Gestational diabetes...anyone else struggling?

[redhead78]

Hi all,

This is my first post, so sorry if I do anything wrong!

Last week I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and today I have a scan to check on baby and a consultant appointment and I'm terrified they're going to try and put me on medication. I'm 28+2 and I've only been trying to control the GD through diet for 6 days and the information and advice I was given by the dietician and diabetic nurse was next to useless so I've basically been going through a massive process of trial and error and reading old threads on here to get advice on how to go about controlling it.

The last week has been a rollercoaster, both emotionally and in terms of my blood sugar readings and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the readings. For example, yesterday morning my fasting reading only went up by 1.7 points to my post-breakfast reading yet this morning, having had the exact same breakfast, it went up by 4.2.

I guess I'm a bit of a control freak and can't stand not knowing how different foods are going to affect me and, to be honest, it's getting to the point where I'm starting to get scared to eat anything because of what it might do.

I have so many questions and so was just wondering if anyone else was in the same position at them moment?

Postman - once there is a test result suggesting gestational diabetes, having some more test results in normal range doesn't seem to cancel out the diagnosis. I don't know why there would be so much variation though. I was asked to keep a food diary for a couple of weeks and test blood sugars 4 times a day and look for patterns.

moomin they checked me in the first pregnancy (with a Glucose Tolerance Test) because of my family history of diabetes. Then of course I had a history of Gestational Diabetes, so they checked me because of that in my second pregnancy.

The Glucose Tolerance Test involves being given a tooth achingly sweet drink and then having the body's response vis glucose level measured at a set interval. You get it if for some reason they are suspicious that you might have diabetes or are high risk for developing it.

However, there is also random testing of wee for glucose at most appointments, so even if they aren't singling you out as high risk, the odds are you would get picked up if you were diabetic.

Hope this helps.

DS2 is three weeks, and I had GD (though not with my first son). I have a strong family history of diabetes, and ended up going on insulin at night, as my fasting numbers were always high. I have always eaten healthily and worked out 4-5 times a week, and there was literally nothing I could do to control it through diet.

I hated the pregnancy from week 28 onwards, found the frequent hospital visits incredibly stressful, and was convinced I was going to suffer from PND. I said to friends that I didn't feel pregnant at all, simply as if I was managing a new medical condition.

I was induced at 39+5, had an easy vaginal delivery, and DS2 was only 6 pounds 7 ounces and in perfect health. He is the sweetest baby, and all my fears about failing to bond because of a difficult pregnancy evaporated about two minutes after he was born :)

Another fan of soya and linseed bread here - it has the lowest carb level I've been able to find so I can have more of it!

There's an app called Carbs & Cals which has loads of foods all set out in weights and pictures of portion sizes (and you can add your own). It has a diary function so you can keep a note of what you've eaten. I'm finding it really useful in keeping an eye on my carb numbers - it also tells you protein, calories etc. I'm also finding that if I balance out carbs with protein, my sugars tend to be lower which I understand is because protein helps you digest carbs, or slows it down, not sure which. So for instance, spag Bol with 50/50 spag to Bol.

I'm 36 weeks now and been monitoring for about ten weeks now. You get used to it and as previous posters have said, it does mean lots more appointments and that can only be a good thing for your and the baby's health.

Moomin I think it's done at 28 weeks but from discussions with friends it seems to be different in different authorities. But don't worry it's quite rare.

I had GD with both pregnancies, no physical symptoms but my mum is diabetic and my sister had GD with both her pregs too.

I did manage to control my levels with diet, but the second time was much harder as they narrowed the field, testing after one hour not 2 and the target was lower the second time. Sounds like with the addition of fasting tests they've made it harder again since having DD2 3 years ago.

Good luck to all you preggers ladies dealing with this. If it's any consolation I had both my daughters full term, naturally without complications and was home in 24 hours eating the lemon curd muffins I'd denied myself. My sister did go on insulin with both her pregnancies, and again had two healthy boys, naturally without complications.

On the food front I always found meat and two veg with the odd new potato a good meal, although it does get very boring. Cherry tomatoes and celery as snacks, and porridge with a little agar nectar for breakfast. I would also walk up and down the stairs a few times before testing. Avoid all processed food, and never eat a baked spud with bean, as suggested on the diabetics leaflet, blew my sugars sky high.

I was diagnosed on Tuesday and have been testing my blood 4 times a day since then. Don't know if its a location thing but my hospital have been fab - I went into the maternity unit the day after the GTT test and was given loads of info and a scan. I am measuring where I should be and baby isn't measuring big - they have told me that if that stays the same and I can control it with diet they will allow me to go 7 days overdue before looking at induction and before medial induction they will try acupressure and acupuncture to bring on labour.

I am finding the white bread is suddenly evil - it sends my results sky high!!

