Is there still a GD thread floating about somewhere?

[FoxyRevenger]

So I've been told I've got GD. Again. Sigh.

Just feel so shit about it.

Is there still a GD support thread about so that I can wail and gnash my teeth?

Hi Foxy

I haven't seen any recent threads about GD. I had it with my last pregnancy and have so far passed my GTT at 16 weeks with this one, but have another one booked for 27 weeks, which I will probably fail - so will probably be joining you in another couple of months!

How many weeks are you? I found it really hard going last time with the GD, am hoping if I end up with it again it won't be as bad 2nd time around (or maybe that is just wishful thinking!)

Hi 4kids (wow, 4 kids plus bump, really? )

I'm 28 weeks and was diagnosed through GTT too; what I find so frustrating is that ALL of my blood and urine tests have been clear throughout this whole pregnancy, and all of the blood sugars so far have been within range.

So I'm really struggling to see the validity of the diagnosis, if you see what I mean? Clearly on a daily basis my blood sugar levels are normal, but it was making me drink a cup of sugar that made my sugar level too high!

Grr. Anyway. I'm not going to let them push me into induction as they did last time, apparently because the baby was on the 95th centile for size; when she was born she was smack bang on the 50th

Yes foxy this is DC5! (not planned and definately our last as DH has since had the snip!)

Sounds like things are going ok for you at the moment then? I know last time my post breakfast levels were never under and ended up on medication and eventually insulin - which is why I will be amazed if I end up passing the next GTT in a few more weeks! Still I am making the most of things for the next few weeks while I can!

I also had induction last time, and it ended up being my smallest baby to date (7lb 1oz) so not a whopper by any stretch of the imagination! I was just so pleased that my levels were all normal after birth last time. I can cope with the whole diet thing while pregnant but it must be a pain for those who have diabetes all the time. Are you just doing the low sugar/carb diet at the moment then?

Can I ask - does anybody know what causes gestational diabetes?

When I had it last time around I was told that some people naturally make more insulin that others. When your pregnant you need to make about 3 times as much as normal as the pregnancy hormones stop it working as well - so basically if you don't make enough extra then you will end up with GD. This is the reason it generally gets worse the more pregnant you are, and also why it will usually go away straight afterwards.

Does mean if you have had it when pregnant that you are more likely to get it later in life though . That is my understanding of GD - although I am not medically qualified or anything!

4kids yes I'm sticking to low sugar but having carbs; they told me to eat plenty of the right kind of carbs and so far it seems to be working out ok. I imagine it might progress and I'll have to cut them down but for now it's alright.

I'm so glad this thread is here. I've just been phoned to say I need a GTT and am a bit confused. I'm only 10 weeks and I had no problems in 1st pregnancy.

What happens if I have GD?

Well, if you do have it, you'll be given a kit to test your blood throughout the day. (not as bad as it sounds, honest)

I have to test before each meal and bed time, but I think different PCTs give different guidelines.

You'll need to follow a low GI diet to keep your blood sugars in line, you'll be weighed regularly to make sure you are not putting on too much weight, and you'll be scanned often to make sure the baby doesn't get too big.

Which all sounds scary. But, honestly, it's better to know and to be on top of it.

Plus, you might not have it at all; if this has come on the back of glucose in a urine sample it could just be a one off.

Good luck!

Did they keep weighing you last time Foxy? I didn't get weighed at all apart from booking in. I actually lost a lot of weight last time - ended up a stone lighter than before I got pregnant!

I was finding that any carbs the last time were sending me over - even the ones they told me I could eat! Ended up eating next to nothing in a desperate attempt to get my levels down, and then ended up on the injections anyway at about 33 weeks Don't know what I will do if I end up with it again - just resign myself to the injections maybe, so at least I am not starving all of the time...?!

Prima 10 weeks is very early for a GTT. I had one at 16 weeks this time because I had GD previously....has glucose come up in one of your tests or something? As Foxy says, even if you do end up with it, better to be in control of things and at least they keep a much closer eye on you. I think the problems happen more if they don't realise you have GD.

Battybat - some ethnicities have a disposition to it. Being overweight increases the risk because your body can't produce sufficient insulin. Having a family history of diabetes also makes it more likely.

What you eat during pregnancy does not have an influence on whether you get it but it does affect how well you control it if you do have it.

Prima your GTT will be at 16 weeks. There are set times when they do them because that's how they set the thresholds.

I had GD last time and will be tested next week (16 weeks). I diet controlled even though my GD was quite severe. My diet was quite extreme by the end and I put on 4 stone (I wasn't overweight before I was pg but i have a family history of diabetes). I lost all but 10 pounds of the weight and am hoping to diet control again this time.

I'm happy to talk about what I learned last time and would love some support this time, I hate finger stabbing!

4kids, I survived on protein, fat and veggies. So lots of steak, cheese and eggs. I could eat dark rye bread in small quantities but couldn't have many carbs, sugar or fruit. Adding fat lowers GI so I could have a jacket potato but only if it was loaded with baked beans and cheese.