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

Gestational diabetes...anyone else struggling?

71 replies

redhead78 · 17/02/2014 11:35

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?

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redhead78 · 24/02/2014 21:00

Well I've finally done it! For the last ten days or so I've really managed to get some kind of control over my readings and today for the first time every one of them was below target. I can't believe how much more positive I feel than this time last week. So if there are any newly diagnosed ladies reading this thread I would definitely say don't lose hope and it really does get better than the first week or two. Although I did nearly lose it when my husband sat and ate an entire bag of giant buttons in front of me this weekend. Apparently he thought he was doing me a favour by getting rid of them and ridding me of the temptation! Surely there have been divorces triggered by less than that?!!

On a slightly different note, now that I feel more in control and more aware of what foods help me and what foods don't I'm starting to feel a bit restricted by what I've been eating. So, does anyone have any recipe ideas of things that have worked for them that I could try? Or would anybody like any of the recipes I've found useful and gone back to time and again over the last few weeks?

OP posts:
PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 24/02/2014 21:27

That's good redhead, you must be relieved to got your levels under control. I would have found it hard to resist the buttons Smile

I'm just new to this so would like to hear some of your tried and tested meals.

redhead78 · 25/02/2014 08:09

Ok here goes, the recipes I've had at least 3 times over the last few weeks!

Homemade burgers: one pack of minced beef, half a small onion finely chopped, one clove garlic crushed, 1/4 tsp cumin powder, handful grated cheese, one egg, salt and pepper.
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and then mould into burger shapes. Grill on each side for about 7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
I like these 'cos I can still give them to my husband in a burger bun but can still have them myself, even with caramelised onions and grated cheese on top, with a big plate of salad. So they still feel like a "treat" meal :)

Chicken and mushrooms: chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces (number depends on how many you're cooking for, obviously! I do three so we have some leftover for lunch the next day), small tub mushrooms sliced thickly, paprika, low fat creme fraiche, small tine condensed mushroom soup, salt and pepper.
Put chicken into the bottom of an oven proof dish. Sprinkle liberally (depending on your tastes) with paprika, add salt and pepper then cover with the sliced mushrooms. In a separate small bowl combine the soup and crème fraiche (if you like a thicker sauce use slightly less crème fraiche), then pour over the mushrooms and chicken. Bake at 180 for about 45-50 minutes until the top is browned and bubbly.
This is actually my own version of a very old family favourite that my mum has been making for as long as I can remember so this is real comfort food for me! I would normally have it with either mashed or roast potatoes and veg, but now I'm having it with carrot and swede mashed together, broccoli, leeks and cabbage.

Frittata: A combination of whatever veg you like (I generally use broccoli, green beans, peas, leeks, celery, mushrooms, peppers, onion, cabbage), sliced or cut into small pieces, 6-7 eggs, salt and pepper, handful of grated cheese.
Fry all the veg in large frying pan until cooked (adding the ones that take longest to cook first, such as broccoli). Whish eggs in a bowl, add salt and pepper, then add to the frying pan. Cook over medium heat until base is cooked through then place under a medium grill until the top is set. Remove from grill and add the cheese then place back under the grill until cheese is bubbling. Serve with a big side of salad.

Pork stroganoff (stolen from netmums website): Pork steaks cut into strips (I do 4, mainly because that's how many come in a pack, but this recipe can also be frozen so it's a good chance to get your post-baby "ready meals" stacking up in the freezer!), sliced mushrooms, large onion sliced, 3 cloves garlic crushed, vegetable stock cube, 1/4 pint water, tub low fat crème fraiche, 4 tsp paprika (the recipe didn't say this much but I found it quite bland with less in).
Fry pork strips in olive oil in a large frying pan (I use my wok). When browned add onions and fry until they're softened. Add garlic and mushrooms and continue frying until they're cooked through. Add the paprika and stir continuously for a minute. Add the crumbled stock cube and water and leave to bubble away for about 10 minutes. Add crème fraiche and cook for another 5 minutes. Again, adjust the amount of water/crème fraiche you use depending on how thick you like your sauces.
This can either be served with the carrot/swede mash and veg like the chicken and mushrooms or with a very small helping of basmati rice and a big side of salad.

I hope these are some help to someone. Sorry, I'm not very good at quantities, I'm not a measuring cook I'm the chuck it in and see kind!

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OwlinaTree · 25/02/2014 09:06

I'm just in the process of having my gtt now. Seems a little pointless at 38+2 when I'm having my baby next week! I'm measuring over the 90th centile, but my husband was a big baby so I'm hoping all will be well.

Well done all you who are controlling by diet, I'm weeping inside tho as you all keep saying to avoid my favourite foods, potatoes, bread, yoghurt, cereal!!!! Hummm maybe that's why I'm having a big baby!

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 25/02/2014 12:58

Thanks redhead, my diet is veggie plus fish but I can generally adapt recipes to suit. Dinner last night was a big cheesy veg frittata!

Owlina that's funny timing! Why are you having to do the test, are you suddenly measuring too big? I can't see what difference you can really make now diet-wise but I suppose it's best for them to know in advance of the birth if there are blood sugar issues.

My first clinic yesterday left me not really any better informed. I do have a monitor now though and targets. The targets are higher than I've had in any test so far which seems odd to me.

Fasting glucose this morning was 5.0, which would have been a pass for GTT Confused and my pre-lunch test just now was 4.3!