Xx

Different authorities seem to have different target ranges for diagnosis. I was diagnosed with GD because my fasting glucose was 5.6 although post-drink reading was within normal range. I found out that this would NOT have been diagnosed as GD in the next town 10 miles away (where they were using the WHO guidelines). But there is a linear relationship between glucose levels and pregnancy outcomes, I.e. the lower the glucose levels the better the outcomes. So despite the annoyances I know ultimately it improves my chances of a good outcome.

The diabetician advised me to up my exercise levels, he recommended 30 minutes of exercise daily at least and said that would do wonders for my insulin sensitivity. He's absolutely right. The highest reading I've had is 8.2, this was 2-hours post meal when I'd gone to lie down straight after eating. 15 minutes of step ups and the reading came down to 6.9. Like others, I've drastically cut down sugar and white carbs, but also tried to limit portion size too.

I'm now 37w and last week, my baby was 50th percentile for head and abdomen size. The consultant said if I stay diet-controlled they would treat it like a normal pregnancy and I coud even go to the midwife led birth centre. But they won't let me go past my due date.

Can I ask - does anyone ever feel ill with GD? I was slightly diabetic with DS2 (though only diagnosed at 38 weeks) and have been diagnosed with slight impaired glucose tolerance in between pregnancies.

Now pregnant with DC3 and amongst the various horrendous first trimester symptoms is the fact that carbs make me feel really ill - pounding heart, exhaustion and what I can only describe as a "hangover tummy" (ie one that feels irritated like as if by drinking rather than one that hangs over your trousers )

The symptoms are much less if I have carbs with fat which I know slows down the absorbtion of sugar... so could it be GD that's making me feel like this?

Thanks in advance

Embroideredclothes, well done! I'd love to be able to go to our midwife led unit but think it's been ruled out completely for me :(

Has anyone else questioned the reliability of their testing equipment? I ate exactly the same for lunch today that I had on Monday 9when I scored 7.1) but today it was 8.2. Hubby was here and suggested I test again straight away, so I did another test literally two minutes later and it came out as 7.7. Just another thing to add to my confusion!!!

Not pregnant but diagnosed with type 2 a year ago. I have found little useful NHS advice and it seems the best advice I have is from fellow diabetics.

I keep a note of what works for others and try it myself.

I stay away from as many carbs as I can.

I eat more green veggies than orange or red because the bright colours are sweeter.

I have one square a day of 85% chocolate.

I walk the dogs often.

With regard to testing I too have found you can test 2 seconds later and get a different result. I rely on my 3 monthly GP taken bloods test, but what is to say they are right?

I'm now reluctantly on metformin and hoping it steadies my readings.

I am normally a fighter and don't 'suffer' from long term illness' (I have lived despite them) but this has GOT me.

If you are ever warned you are on the cusp of long term/ life time diabetes PLEASE listen and take action there and then.

I didn't.

Haveyoutried, pounding heart is one of the signals my sugars are rising after eating. I'm 18weeks and been given insulin this week. Someone down thread mentioned 25% carbs of which sugars reading. Last pregnancy I was advised nothing over 6g/100g which I've found is a good guide. My problem foods are cereals (except shredded wheat) red pepper, parsnip, carrots

Thanks cuppa -much as I don't actually want to have GD it would be such a relief to get a diagnosis for why I feel so terrible for so much of the time.

Reduce carbs, eat protein with every meal and be ruthless about sugar. White carbs and pure fruit juice (e.g. pure orange) were blood sugar bombs for me. I got mine quite late on so I was able to control with diet but it took a lot of discipline. Unfortunately it worsens as you go through pregnancy - by the last week I was very hungry because keeping my bloods low meant really undereating the carbs that I needed.

Like you I got no information and patched together a diet based on blood readings and internet research. Cereals are bad news for lots of people, including porridge. I ate a lot of eggs and beans for breakfast with one slice of Burgen toasted. Lunch was one slice of Burgen with ham or cheese plus a lentil based soup. Dinner was home made spag bol with wholemeal pasta and snacks were oatcakes with peanut butter or cheese or a handful of nuts.

Good luck with it OP. The good news is it disappears for most people as soon as the baby is born. Just be aware it does predispose you to type 2 diabetes in the future.

I was diagnosed with GD in my second pregnancy but as it was my fasting level that was out of whack, and my fasting level remains slightly high, my suspicion is that I have Impaired Fasting Glucose all the time rather than having GD.

It was a big wake up call though, especially as the weeks while pregnant were so miserable, and since pregnancy I have largely eaten the same way. I need to lose three more stones and have been told by my GP that if I succeed my chances of diabetes will be no different to anyone else.

So I eat low carb, low GI food, and have given sugar up entirely till I get to my goal weight. I go to the gym six times a week too. My fasting sugar is still around 5.5-5.8 though!

Sorry to go on. I just really came on here to say (a) GOOD LUCK and (b) if you remain diet controlled it is worth exploring birth choices with your doctors. I had a very straightforward home birth at 40+3, signed off by the consultant, and the baby and I were fine.

