Gestational diabetes advice

[emmab5]

Hi

I am currently 29 wks pregnant with DC 3 and have just been diagnosed (today) with gestational diabetes. I am due to see the diabetic specialist midwife next tuesday but wondered if anybody had any advice of things I should/shouldn't be doing until then.

I wasn't given any other information at clinic today just told to turn up next tuesday!

Any advice appreciated

I am in the same situation. I am 31 weeks & been told that I have GD. I have an appointment at the clinic on Monday afternoon.

They have not given me any information either.

Basically follow a low GI diet. Eat granary bread, not white or wholemeal, lots of vegetables, dairy is fine. Will find you some info. brb.

Here is a little info.

You will have to test your blood, using a finger prick kit, a couple of times a day, but may be more initially. It's pretty painless, just annoying.

They will monitor your baby more closely (which means extra scans), as GD can lead to larger babies and they will not want you to go past your due dates.

You may need to use insulin, depending on the severity. I had GD with my DD - diagnosed at 26 weeks - and am now 17 weeks pregnant and am being treated as though I am going to get it - blood testing and watching my diet.

It really isn't too scary and you will adjust pretty quickly.

Following birth you will be tested for diabetes after about six weeks to check it has gone. You will have a slightly elevated risk of developing type two diabetes in later life.

Any other questions, please ask.

Take care and try not too worry too much - it is far better that they catch it now and can treat it.

Here's a list of food in a GI table.

ProzacTheGiggleFairy - it's rubbish isn't it :(

LilRedWG - thank you very much for the info and your reassuring words. Am off to plan my shopping list now :)

I'm now 38wks and was diagnosed GD at 29/40 - was lucky enough to be seen by a dietician as soon as I'd got the positive result from my GTT, which while at the time felt like info-overload I now appreciated.

As everyone's said, low GI/low carb is way to go - I roughly try to have approx 15-20g carb at breakfast (as that's normally when insulin is least effective due to the high hormone levels), approx 30-40g at lunch, and 50-60g at dinner. I also ensure about halfway between each meal (so twice a day) I have a carby snack (eg a cereal bar with 15g of carbs in).

You'll find the first few days a bit hit and miss as everybody responds differently - once you get your testing kit, if you have a high reading, jot down what you ate to cause it so that you'll see if a pattern emerges/can alter your diet accordingly. I've found bread is esp tricky, but haven't had similar probs with pasta/rice.

Even the occasional pudding can be had - creme brulee/panacotta esp good (think it's cos the cream is fairly low GI) and berries with double cream - yum!!

Hope all goes well for you.
I'm being induced at 40/40 if I haven't spontaneously had bubs by then due to concern that over 40/40 + the GD can cause rapid deterioration of the placenta. Otherwise I've been v lucky to not have any complications/worries and controlled it completely with diet and exercise (walking/swimming).

Also - if you feel the need for something high-GI you can have it if you balance it with a low-GI component. So, you can occassionally have a mug of hot chocolate (high-GI) as long as you have a banana (low-GI) with it.

Loftyjen & LilRedWG - Thank you once again for all advice. I was feeling a little overwhelmed as to where to start regarding diet but it's starting to make sense now and i'm feeling reassured that the GD can be controlled.

I'm also going to start swimming regually again - not been exercising much this pregnancy as i've felt so tired although at least I know why now!

I had a scan on Monday which indidcated big baby and excess amniotic fluid and I have been told that i'll be induced at 38 weeks.

I had DD at 38 weeks and they said she looked huge on scans - she was 7lb 6oz, not huge at all. :)

The sonographer told me that my baby is almost 4lbs already! my DD was 7lb 14oz and my DS was 8lb 14oz so am little worried this LO is following an upward trend lol I'm hoping that they've got the scan weight wrong :o