The new thread for those with gestational diabetes?

[happycamel]

Just seen that someone has resurrected an old GD support thread. I'm newly diagnosed and would really appreciate a thread where women with GD (or people worried about it) can get support and advice from mothers who had it when they were pg or still have it now.

Jump on board if you feel it's relevant to you.

I've got my first clinic appointment with the diabetic midwife tomorrow so will report back then.

---------------------

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

Thanks Happycamel, you've been more help than the doctors!

Thanks Happycamel, you've been more help than the doctors! Just did the blood test- it's come back at 4.1. I should be pleased, but I'm just at a loss as to what's causing the high urine glucose! I just know that the millionth GTT is just going to be a waste of time and come back normal again!

Oops! Must have presed post before I finished!

hi all, taken me ages to post on here but wanted to pop back to announce happy arrival of baby girl angels1 last friday via csec. She weighed 8lbs 13, and, just to reassure some of you, this was the weight she was estimated via scan at 36weeks, so scan was quite a bit out considering she was born at 40 + 4. I was due to be induced due to GD/big baby scans but, after 5 days in hospital and no induction technique working, they gave me an emerg c sec. Sorry I haven't been able to keep up with the thread in the last 2 weeks - I've been in hospital most of the time and sleep deprived the last few days but have been thinking of you and hope you are all well.

oh - and was a bit to see docs/mws not really checking/keeping up with bs levels while in hosp - was just asked ocasionally if I was doing tests and how they were doing but no one checking I was doing it often etc (I kept forgetting as they kept hooking me to machines etc as part of monitoring for induction). Baby was tested on birth for blood sugar and all was fine btw :)

Hi,

congratulations and welcome to the world baby angels1.

I'm sorry to hear that the induction process wasn't smooth for you but very glad to hear of your safe delivery and I'm sure you are relieved to have put the stabbing pen away.

It's also brilliant to hear that your baby was a very normal weight and with normal blood sugar too. That must have been such a relief.

My 36 weeks scan is on Monday so I'll post on here when I know how baby is doing. They were more concerned about lack of growth than a big baby at the last one.

Congratulations again, oh and some flowers for a new mum :)

thanks happy. A bit diabetic friendly to you all

Congratulations Snowangels! Great news that baby's BS levels were normal! Thats my biggest worry! Has your GD gone away now, or does it take a while?

noeye they've told me not to do pin pricks anymore at all but I have to do a fasting blood sugar test 6 weeks post birth to check. I assume it's gone but it hasn't actually been tested IYKWIM

Hi everyone. Just to let you know I gave birth to a boy on Valentine's Day. Congratulations to slowangels on the birth of your little girl. My baby was exactly the same weight as yours!I ended up being induced and having a forceps delivery. It was a bit chaotic and I had a useless midwife, but it worked out ok in the end. So far he seems strong and healthy. I wish you all good luck with pregnancy and birth

congrats sharonam . So we both had a baby with the same weight and an induction and forceps (despite having an emerg csec they apparently still had to use forceps to get her out )

Hi - Have a couple more questions if any of you have any experience I would be grateful for some advice.

The hospital recommended the metformin tablets for me two weeks ago, after about five high readings (not very high and I had had a cold). Due to mix up at the doctors surgery I didn't get the prescription for a week and only decided to start taking the pills three days ago after having the same breakfst three days running and each time my readings being higher.

Thing is I have felt rubbish since starting them, bad stomach etc which I know are side effects but last night I had the worst cramp yet and tonight though I felt really knackered, nearly dropped off on the sofa and that is two of the symptoms they say to see a dr about in case it is a sign of lactic acidosis.

This coupled with the leaflet and another book I had on drugs (from my old dispenser days) say metformin shouldn't be taken in pregnancy has really freaked me out.

How do you know whether this normal pregnancy cramp or tiredness or more serious? I don't have trouble breathing so have decided not to see a dr now but am not taking any more tablets this weekend.

Does anyone have any experience of this? I don't know whether I am doing the right thing and now feel stressed out and worried about everything.

Would appreciate anyone's thoughts on this...

btw congrats to those of you who have had your babies x

Hi,

I'm sorry I don't know anything about metformin. I'm currently diet controlled but have been threatened with insulin injections, no one has mentioned this drug to me.

Firstly I'd suggest seeing a phamacist tomorrow. They are highly qualified (four year full time degree) and understand the chemical formulation behind drugs, why and how they work. You should be able to find one on a Sunday whereas I guess you'll need to wait until next week for the GP.

Maybe you'd be better off on insulin given your (understandable) worries. In the meantime can you improve your diet control? I don't know how far along you are but I've only found the diet control difficult since 36 weeks, before that so long as I was really strict I was ok. I find two slices of toasted granary bread with two scrambled eggs is a low GI breakfast.

