Support thread for those diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes

[HighFibreDiet]

Hi, it seems there are a few of us around and I wondered if you wanted to start a support thread? There seemed to be a good thread going through 2010 but I can't find one running at the moment.

My due date is 17 July. I took the OGTT at 30 weeks (not realising that the best time for diagnosis is supposed to be 24-28 weeks). I was only diagnosed last week, given my blood glucose monitor on Thursday and have been trying to tweak my diet to bring down the readings since then. Seeing my midwife today and have to phone in my readings next week to see what they make of them!

My main problem seems to be the fasting blood sugars and the endocrinologist I saw on Thursday said if I couldn't keep them consistently down, I would go on insulin, with 'no negotiation'.

Would love to hear from other pg women with GD, or those who have been through it before. I'd also like to compare how the antenatal 'care' varies with country, as I am in Australia and it seems extremely strict over here (e.g. my fasting blood sugar levels have to be under 5.0 mmol/l).

Looking forward to getting some responses

Huge congrats Midori! I'm so glad it went well for you and your wee one is here already. Take care x

Hello guys, - how you doing? Remember me, I'm keeping watching after getting my GTT results and the odd response from my

You know how I got my glucose results and thought they were high (8.1 at the 2 hour post load)

I got home today to a letter from the surgery saying they had been trying to reach me, no VM on house phone and they did not try work or mobile, they didn't try that hard then.
Anyway I called, I do have to make an appointments with the diabetes nurse (no more explanation than that btw)....she is next free...... wait for it 20 Jul!! huh thats a month from now - whats the point? surely having high glucose at 32 (which I am now - 30 weeks when I had the GTT) weeks pregnant is a little more urgent than that?

Feeling very frustrated (and sickly again)

Seeing MW this morning - Time for a chat

Oh and congrats to you Midori :)

Evie I am at your diabetes nurse! I got an absolute bollocking from my hospital because I couldn't get there the same day that they called me to show me how to glucose monitor, so much so that I ended up in tears at my midwife. And my reading was 7.9? The difference in levels and care across the country really shocks me, I honestly thought that everywhere in the NHS would have the same guidelines.

More hospital visits for me ? my blood pressure is raised so I spent the whole of yesterday afternoon being monitored, now I'm on tablets. More reasons for me to be induced :(

How's everyone else?

Well today at MW, I explained to her about the letter I received yesterday and about the appointment on 20 July.
She did not know anything about it
So she will follow up to find out who and why arranged it (she suspected the GP)
In addition she did telephone the assessment centre and spoke to 2 people that both confirmed that my result of 8.1 is below their GD cut off. Apparently there has been recent discussion about lowering the cut off but this has not been done yet nor communicated to the MW team.
I really can?t fault my MW ? as she was so nice and so proactive in finding out what was going on.

The she measured me, I am measuring a bit big. So based on that (and the raised glucose) just to help reassure me she is arranging a growth scan for next week. She said she will call me this afternoon with the details.

I?m just staying positive about it all

Baby?s heartbeat is fine ? Baby is kicking me and moving fine. So all in - that?s the important bits just now and what I will focus on

midori thanks for that info about the colostrum and breastfeeding. Good to know that your milk came in on Day 2 after all, I wonder if the expressing helped despite never getting very much? It does seem to be really patchy whether people have heard about it or not: my midwife said it had been common practice in her hospital for years and so did a friend of mine based at St George's, but other people I'd expect to know about it didn't.

Eviepoo, sounds like there's been a lack of communication going on between your different healthcare professionals. Hope the scan is reassuring, and if the baby appears big (for gestational age) at least you know what you can do about it.

Hubba are you better now? Has your BP come down?

Thanks high fibre.

