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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Gestational diabetes

19 replies

Abby84 · 17/09/2013 13:47

Hi

I am 26 weeks pregnant with second child and have recently been diagnosed with gd. Just wanted some advice from other mums who have also had it been diagnosed with this and how they manage it?? Any advice appreciated.

At the moment I am managing with diet control, my first baby was 9lb 2oz and I was induced on my due date therefore I feel pretty anxious about the size if this baby!!!!! I really want to be able to go into lab

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Abby84 · 17/09/2013 13:48

Labour naturally and would like to avoid a c section if possible x

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Newmum0113 · 17/09/2013 14:07

Hi abby I was diagnosed with this at 28 weeks (now 35+5).

I won't lie it has been a bit of a roller coaster. My levels are normally quite high before food - 5.5 and above - but the last couple of days I've been exhausted an dizzy and tired - today my bloods were down to 3.4.

I miss having chocolate, and sugar in my coffee, and real coke, but it's all for the best health of my baby, so it's worth every minute of it.

Abby84 · 17/09/2013 14:35

Hi

Thanks for the reply! I was diagnosed last week and got my finger prick resting kit yesterday. After tea my result was 5.9, 4.9 in the morning after breakfast 9.7 and after lunch 6.2. Breakfast seemed to be an issue and it just feels confusing at the moment about what you and can't eat! i had two weetabix and a piece if toast so think need to re think this! have a scan in Thursday hopefully baby is not yet too big!!!!

I just need to try and get my head around all the different foods and they effect the levels. Are your managing by diet?

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midori1999 · 17/09/2013 15:37

I'm on my second pregnancy with diagnosed GD. (I possibly had it before I diagnosed as DS2 was 10lb when born at 38 weeks).

I was on insulin quite quickly after diagnosis last time. I just couldn't diet control, even if I cut too many carbs. I never felt my levels were well controlled, my fasting was always over 6, my post breakfast reading was always over 9, if not higher. I just couldn't increase the insulin fast enough to keep them down. I went into labour naturally at 37+6 and DD was born weighing 6lb 15, which is (apparently!) Hmm on the big side for that gestation, but all of my babies have been on the larger side and I don't think it's to do with the GD tbh!

This time I'm a bit more relaxed tbh, on insulin again (and metformin as I was diagnosed at 8 weeks this time) and I'm 36+1 today. Hoping to go into labour before induction too.

There's no reason for you to have a section just because your baby might be bigger. You can also refuse induction if you like, but it may not be wise to. Both the hospitals I've been booked at with GD have very much had a 'wait and see' attitude, no definite induction at 38 weeks or whatever.

Hugesmiles · 17/09/2013 15:49

Hi,

I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at 28 weeks and was so upset as I had tried to eat really healthy through my pregnancy.... i'm now 36wks 2 days....

I found eating sweet potatoes really helped instead of normal potatoes and also found out if you eat cold boiled new potatoes they have a much lower GI than hot boiled new potatoes.....

For breakfast i've been swapping between a nut based Muesli, Citrus fruits with yogurt, boiled eggs or scrambled eggs with grilled tomatoes... this has kept my blood sugar very constant and at a good level.....

Try and make sure you can get an appointment with the dietitian at the antenatal out patients as they can really help on whats good to eat and not eat etc....

I have also been using a website which gives GI info which I have found very useful...

www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/

I'm dreading having to be induced and really want to labour naturally, I've got a scan tomorrow to check on the size of the baby so we'll know more then....

good luck with everything...

Abby84 · 17/09/2013 16:16

Hi all, thanks for your replies. I have seen the dietitian which was yesterday and my readings seem to be ok so far apart from breakfast today, although it has only been a day! lol So i am going to try eggs tomorrow and see how this affects my levels.

Hopefully all is well with my scan on Thursday also and she is not growing too large however I do expect to have a big baby due to size of first, although I also question if I had gd first time due to his size I was induced. I managed to give birth with the help if ventouse and wish to avoid a c section.

I think that everything is a worry when pregnant.

Good luck everyone!Grin

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Hodgies · 17/09/2013 16:19

I'm 37+4 with my third baby and was told I had GD after a GTT at 29 weeks. I've been unable to control mine my diet alone, my fasting results have been consistently high so I'm now on metformin and insulin.

There's no set rule that you will need induction/section. It's very much a balancing act between how well you are, how well baby is, what medication you're on, size of baby etc. I've found the consultant to be really open to discussing different scenarios and willing to listen to my views. At the moment mine is happy not to go down the induction route (and I'm keen to avoid it) so I'm being closely monitored. Should the situation change and they do recommend delivery then I'll obviously listen!

Breakfast is often the hardest to control. 2 weetabix might have been ok or a slice of toast but together are probably not ideal. Your body has to work much harder to process 2 types of carb in a meal which sends your sugars high. So, have lasagne but not with garlic bread or curry with rice but not naan bread. Also food in its pure form will break down slower so boiled potato rather than mash.

The dietitian also recommended spreading my carbs out during the day so I wasn't eating loads at one meal then none at another. I'd been having bacon and eggs for breakfast but actually it was better to have it with a slice of toast, a bowl of soup for lunch with a sandwich/oatcakes rather than on It's own.

Snack wise I tend to eat crisps (like Walkers rather than more processed ones like Quakers), fig rolls, digestives, oatcakes, popcorn, raw carrots etc. Some fruit is ok but I tend to only eat it as part of a meal.

