they will monitor you VERY closely, but do prepare/read up on intervention methods so it's not too much of a shock when they do have to.

Goldenoldie - when DS1 was in the neo natal they did feed him formula as expressing did not work so well for me. I was still able to fully BF him when I took him home with no issues what so ever.

Does anyone think your toes might be less sensitive? Have heard drug addicts use them. .

Only a few more weeks - will find out tomorrow. will let you know.

karmamother, have had a good read through the chat on growth scans and feel greatly re-assured. I've spent the best part of last 4 mths, with people asking if I'm having twins, you can't have long to go or my god your big - I'm only 4'11" & baby has been quite prominent from early on - so when the scans started showing her as big I totally believed them!

Capie, thanks for advice will check out ventouse, forceps etc. and hope I don't need a c-section! but as you say, I'm in the best place possible and they'll be monitoring everything, just want my baby out safe & sound so will go with the flow.

Not sure about the toes, good luck trying though, I can barely get my socks on unaided, god only knows what damage I'd do if I tried pricking them

Capie - lol at the toes!! I'm sure I read that druggies inject between the toes to hide the injection marks. Can you imagine how painful that would be?? Today, whilst checking my sugar, I went too far to the side of my finger by accident...wow, it hurt!

FrostD - I totally sympathise with you. I was so glad to finish work as I was heartily sick of answering the same questions every 10 mins. I work with at least 80 people so I had it on a major scale. Then when I left work I got it at the supermarket till....aargh!! I kept hoping that, at some point, I'd look like the gestation I actually was.

Speaking of deliveries, my bubs is breech & I'm 34 weeks. As its my 2nd, I'm hoping she'll turn but as each day goes by, I feel a section is looking likely. Still, might be better than pushing out an 10lb elephant!!

Wel Ladies, it's all booked now. am having a CS on the 28/10. Am OK with that. & by the way you were correct re the scan comment as the scan I had on 36 weeks (2 weeks after the 95th percentile one) showed normal growth! Relieved!

KM my baby is doing the jo-jo thing - one day down practically engaged the next in breech. wouldn't worry to much apparently normal with 2nd & you still have time left. Def don't want John Wayne walk too early as is highly uncomfortable .

FD - good comment about reaching toes! - sometimes I actually forget I'm pregnant & make stupid comments without thinking! Have tried turning onto my stomach a number of times just to realise that I cannot!!!

Sofar sugars are v good with diet only. Had fab meal last night - glass of wine & pudding = NO SPIKE! Yeah!
Last few days @ work this week, are any of you going to the baby show in London this weekend?

good luck Capie! You can start planning things now. I'm seeing my consultant next week (& the diabetic consultant too) so hopefully I'll find out what their protocols are. If baby turns to head down, then I'd like to get some idea of what weight I have to push out. God knows what my pelvic floor will be like after that. Spoke to my friend about it tonight...she had awful problems after her 2 DDs with stress incontinance & a cystocele (front wall of vagina prolapses allowing bladder to push forwards - nasty!) She thinks I should look forward to a section. Must admit....starting to come around to the idea. You can tell me what its like!

bump

I had my GTT at 28 weeks and it came back fine, but at the hospital yesterday they found some sugar in my wee and said I have to have it again so next week at nearly 34 weeks I shall have the stupid thing done again. Really don't want it done and I am fed up of pregnancy being made such a complicated thing when it is the most natural thing in the world, but as my Mum says (who has had 7) if I don't have it done and there is a problem it will be held over me lik emotional blackmail.
Really do not worry about it just be prepared to be very bored.

FrostD

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Sorry things didn't go so smoothly. An E-CS is a bit of a "mind job". It freaked me a bit with DS1 as well.
One of my friends did buy me a chocolate cake & it's ready & waiting for me!
I'll let you all know how it went next week.

Flutterbee - I was really shocked as well & felt like doing the head in the sand thing also. But must say your mum's right. !
It's not so bad once you have gotten your mind ready for it. I was lucky & mine was just diet control. Hopefully your will be too. Keep us posted.

I expect it too come back all clear again, the sugar in my wee probably had something to do with the half a pack of choccie biccies I ate that day.

Congratulations FrostD!! As well as enjoying your wonderful DD, you also get to eat sweet stuff again! I am soooo

Flutterbee, sending you big hugs! At least you only have a relatively short time to be on this diet, assuming it comes back positive. I shall keep my fingers crossed for you. I have to say, whilst I was really annoyed when I was diagnosed, it did stop me eating for England & getting too fat. I reckon I won't have so much to lose after the birth although I feel a chocolate backlash will arrive after the delivery so watch this space.....!

I'm at the hospital tomorrow seeing my consultant for the first time & hopefully the diabetic consultant too. Shall let you know if he imparts any glorious words of wisdom.

Hello Ladies

DS2 arrived @ 10.58am on Friday 3.2kg. All went well with the CS but having developed a thing about needles the pre-op part was not so nice & took a lot of concentrating not to freak out.
DS2 is lovely (& slightly jaundiced) & has been a good boy. Latched on with gusto while I was in recovery. Yes have my first set of cracked nipples but am so contented!
Am healing well it seems & was discharged on Sunday late afternoon. Great to be home.
Ooo he just woke up - speak to you later

Congrats capie!! Well done for surviving the needles & I'm sorry you have cracked nipples. Even with correct latching they take a while to toughen up. When you get time fill us in on the other stuff...what happened with the blood sugars?? Is he a very hungry baby then??

Just found this thread! Have got appointment on Monday to talk about raised sugar levels after GTT with diabetes midwife, but although they're not amazingly high, I'm getting REALLY thirsty and this baby's seeming quite big, so don't want to risk growing a toddler!

Congratulations on your little boy, Capie!