Hi everyone! So I am going in for induction sometime later this week - it's very exciting but scary at the same time! Blood sugars have been stable for over a week now, so I think I've just about got the hang of the insulin/diet regime! Blood pressure's still on the high side though, so that's not good, and is a reason to stick with the plan of induction at 38 weeks. So I hope that next time I'm on will be with a baby

3kids yeah, 7 was mentioned to me as the high level in labour that they are looking out for. Let's hope that I can keep it below that (although, I don't imagine I'll be able to eat much!)

highfibre the info about expressing and colostrum is interesting. No-one mentioned anything to me about it, so it's probably too late for me to do anything.

firawla I agree that it's a bit easier on insulin as you don't have to worry quite so much about what you're eating. Took a little while to sort the dose out though, but it definitely worked to stabilise my sugar levels.

midori Abigail is a lovely name :) Hope you're managing to get some sleep, and not having problems with the heat!

evie I'm also surprised that you have to wait that long. I had the GTT at 30 weeks, and a week later was in the clinic being told what (not) to eat! Hope you manage to chase it and get an earlier appointment.

Hi all,

Just a quick one ? my BP's come down a bit, the consultant was happy with it when I saw him yesterday, the diabetic nurse was fine with my readings too. Baby's actually around 40th centile so a little small, not big at all ? hooray! However, low-lying placenta hasn't moved so I could be in line for a C-section. I've got another scan in two weeks to double-check.

Squirrel so exciting that your little one will be here soon! I think if they section me then I'll probably be right behind you in three weeks' time. Eeek!

One more thing ? I queried a few of the things that Thursday's doc had written in my notes ? stuff like 'soft non tender abdo' ? with the consultant yesterday, since the doctor didn't even touch me, let alone prod my bump! Looks like he could be getting into some trouble?

The diabetes nurse phoned to apologise for confusion. GP forgot I was PG when my results came in. Nurse said I am classed as having impaired glucose tolerance. So she said to cut out all added sugars ie added to drinks, full sugar coke, cakes etc. And MW will keep an eye on me and I will get retested after baby born to ensure it goes back to normal. Other than that no action required.....

Will see how scan goes on Thursday then

good luck for your induction squirrel

Evie, I'm still a bit shocked. My GTT was 8.2 so impaired glucose tolerance but they are treating me as if I have full GD. I have to monitor blood sugars 4 times a day and they are even talking about putting me on insulin. If you look at the NICE guidelines I don't think they are being followed in your case.

So, has anyone had a problem with ketones? Was diagnosed with GD two weeks ago at 34 weeks. Am now 36 +3 weeks. Blood sugars have been fine for past 4 days but had my appt this morning and they said I have ketones in urine and haven't been eating ennough. They told me to eat more, even if it increases my blood sugar as then they would put me on insulin. I obviously want to avoid insulin if can help it so going to add in more protein at breakfast and snacks and see what happens. Have to speak to nurse on Friday.

Am actually quite pissed off with them as because of this they won't discuss my birth plan at all until 38 weeks when next appt is. Who knows what happens if I go into labour before that. I also understood the NICE guidelines are to offer induction at 38 weeks but I'm not even seeing them again until 38+3 weeks. Not that I particularly want an induction but would like to have been able to discuss it.

Any thoughts, experiences would be great!

so - the next installment of the GTT results..... has she or hasn't she got GD saga - they've changed their minds again. The hospital diabetes MW phoned today to say that they have changed the limits. I have a 2 hour appointment on Monday - to have my bloods checked - show me how to check my bloods (will need to several times a day she said) and to do a food chart etc etc.

three weeks ago I had that GTT....three different decisions in that time

funny thing was - she said the result they are now worried about is not the 8.1 (2 hour result), but the 5.1 fasting result!!!
they have changed the limits from 5.5 and 9.0 to 5.1 and 8.8

so still different to other places in the UK!

Ladygonegaga - I know what you mean different places just do different things. I'm just taking it 1 day at a time now.

Evie that's exactly the same way I feel - how are we supposed to trust these people to do the best for us when they keep changing the goalposts?! 5.1 fasting doesn't seem that high to me either, NICE guidelines give under 5.5 as an acceptable reading. At least you'll get the chance to monitor your glucose yourself now, so you can kind of take charge of things yourself.

