32 weeks and suddenly diagnosed with gestational diabetes-advice?

[mamabrownbear]

I've just been told I possibly have GD and have to go to hospital for further tests. I've tried to eat healthily but yes the old treat of cake or biscuit has made up for the other adult 'treats' I've had to give up while pregnant. However, I've not had any sugar in a long time and my urine tests indicated a really high level this morning so bit concerned about how long I may have been affected. So thinking radical overhaul of diet as I've also been confirmed as anaemic (everything at once, when I'm already all hormonal and weepy!) so any advice out there would be great - better diet and more exercise, is that the best way forward? I want to do all I can in these last months to ensure the best start for DD :( and I thought just getting through the last month of work would be my toughest challenge...not feeling great just now, very low but think that might be the anaemia and diabetes now!!

Just wanted to say that I had almost an identical experience today and I'm 29 weeks. Last appointment glucose was slightly raised, so i really focused on healthy earting, cutting out sugars etc. Today the glucose was really quite high. I had a blood test and likely to have to go to hospital next week for full glucose test.
They also suspect anemia, but I am surprised by this as my blood pressure was towards the higher end.
Like you I feel really glum about it and I keep thinking I have done something wrong and causing harm to my baby. I have put on a couple of stone this pregnancy but on the whole thought I was eatinga balanced diet, though know I have had bigger portions than before, however over the last few weeks I have been really careful, so disappointed today.
I am looking for really detailed diet advice on the web at moment so if I find anything good I'll post it here.

There are several threads about GD and here is the latest -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1705819-The-All-New-And-Shiny-Gestational-Diabetes-Support-Thread

I had gd first time round. Assuming u have to do the old pin prick stuff and keeping a diary, it should kinda make itself obvious. Exercise is irrelevant this is about sugar in the blood.

Think very carefully about drinks fruit and meals against when u pin prick. It's possible to still enjoy a cake for example without exploding or something. It isn't the end of the world. It's more about thinking about ur food than reaching for what u usually might.

Can recommend dr John briffa as a source of altering how u eat which might be useful generally to review. Cutting alot of carbs will obvs cause biggest way to manage ur blood.

I'm by no means a GD expert but don't think exercise if irrelevant. Everything I've read says that just 10 mins exercise after eating makes a difference to blood sugar levels.

Any carbs you eat get turned into glucose in the bloodstream (ie a portion of brown rice will give the same sugar rise as a handful of jelly babies, although more slowly).

Insulin is the hormone that moves glucose from the blood into the cells in the body where it is used for energy.

GD is like Type 2 - it is caused by your body becoming resistant to insulin. You make the insulin as usual, but you need more of it to do the same job. Your body can't produce enough of it, so your blood sugar goes up.

One of things that can make you more sensitive to insulin again is exercise. It is, therefore, very relevant. But a brisk walk will do it (at any time).

The good news is GD goes away after the birth!

Exercise is far from irrelevant. It helps your body process what you've eaten, and has a lot of impact on blood sugar levels.

Thanks everyone, just back from a 1 hour slow walk with DH so more activity like that will help I'm sure. I was very active before pregnancy but with work being so full on I haven't had time to do more than a gentle walk every now and again. Need to up it as well as watch what I'm eating. It's only 8 weeks so I should be able to manage. Will update when I know what the hospital tests show. Thinking of you Rosegarden123, same boat. I didn't put on any weight for a long time but have plumped up a bit recently so maybe my body is adjusting? Will eat healthy until I know what the hospital says, fingers crossed it was a blip but I'll keep up the healthy eating anyway x