Gestational diabetes - help!

[hunkermunker]

Just rang the hospital for the results of my glucose tolerance test. Was told quite snootily they'd have rung me if there was a problem, but since there had been a question mark over whether I had gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy and I wasn't phoned then, I asked if they could just check anyway. Plus I've been madly thirsty and keep waking up in the night to go to the loo, so I had an inkling all wasn't quite as it should be.

Good job I did - apparently it's high and she's going to get the diabetes midwife to ring me back (but will phone again if I haven't heard by lunchtime as I don't quite trust them to ring me!).

Has anyone else had gestational diabetes and what did you do? Any tips on diet? Did you have extra scans to monitor your baby's growth? DS was 8lb 10oz and this one was described by the midwife at my 28-week check as a "chunky child"?am I going to give birth to a toddler?!

Thanks HM. I feel so much better knowing I can wibble on mn and someone will understand.
I did ring the MW this morning and she was lovely but I guess I was just too worked up for it to sink in properly .

I tend towards a low GI diet anyway as there is a certain amount of sugar intolerance in the family (apart from my dad being diabetic). The diet sheet from the hospital was pretty poor IMHO as it didn't say anything about GI or to avoid white bread/pasta etc so I think I'm actually doing ok on the diet front.
I think I just expected to cut out the added sugar from my diet and, hey presto, all would be instantly under control. Factor in being pregnant and it's not surprising that it's taking time for my body to adjust!! (hallelluja!!! logical brain rules at last!!!)

I really do appreciate the support you've been giving me though. ((hug)) Thanks

Glad you're feeling a bit calmer, Iris - I've felt a bit panicky about this, but am really trying to keep it at bay - I know what I can and can't eat, I know my sugar levels will rocket if I eat things I shouldn't. Doesn't make it feel any less "fear of the unknowny", does it?! I think that knowing that if I eat lots of sugar, I will grow a big baby is a huge motivating factor in not letting the sweet stuff past my lips though!

That said, I tried having a bit of jam on wholemeal toast for breakfast. And had a level of 6.0 two hours later! Hooray! Was very happy about that Planning on soup and wholemeal bread for lunch - pushing the boat out or what?!

Feel free to wibble away, btw - I know I will - lol!

iris, hope you're feeling better now.

it isn't just refined sugar that puts your blood sugar up, it's all types of carbs. so your levels were high after breakfast as you had 2 slices of bread. it doesn't make that much difference that it was wholemeal, it's the 2 slices that are the problem. also, baked beans have a fair amount of sugar in too (you can low sugar versions). does that make sense?

i don't know if you're on insulin or not. essentiallly, i wouldn't eat too many carbs. i find that rice puts my blood sugar up quite high & for a long time. oats are good.

also, it doesn't matter too much what your levels are before meals, it's after that count. in a way, it's easier to be on insulin as you have more leeway over what you eat.

hth.

hoxtonchick - thanks for the advice - what you've said makes perfect sense. I'm not on insulin (and praying it wont come to it either!) but I got myself all worked up mainly because I was overtired, my sugar went up 0.6 in an hour whilst still fasting this morning and it was all over the show yesterday (but that has been explained). Think also that I was worried I'd have the same problems balancing sugar as my dad (insulin dependant - numerous other illnessess and can't get regularly below 9)

Strangely, I wasn't so bothered that it was up to 10.6 1hr after breakfast because it was down to 4.2 before lunch (4 1/2 hrs after breakfast). I'm clearly focussing on the wrong thing! - and will get some low sugar beans in! lol.
Thanks for the support - and apologies to everyone for the major wibble this morning
MW said to call on Thu with results so far so I'm not going to get too worked up in the meantime.

OK, so think I'm controlling my sugar levels too well! Was 4.7 after dinner last night, 4.8 after lunch and hasn't been above 6.0 since lunch on the first day when it was 7.5. Are these readings too low?! I don't want to starve this baby! But I am eating quite a lot - had a huge dinner last night (braised beef casserole, loads of veg and brown rice). I guess it's just not sugar-level-raising stuff.

I feel much better, have lost puffiness in face and, well, everywhere, really!

fantastic levels hunker . don't worry about going too low. you aren't on insulin are you? the risk then is that your blood sugar does go too low (>4.0) & you start to feel very strange & lose it quite rapidly... just carry on doing what you're doing.

ps you certainly aren't starving the baby!