Hi eviepoo - I'm also in an area where the cut off for GD is 9.0 (Highlands). I was diagnosed with GD in my first pregnancy with a 2 hour result of 9.4 in GTT. I was well controlled with diet but in retrospect wasn't eating enough. In my second pregnancy I had reg GTTs from 16 weeks on with my highest result being 8.6 which they said was impaired tolerance and not to worry about. It's strange how areas can differ!

I'm 17 weeks with no 3 and had my first GTT yesterday so will be interested to see what happens this time. I found it very stressful last time having so many GTTs. DS1 was only 6lb 8oz when I was induced at 40w but I am very small and consultant said afterwards he thought that was quite big enough for my body to cope with. DS1 was a forceps delivery. I went 9 days over with DS2 and I was terrified but I had a really good birth, he was a lot bigger at 7lb 13oz!

Hi ladies - apologies but I really need to RANT...
I am soooo angry at my waste of time today

I went for my growth scan and whilst it was lovely to see dragon on the screen for all of 4 minutes - it was a waste of mine and DH's time in the grand scheme of things (at least we know dragon is ok - but then as dragon's heartbeat is fine and is moving plenty I knew he/she was fine anyway)

My midwife said growth scan

I got there and the sonographer said - 'ok so you are here so I can check the amount of fluid' I said 'no I'm here for a growth scan' she said 'we don't do growth scans for big babies - big babies are healthy babies, if you are measuring big we just check the amount of fluid, we only do measurements if baby is small' me 'thats not what I was told I was told a growth scan because I am measuring big and also have high glucose and going to see the diabetes MW on Monday'

Then

She scanned me and said ' There is heart beating, there is tummy, head is low down, back is this side there is a leg and foot, I don't need to measure the amount of fluid I can see it is normal, yes you have a big one' - me 'so how do I know how big' 'we don't need to measure any more - baby is healthy'

Scan finished

So I'm no further forward - I have over 7 weeks to go, I feel ready to burst now - so uncomfortable, and just feel a bit upset that no one seems to know what everyone else is doing. I am now paniccing that baby will get so big in the next 7 weeks and I will be in labour and struggle and end up needing an ECS - and I'm petrified. I'm really really scared at the thought of a CS I just want to do a normal delivery like I did with my daughter and because I don't have any clue how big dragon is I can't be actively involved. If I knew how big dragon was getting I could ask them to discuss an early induction - not ask for one - but suggest it and talk wth them about it.

This on top of a GTT three weeks ago and having had 3 different diagnosises (is that a word) since then - but no sodding action.

I think I will end up ranting at the diabetes MW on Monday, although DH said that I should call my MW tomorrow and tell her what happened.

DH is not happy - he thinks they are just messing me around now

I know I need to get over my fear of a CS - but I really would like to avoid one if necessary.

Rant done - sorry - hope you are all ok

Rant away Evie that's what MN is for!

I agree with your DH, tell your midwife everything asap. It's not right that the sonographer makes the call on what they will or won't do - you've been booked for a growth scan and that's what you should have had.

Please don't be scared of anything - the main thing is that you are all healthy :)

Why did I not know this thread was here? I was diagnosed with GD following a GTT result of 7.8. Was originally told this was normal i.e. not GD by community mw, then got a letter saying 'you've got GD, come to this series of appts at hospital'. Apparently 7.8 is the diagnostic threshold in my area - the specialist mw told me that had my result been 7.7, I would have been sent away as perfectly normal, but at 7.8 I apparently require the full 4xdaily blood sugar testing etc.

I am now 35 weeks and things seem to be going okay; have had one growth scan (fine) and due another next week. I have also not been particularly conscientious about the diet thing, as after a panicky first couple of weeks I started to see that certain 'bad' foods don't necessarily affect me in a bad way, whereas others will result in an unusually high reading. I was on holiday in France last week and ate an enormous amount of carbs in the form of bread, the occasional pastry/biscuit and so on, as well as tons of fruit, and things remained pretty normal apart from a couple of silly nights which I knew were bad!