I did find the wiki page on it here

It says the following regarding GD:
Several observational studies and randomized controlled trials have found that metformin is as effective and safe as insulin for the management of gestational diabetes, and a small case-control study has suggested that the children of women given metformin instead of insulin may be healthier in the neonatal period. Nonetheless, several concerns have been raised regarding studies published thus far, and evidence on the long-term safety of metformin for both mother and child is still lacking.

From what it says about lactic acidosis I think it's unlikely because it is very rare and seems to be associated with metformin being used in combination with other drugs:
The most common adverse effect of metformin is gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and increased flatulence; metformin is more commonly associated with gastrointestinal side-effects than most other anti-diabetic drugs. The most serious potential side-effect of metformin use is lactic acidosis; this complication is very rare, and the vast majority of these cases seem to be related to comorbid conditions such as impaired liver or kidney function, rather than to the metformin itself.

I hope that helps, good luck and do let us know how you get on.

Thanks for replying,

I feel better this morning after a relatively decent sleep! Was just getting a bit stressed last night it was the end of a rubbish day in general.

I'm 34+4 at the moment and apart from a couple of high readings I don't think my readings are that bad, certainly not consistently so. I think I was just annoyed that they prescribed it so quickly without much thought or discussion and no-one even mentioned side effects or the lactic acidosis which considering how serious it is you'd think you would be told about what to look out for. Like you say it is very rare and the chances of how I felt last night being it is minimal, I was probably just tired and I too read some of the evidence that it is likely to occur after long term usage as opposed a few days!

I finished work last week so I can keep a closer eye on things for the time being, like I said my diet wasn't that bad, I've just wrote my shopping list for all the things I know kept my sugar low and feel much more positive. I think stupidly I felt a bit of a failure when they gave me the tablets.

I think also like a lot of people at this stage I just want to have this baby and get on with sorting every out as I already have a toddler and keep worrying about everything to do with him and the new baby. When you feel a bit down about one thing everything else seems ten times worse doesn't it?

I shall keep going with what I know worked, thanks for taking time to comment x

Hi Everyone,
I was diagnosed with GD at 17 weeks this is number5 baby but 4th time diabetic.
Must a hello to Happycamel as i too am at Frimley Park Hospital.
I have had two insulin pregnancies and one diet which was my first. This one at the moment is diet controlled and behaving well. My reading was 7.9 so was pretty gutted that it was just one point over.
I am controlling it pretty well at the moment and have now realised when i can have the occasional treat. I also do alot of walking for school runs which help with the morning breakfast readings i also struggle with these. Eating shredded wheat is fine for me.
I had my first takeaway last week which was a doner kebab which was lovely and sugars were fine at 5.3.

Looking forward to getting to know you all a bit beter and exchanging diets.

I am going to join in as I was diagnosed on Monday. I don't see the specialist until next Weds and I have soooo many questions.

I've made some a=diet adjustments for the time being, but realise I need to wait until I can test to find out what I can and can't eat really.

My test results were 6.6 fasting and 8.8 after 2 hours, but I have no real idea what these mean?

(my friend who's DC is now 10 weeks old had him at Frimley Park, she too had GD)

I hope everyone is doing OK?

I just wanted to check, I have lost a little over 2lbs this week, is that OK? I am eating three meals, all with a small portion of 'good' carbs, a day plus two or three snacks. I see the specialist on Weds, so will ask then.

I lost 1/2 stone with my first nothing to worry about.

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I've been totally manic at work and also getting ready to move house (completion date currently planned for when I'm 39+2)!

I just got back from the FPH diabetic clinic, I guess I might have seen you there!

I think losing a bit of weight or staying the same is fine so long as baby is growing ok at your scans and with GD you'll be having extra ones of those. I stayed the same for the first 2 months after my GD diagnosis and its only now creeping up again.

I had a scare a couple of weeks ago with a serie of higher readings and was being threatend with insulin but it settled down after month end reporting was done(I'm an accountant so that's my busy period). They're now letting me stay diet controlled to the end.

I'm being induced in exactly 2 weeks. I can't believe it. It doesn't feel any time at all. In fact I swear it was only last week I got my BFP! I'm still in total denial about the whole thing but am also looking forward to meeting my baby - that's pregnancy logic for you!

Anyway, long, rambling and mostly pointless posts are my style and I'm glad to see this is following suit! Will sign off now....

happy - can't be long until you're induced now - just wanted to say good luck :)

Ah, i've been looking for this thread!!!

So, i'm now just over eight weeks and already have been transferred to the Gestational Diabetes consultant. My midwife has handed my care over to them and they are going to do all my appointments at their clinic at the hospital.

And all because when i saw MW on monday, she asked me to do three random blood sugars and they all came back mid to high teens...

I had GD in my last pregnancy and was on insulin as i just couldn't control my blood sugars.

I'm a bit bothered that i seem to have it so early on - MW indicated that it could be because i was actually diabetic, but i was never tested after i had DS.

I go on Weds to the hospital for my booking in appointment.