Sid can I ask what your fasting level was at diagnosis? From various internet sources it seems that it would have to be at least 6 before IFG was diagnosed outwith pregnancy. Just wondering if you found that the criteria was stricter in pregnancy.

My fasting level at the GTT was 6.3. This was complicated by the fact that I was under extreme stress at the time, and the following week it was down to 5.2. The clinic has actually revised its practice of diagnosing on just one test number alone after my experience as my numbers of the next two months were all within range, and my two hour GTT result was 6.8.

However fasting was in the 5s, often over 5.5, for the rest of my pregnancy, and I just didn't tell them (not necessarily endorsing this approach) as all my other sugars were fine, NICE guidelines for medication are over 5.8, and my community midwives knew the truth. Turns out my fasting numbers were the same when not pregnant and my insulin response normal. I've only tested myself at over 6 once (6.1) but have got it down from frequent 5.8/9s to 5.5 by losing a stone. So no official diagnosis but the GP agreed that it was too high and needs to be curbed now rather than letting it get worse.

Sorry, a bit dull. Basically, although 6 is the diagnostic figure, anything over 5 indicates an increased probability of Type II within 5-10 years.

Actually, sorry, quick answer to your question is that the GTT at my hospital was under 6, so had I taken it a week later I would have passed. And probably sailed into diabetes, so it was a blessing in disguise.

Thanks for answering Sid. I think I'm in the same position as you as my fasting and 2 hour levels were both 5.3. My first appointment since the test is tomorrow and I have so many questions.

It looks like I don't have levels that would indicate diabetes then, but a slightly increased risk of developing diabetes. I think. That's good to know, so I can take steps to improve my carb-heavy diet now and lose weight. It will be interesting to get a blood sugar monitor and see what's going on.

You have obviously managed to do this well and had a straightforward birth too so I'm glad to have read your post.

Does your hospital want fasting levels under 5? I know some do. Your numbers are very, very borderline and you may find they are happy for you to monitor your levels for a few days and then discharge you.

Blood sugar levels rise in pregnancy for lots of people so you may also find that your fasting level is in the 4s when you're not pregnant. That's what my clinic expected for me.

Even if they want you to attend clinics etc I would definitely press for the birth options you want if your numbers stay so good. I was at a big teaching hospital with very strict numbers and far more women on meds than the national average but still managed to negotiate with them!

I really have no idea! The GTT was 12 days ago and all they said was I was a shade over so was being referred (to diabetic clinic tomorrow when I'll be 31 weeks). I phoned the midwives back to ask what the actual numbers were. It looks like they use a low cut-off of 5 for fasting glucose.

Am partly annoyed as at that level I don't have GD according to NICE guidelines, but partly glad of the kick in the arse I need about my cake habit.

Thanks again for the reassurance

Good luck!

Thank you

Hi just quickly posting whilst I have half hour to myself....

I had GD in my pregnancy and am now sat here with a perfectly healthy, average size and weight baby girl who is 13 days old

My top tips for those of you with GD:

1. Try not to panic about the risks they explain to you - you will drive yourself insane with worry (I did in the first 2 weeks). Remember you now know you have GD and are actively trying to bring your sugar levels down so you are doing the best you can for your baby. Much better than living in ignorance.

1. Don't deny yourself some treats. I found that my sugar levels could cope with a mini magnum ice cream for dessert after my evening meal for example. I also found that a normal roast dinner with all the trimmings but just 2 or 3 pieces of roast potato was absolutely fine. Everyone is different but experiment with different 'treats' and work out what you can tolerate. I had my diagnosis during December and was almost in tears as I thought I couldn't have my advent calendar choc but it was fine!

1. Enjoy the extra growth scans - you get bonus ones which 'normal' pregnant women don't get!

1. Relish in the knowledge that you will have less baby weight to lose post-birth. Following my GD diagnosis I lost weight between mw appointments, despite growing 4 inches around bump and baby measuring average on all the growth scans!

1. Take in some fancy chocs (mine were Hotel Chocolat) to scoff in hospital post-birth and enjoy having jam on your NHS standard issue toast. It's like you've died and gone to heaven!

Good luck!

I was stunned to find out I had GD as I'm generally slim, fit and eat healthily. I had no obvious signs except I got big suddenly - from no bump to massive at about 31 weeks. Turned out the GD had caused polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid). I controlled the GD by diet alone.

I found a book and app called Carbs and Cals www.carbsandcals.com/ very helpful. I had no idea that my carb servings were so large. I only had tiny portions of porridge, oats, pasta etc and had wholegrain when I did have carbs. No cakes or coke etc. Found some low-carb biscuits - Nairn's Oatcakes with choc chips and also another brand with ginger, were good for treats. Milk was a shocker - really raised my blood sugar levels. Ate plenty of fish, cheese, nuts, seeds, tofu, egg. Lots of salad.

Baby was large and was induced and c-sec.

Oh and my fasting tests showed number only 0.1 over the limit, but it was enough to cause polyhydramnios and affect the baby.