I will try and read back at some point to see what others' experiences have been, but even just reading this page the frustration at lack of clarity and randomness of application of guidelines is pretty clear. E.g. policy at my hospital is induction at 40wks if medication-controlled, compared to 38wks at some of yours, although one hospital mw claimed it was 37wks . It is so annoying that different foods affect different people in different ways, and sometimes as some of you have said the same food can affect you differently on two different days, yet there is still such a blanket approach to managing things.

It doesn't help that the diabetes nurse at my hospital is a patronising wanker, so every time I speak to her we end up cracking skulls. I am just fed up with the whole thing and can't wait for my baby to arrive.

Hi everyone! Just updating you all - baby Charlotte was born yesterday now I can ear carbs and chocolate again!! Will post more soon :)

Hooray! Congratulations squirrel

Congrats Squirrel x

Congratulations Squirrel - was your first meal solely composed of cake?

congrats squirrel!!!

evie your hospital sounds so crap, must be very frustrating :S

I seem to be a bit hit and miss with glycaemic control at the moment. Failed last night after dinner of beef chilli and brown rice. It wasn't an excessive amount of rice I didn't think . So think they may decide to start insulin. Which seems stupid as 37 weeks tomorrow and apparently they would induce at 38 weeks on insulin. Anyone think this is actually worth it?

Hi there so sorry to hear about your frustration Eviepoo and aStarInStrangeways. That sonographer was right out of line. What a waste of everyone's time and resources. When I was sent to check the baby's size that's exactly what they did, and plotted it on a growth curve to show a predicted size at 40 weeks. I agree that you should tell the midwife all about it.

I am also frustrated about the different limits in different areas, and yet the blanket way we are considered to be 'high risk' as soon as we go over those limits. Anyway I have some good news to report- my independent midwife has actually spoken to one of the obstetricians at the hospital (after they sent a letter to her) and spelled out that I am not being irresponsible in wanting a home birth, and I have seriously researched all the risks and am still monitoring my blood sugar levels and being very careful with diet and exercise etc. The obs even acknowledged that my fasting levels were 'borderline' high! And my midwife said that I wasn't going to go back to talk to the endocrinologist as she was the one who refused to talk to me in the first place.

LadyGoneGaga if I were you I would hold out regarding the insulin - it could easily take a couple of weeks to fine tune the dose in any case. But that's just my personal opinion.

Regarding your meals, I've found that only a tiny amount of rice makes a difference, even brown rice. So if I made chilli I would have lots of the beef, only a tiny bit of rice and lots of veg to go with hit. And I do tend to have quite protein-based breakfasts as that's my most sensitive meal of the day. I then allow myself more carbs for my morning snack. But here they don't test for ketones in urine so I don't know how I'm doing in that respect.

Sometimes it is very frustrating. I had one of my highest readings recently after a (wholemeal) tuna roll and salad, which you would have thought should be okay. I don't think you can control it perfectly. And also if you've had a high reading, it may just be worth washing your hands and trying again - sometimes I get a reading 0.8 lower than the first one that way!!

38 weeks tomorrow. Not long to go!!!

See, white rice has little or no effect on my blood sugar. I've eaten tons of the stuff recently as part of various meals and it doesn't seem to bother my pancreas at all.

LadyGoneGaga I think I would want to have a very thorough and careful discussion with HCPs about starting insulin this late, if their policy is to induce at 38 weeks on insulin anyway. Make a list of any questions and concerns you have about the various issues and don't leave until you're satisfied. Although I would say that since I am spending this weekend gathering evidence and information to take to my diabetes a/n appt next week, in order to do exactly that.

I will also be requesting that bitch nurse is no longer involved with my care, since I have no faith whatsoever in her professional capabilities.