Iris66, sorry you've been having a hard time with your levels. I was surprised that you tested 1hr after a meal, I was told 2 hours & its usually down by then. When it comes to diet I'll tell you what I do, & the "proper" diabetics might not agree but I count the amount of carbs in grams in each meal. Years ago, diabetics were put on a 120gm per day regime. This was split into 3 meals of 30gm each plus 3 midmeal snacks of 10gm each. Now I'm not sugesting you follow this, but I stick to 30gm of carbs per meal & it works. If having a yoghurt after the meal takes it up to 40-50gms then I don't have it until I've done my 2hr post meal level, its usually down to 6 or 7 so I know I can have the yoghurt then. I was told by the dietician to split a meal up into 2 smaller ones rather than a huge one that will spike your sugar. IMO, whilst it is quite restrictive & not a diet that you can maintain forever, I only have to do it till baby's born & I'm willing to do anything to avoid insulin. Its true that having insulin means you can eat more (& there were times I would've gladly had it!!) but I don't want to be on an insulin infusion in labour. I'm after a water birth & I also don't want a colossal baby. Really hope this helps.

i know that the prospect of insulin is awful, but honestly, the blood tests hurt more than the injections. the modern pen needles are only 5 or 6 mm long. so if any of you do have to go onto insulin for the sake of your babies please don't worry .

No, I'm not on insulin, HC. Good to hear I'm not starving the baby

Think I'd been really cranking up the sugar levels in my diet before I had the GTT and now I'm eating a lot more sensibly, it's more normal. God, I cannot believe how awful I felt this time last week! I was losing my voice with thirst overnight, but waking up to drink endless water, so was totally shattered. And I was breathless - couldn't even hang the washing up without nearly keeling over! Walking was an effort and I just looked pasty - I hadn't realised how ill I felt!

It was just so easy to lapse into bad habits, and I think that the more sugar you eat, the more you crave.

Had fasting level of 5.7 this morning, 5.7 after breakfast (toast and...jam ), 4.8 after lunch and 6.0 after dinner.

Message withdrawn

Feeling much better about it than I was at the beginning of the week - thanks for the post, Pruni.

No, not long to go - am in single-figure weeks now! 9 weeks and four days!

Karmamother - thanks for the dietary advice - didn't occur to me to count carbs. I've been following a low GI diet which seems to be working so far (fingers crossed) I am going to thelibrary later though to get some more info on GI foods so will see if there's one there with some kind of carbs table whilst I'm at it.

MW wants me to test fasting, then 1/2 hr before meals & bedtime on certain days, fasting, 1hr after breakfast & 2hrs after lunch/dinner & bedtime on others. i've no idea why it's different on different days but am doing the lot every day just so I can get a better picture for my own benefit (have to admit I'm glad it's only 2 weeks of this as Ican see my fingers are going to be getting sore soon!)

Hunkermunker - am soo pleased your sugar levels are so good (and so quickly!) I totally agree with you that the more sugar you eat the more you crave - andwhat a wierd effect it has on your brain?!!. Yesterday was the first day I felt properly sane again.

Everything crossed for us only having to test once a week after these 2 - and as you said, not long now take care x

So, levels suddenly gone mental. Was 9.1 today and I've been feeling awful again. Not eating anything "bad" - feeling pretty low about it because it seems that "food" is making my levels rocket. Waking up again in the night again to drink water. Just want to have this baby so I can feel like me again

oh bugger, hunker. as you get more pregnant you get more insulin resistant, it's nothing you've done & not much you can do about it. i'd give the diabetes nurse or midwife (the most helpful, anyway) a ring on monday. how many weeks now? it's possible you might have to go on insulin. hope you don't feel too miserable.

I'm very miserable, HC (think tears dripping off chin) - need to eat something but can't think what because I feel so appalling Think I might have some plain porridge.

Will ring the diabetes midwife on Monday. I'm 32 weeks today. Am trying to do too much - have SPD, am working four days a week and have 19mo DS. Thanks for the speedy reply xxx

hunkermunker, in case you don't return to the other thread, just wanted to add again here that I'm sorry I didn't read your post properly, you poor poor thing, I can't imagine what you're going through.

Hope the next eight weeks will fly by for you.

It's OK, Emkana - thank you - means a lot. Just want to eat food again And the baby's breech and I'm convinced it won't turn and I'm just miserable and in a state and need to pull myself together.

I hope you get a chance to rest sometimes, it really sounds like you're doing way too much! Can you take time off work?

oh hunker, you poor thing. wish i could do something practical to make you feel better. i wouldn't eat porridge actually, the oats will put your blood sugar up more. what about vegetables (i know, not good comfort food....) or some kind of protein - cheese?

I thought that re porridge so haven't had it. Might have some veggies and cheese (big wooh). Should've eaten by now. Eight weeks. That's 56 days. I can do this. Well, I have to, I suppose! Thanks again.

Can't take time off work really, as DS is hardly a restful alternative!

your mum's quite close isn't she? any chance she could have ds a bit to help you? 8 weeks is hardly anything, you're doing so well.

She already has him while I'm at work two days, HC - I do have lots of family support, so I'm really lucky. I just feel I should be able to cope better than I am - oh, don't normally do this on MN. Bugger

But couldn't you take some time off work and ds goes on those days to your mum or nursery or wherever he normally goes? so that you can rest?

or maybe start your maternity leave early, but your mum could still have ds when she normally does. i stopped working at 32 weeks with my 2nd pg & was sooooooooo glad. i find the travelling exhausts you as much, if not more, than the working.