The All New And Shiny Gestational Diabetes Support Thread

[midori1999]

The old thread seems to have died a death, so thought of start a new one for anyone who wants some support or just to chat about GD.

I'm 9 weeks pregnant now, had GD in my last (5th) pregnancy and had my GTT today, expecting to be diagnosed tomorrow as my levels are already silly.

[gunwalloe]

Any other ladies currently pregnant with GD? I was diagnosed today and am going in tomorrow to get a testing kit and all the information.

[gunwalloe]

Anyone? it would be nice to swap info with other ladies who had GD

[gunwalloe]

Hi Ella im only 2 days in and my fingers hurt im such a wimp! Im really confused my my readings they never get above 6 which I believe is good but they keep slipping into the 3s and early 4s I don't know if this is good or not?
Part of me is in denial that I actually have GD.

[gunwalloe]

I've been told to do my blood 4 times a day first thing in the morning and a hour after breakfast lunch and dinner.
The before breakfast target is 3.5 - 5.8 and after meals below 7.8. I was 3.4 this morning I don't know how I'm supposed to stop it dropping low over night? The highest I've had so far is 6.0 so hopefully they will just leave me to it.

It's good to know the pricks get easier. I don't know anything about injecting insulin sorry

[GoldenDaffodil]

I found out I had it 3 weeks ago and I promise the finger pricks get easier. Occasionally I feel some soreness but on the whole it's been fine. I'm lucky that I've managed to control it through diet so far, I haven't had a reading above 6.8 even if I eat a small portion of rice or 2 slices of granary toast.

I'm finding the diet quite boring through and on two occasions I've cheated and eaten a cup cake. Both times I've felt immensely guilty afterwards but I've got such a sweet tooth the intense craving just got the better of me.

Have you both been told you'll be having an induction at 38/39 weeks?

[SaltySeaBird]

Hi Ella

It all gets easier! I had GD with my DD which stayed with me as full blown, insulin controlled diabetes after she was born (I was genetically pre-disposed to it, it runs in the family so despite being slim and active it's here to stay).

I had the biggest needle phobia you can imagine and initially I couldn't inject myself, I had to get other people to do it. Now I can do it easily.

The needles are teeny tiny things. It's actually so much easier doing yourself. I tend to just gently touch the skin until I find a spot where I can't feel it and pop it in and go - I promise you, often I can't even feel it at all (the finger pricks are more painful than the needles). Being able to inject insulin also gives you more freedom with your diet as you can up your insulin as required.

I was induced bang on 39 weeks and on an insulin sliding scale throughout labour. It was all fine!

Happy to answer any pregnancy diabetes related questions having been through it all and come out the other side! I'm also quite knowledgeable on diabetes as whole now as mine is very well controlled.

[SaltySeaBird]

Oh and snack wise I found the following quite good:

• raw strips of pepper, carrot and celery with some hummus
  
• the low GI oat biscuits (just one or two)
  
• ham and cream cheese (rolled up to make cigars)
  
• boiled eggs (I'd keep a few ready in the fridge)
  
• strips of chicken breast cooked and ready to snack on
  
• apples, pears, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries (all other fruit pushed my blood sugar too high). Adding a splash of cream was also nice with the berries or having cheese with the apple and pear!
  
• twiglets
  
• Muller Light Yoghurts
  

Any of these worked well for me but I'd say that everyone is different so try out what you fancy and keep testing your blood sugar - what works for one person doesn't always work for another.

I did have to be a bit more organised in preparing snacks but to be honest it's good practice for when you have a toddler - I don't dare leave the house without my little tupperware boxes with finger food at the ready!

[magichandles]

Ellabella - I had GD with both previous DC (currently 26 weeks with DC and expect to fail the GTT in a couple of weeks) and I have IBD (UC) as well - I went straight to insulin both times and didn't get prescribed metformin for that very reason.

I was really nervous about the insulin injections to start with and remember getting really annoyed with DH when I did my first one as he acted all squeamish so I did it more out of bravado, and then really surprised myself as it was absolutely fine and really didn't hurt at all - the needles are incredibly fine.

[SaltySeaBird]

You can probably request to go straight to insulin, it really is easy to do and far less painful than finger pricks.

The metformin just lowers the amount of insulin you need as it makes you more sensitive to it. I never had any aside effects and I have a sensitive stomach and went right on the full dose. Sometimes you can build it up slowly though if you are worried.

[lotsofcheese]

You can ask for slow-release metformin, it's easier on the stomach than the standard version; it's generally better tolerated with fewer side effects.

[gunwalloe]

golden I'm having a planned caesarean at 39 weeks this had already been arranged before the GD though. I asked if it would be changed and they said no unless something goes wrong

Thanks for the food advice salty

I went to a wedding yesterday and managed to be good came back with feet like the elephant women though

[gunwalloe]

Has anyone had a cs with GD? I'm worried that if I don't eat from the night before I will end up hypo.

[SaltySeaBird]

Not had a CS with GD but have had an ERPC under GA with diabetes. Generally it's not a problem, if you are diabetic they may have you on the ward overnight on an insulin sliding scale regime; rigging you up with a drip that includes a steady release of glucose and insulin together to get your blood sugar controlled and stable.

I did manage to have a hypo despite this which they said was unusual but I was in good hands and they gave me some sort of glucose to bring it back up while I was nil by mouth.

I can't say this is how they will manage it for you, this was just my experience. A CS is fairly common with GD so don't worry, they will manage it.

[SaltySeaBird]

gunwalloe are you insulin controlled? 3.4 is too low for a fasting level; you need to check your medication with your consultant in my opinion (I'm not a medical professional but I know a fair bit about GD and diabetes in general).

If it's dropping that low overnight you might need a snack before bedtime. If none of your readings are higher than 6.0 and you are getting a lot in the 3s and 4s that does sound a bit low, although you find that as pregnancy increases it gets harder to control and medication increases as you become more insulin resistant.

[gunwalloe]

Salty I'm not on medication yet they want me to try and control it with diet. Are the lows likely to make them want to medicate? When the midwife explained things she seemed more concerned about readings higher than 7.8. At the moment I don't get near that but I'm constantly dropping under 3.5 throughout the day. I've bought some boiled sweets today to keep in my bag for when I feel like it's gone to low.

[SaltySeaBird]

Hmm dropping to less than 3.5 with no medication and no high readings? I can't see that they would give you medication and insulin would be dangerous IMO if you are that low. I'd ask for another GTT if I were you as that doesn't sound like diabetic readings to me (I'm not a medical expert although my consultant did say I was the best patient she had ever had and most knowledgable too!) unless you are eating no carbs and just salad to try and control it - which is bad and you'll get high ketones in your urine sample. I did the same when I was diagnosed and got told off for it - you have to eat a balanced diet.

[gunwalloe]

Your thinking the same as me I'm sure something was funny with the result from the hospital they said my fasting was 4.5 and it's never that high which makes me think the other result was wrong to.
I'm eating pretty normal just not having fizzy drinks sweets etc last night I wanted to test out what was going on so had a magnum and it made no difference I really don't understand

[SaltySeaBird]

Hmm I think 4.5 fasting would be normal anyway, what was your two hour result do you know?

[gunwalloe]

It was 7.9 and they said anything over 7.8 was GD I'm sure there's something funny about there test results.