It's a lot to get your head round but after a few weeks you get into the swing of it. I'd kill for some cake though lol.

Abby84 · 17/09/2013 16:28

Thanks for that hodgiesSmile, yes I will try a different breakfast tomorrow. Last night after tea I went for a walk and levels were normal and also walked after dinner today and levels ok, however i would struggle to exercise in morning after breakfast as I have a toddler to get sorted.

Hopefully I will get used to it all soon, I definitely want cake, chocolate and lots of sweets lolGrin I had a snickers last night which was very naughty! But morning fasting result was 4.9 which was ok. Definitely difficult having to monitor your diet all the time, but worth it for the baby.

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Hodgies · 17/09/2013 16:31

I have read that doing exercise after eating helps to regulate blood sugars so It's definitely worth doing. I find that if I've eaten something I shouldn't have then getting up and moving is a good way to counteract it lol.

MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 17/09/2013 16:39

I would recommend an app called carbs and calls. it shows you hotter many carbs are in different portions of foods so you can judge what is 'safe' to eat.

fyi I still had chocolate during pregnancy = Sainsbury do a chocolate with no added sugar and dark chocolate is fairly low in carbs. Smile

boardingschoolbaby · 17/09/2013 17:44

I had GD which ended up ring insulin dependent. It's a faff but really not that much of a problem. You can still have sugar and carbs (actually very important that you do, especially later on) you just need to ensure that you have them with protein or fat so that you absorb them slowly. So chocolate is fine in moderation as the high fat content only gives slow sugar release. Equally I was told I could have cakes and desserts as long as I put cream on them to up the fat content Grin
Ds was induced at 38 weeks. He was 8lbs 5 but is/ was a very long baby so even the midwives remarked that he didn't look at all like a diabetic baby (chunky torso etc). He was in the NICU for 2 days whilst his insulin levels stabilised but we have never looked back since. He is now a whopping almost 4 month old ebf boy that everyone thinks is about 7 months old.

Newmum0113 · 17/09/2013 18:52

That's interesting boarding as I've been told no sugar whatsoever and only carbs with less than 10g per 100g.

I've also found and had it confirmed by the midwife that there are many factors which affect your blood sugar levels such as temperature, feeling unwell, exercise levels etc, so even if you eat bacon and eggs for breakfast everyday, you can have different results each time.

Abby84 · 17/09/2013 19:26

Hopefully will be able to manage it by diet think its trial and error at the moment finding what helps. I think I can go another couple of months without sugar it's worth it minimising the risks to baby.

Hopefully get my head around it all soon. Smile

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SmallBee · 17/09/2013 20:10

Hi abby

I'm 36 weeks & they suspect but can't prove GD as the test isn't conclusive after 34 weeks. They've still put me on a diet though. My midwife has said to aim for 150g of carbs a day with a meal plan of 40g for breakfast, 10g mid morning snack, 40g for lunch, 10g afternoon snack, 40g for dinner & then a late evening snack of 10g again. This has really helped me control it.

Also download an app called MyFitnessPal, it lists the calorie content of pretty much any food you can think of but it also does carbs, fats, sugars you name it. You can also set it to whatever you want your daily allowance of carbs to be, use it as your food & exercise journal so you can see how you're tracking against your goals. So if you have high blood sugar one day you can look back and see what you've eaten that could have caused it.
Good luck, its not always easy (especially when your husband is having a delicious pizza & you have soup! woo....soup) but remember it is only until your little bundle arrives, then you'll have a baby AND you can have a cup cake!

Abby84 · 17/09/2013 20:17

Thank you small bee will download the fitness pal app.

Good luck Grin

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LeaningTowerOfGaffney · 17/09/2013 20:26

I'm 30 weeks, diagnosed about a month ago. Have cut out all sugar and refined carbs. When I have the odd 'bad' moment and eat something sweet I REALLY feel it.

Stay away from the Snickers! As someone above recommended, stick to small amounts of the highest % cocoa chocolate you can find. I was a chocolate fiend but now I find I'm satisfied by just a couple of squares of that.

Abby84 · 22/09/2013 10:00

Hi all

Had my scan last week and all looking ok, baby not too big.... So far.

Just wondered what ppl's morning fasting results have been, I seem to be controlling my sugars ok however last two days fasting results have been 5.5 and 5.2 prior to this 4.9 or under. My fasting levels need to be below 6 do these readings seem normal? I have also had biscuits and a cuppa before bed too on these nights lol.Wink

Breakfast result have been 7.7 or under since eating porridge. Think I'm finding it ok now however always worrying about my levels and how this is affecting the baby, any advice welcome.

Grin
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AnythingNotEverything · 22/09/2013 10:25

Sorry to butt in - I don't have GD but have been tested due to polyhydramnios.

HugeSmiles - your post made me really sad. You don't cause GD through your diet. It's just "one of those things". It's really sad you weren't reassured - don't feel guilty!

Good luck ladies.

Abby84 · 12/10/2013 11:05

Hi all!

Well things seem to be going ok, just had second scan at 30 weeks and baby measuring bigger around tummy but still within limits! Managing gd by diet however feel that this is difficult and stressful at times, numbers seem to be ok however I are grapefruit and toast today and was 8.5. Nurse said that I have the option of metaformin in order to take some stress off me, as had a couple of high 8's! Any views welcome! They said it will get harder from now on as pregnancy progresses, so would love advice pleaseHmm x

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