Confused Confused

OwlinaTree · 25/02/2014 15:38

Yes, I had a growth scan and measuring large. Luckily for me my results have come back normal this pm.

I'm guessing it's just a big baby! Good luck to you all with your babies, you are looking after yourselves and then so well.

weebigmamma · 25/02/2014 17:11

I've just been told today that my baby is too big for dates. I'm at 33 weeks and I have to take the GD test next week. Is there anything I can do about this now to make myself not have GD by next week?? I already have high blood pressure and am on meds for that :-( Also baby is breech and I'm so uncomfortable, just can't be bothered with anything elose being wrong!! Any advice welcome, I know nothing about this topic at all. xx

redhead78 · 26/02/2014 09:20

Hi weebigmamma,
My understanding from the reading I've been doing about GD over the last few weeks is that you either have it or you don't. If you do have it there's nothing you can do to change that, your pregnancy just means your body can't produce enough insulin or utilise that which you do produce effectively enough to cope with the extra demands being put on it.
Having said that, however, if you read back through the thread above you'll see that through process of elimination and trial and error I have found it totally possible to control through diet/changing the types of food I eat and am so far not taking any medication for it.
I don't know if you already have specific dietary requirements for your high blood pressure, but if not you might want to try introducing some of the recommendations above. From the little I know, as you'll be 34 weeks already when you do the gtt test next week they would probably recommend that you try and control it through diet anyway, so if you get a head start on that it can only be a good thing.
I hope this helps :)

OP posts:
dats · 26/02/2014 10:20

I've got my GTT tomorrow, after originally being told all was ok after my Lucozade test. I'm 32+1.

After the Lucozade test by midwife at 26+5, I had to speak to a GP who wanted to know if it was a fasting or non-fasting blood test. He also asked who'd organised the test (like I'd had it for fun!) I wasn't told to fast, so I'd had breakfast an hour before my appt and then obviously the Lucozade. My levels were 8.1 - which I understand would be a little high if it was a fasting test, but within range (under 11.1) for a non-fasting test. He said if it was a non-fasting one, then that was fine, so I assumed it was the end of the story.

However, last week I had my 31 week appt at GP surgery who asked if I'd had my blood results followed up by the midwife, because they were 'high'. I explained about the non-fasting conversation, but she said I should have been contacted about having a GTT - so she called the midwife and now I have an appt at the hospital tomor morning.

Obviously if there's a chance I could have GD then it's better that they pick it up, but it's a bit odd how it's come about. I have a friend who is a few weeks ahead of me and we are under the same team of HCPs - and a very similar thing happened to her, she's now been diagnosed at 35 weeks which has been a shock.

Should I have fasted for my Lucozade test? Is 8.1 high for a non-fasting Lucozade test? Will I ever eat a potato again? Smile

It's been really great reading all your tips and experiences - so thanks for sharing those.

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 26/02/2014 14:22

You're supposed to fast for at least 8 hours before the GTT (lucozade test) but they didn't tell you so it's not your fault.

In my area the fasting cut-off is 5.1 and the result 2 hours later has to be under 8. So your 8.1 would fail on that basis but I don't know if not fasting would have affected it. They need to run it again properly anyway. Sounds like someone hasn't done their job properly!

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 26/02/2014 14:25

I'm still confused here, monitoring so far indicates I can eat white carbs with abandon and still come in well under target and at levels that would pass the GTT.

Is it possible that the chest infection and antibiotics I had on the day of the GTT pushed my normal fasting level up to just over the cut-off, I wonder? Confused

dats · 26/02/2014 16:12

Thanks Pat Smile.

The Lucozade test wasn't a full GTT though - it was a pre-GTT screen with only one blood test. But yeah - I think either someone dropped the ball somewhere, or it's a comms failure and actually everything WAS fine with that first result. I'm hoping it's the latter. Meanwhile I have knitting to occupy me while I am imprisoned in the bloody waiting room for two hours tomor morning...

SidandAndyssextoy · 26/02/2014 17:34

Good luck!

Pat, infections can definitely raise blood sugar. They are well known for it.

sisterofcaleb · 26/02/2014 17:43

Hi Pat,

I had GD at the end of my last pregnancy, and am now 24 weeks and probably have it this time (I am monitoring it myself and if it remains diet controlled will choose to stay "under the radar").

I would say it is pretty likely you don't have GD if during the GTT your body managed to process all that glucose and bring it down to fasting levels within 2 hours (I think you said it was 5.3 for both readings).

Have your fasting levels been "in target"? If so I suspect you are right and the infection skewed your result that day. The 5.1 cut off I believe comes from a large study called HAPO which you can google if you are so inclined.

Have you been back to the diabetes clinic? Certainly if your fasting is consistently below 5.1 I would seriously be querying your diagnosis. Kind of depends what you are keen on in terms of your pregnancy / birth though... GD makes you "high risk" which means more likely to be induced early etc... which I know some women want. I am keen for as natural a birth as possible and in your position would definitely be raising some questions with the medical team.

Enjoy the white carbs! (sigh ;) )

weebigmamma · 26/02/2014 19:08

Thank you Redhead! I hope I don't have it but I suspect I will. This pregnancy has been carbtastic for me! I don't know what I'll do without cheese sandwiches and pasta!

SidandAndyssextoy · 26/02/2014 19:23

Sisterofcaleb, if I have another pregnancy I intend to do what you're doing. Have you had pressure to attend diabetes clinics or do a GTT? Someone once told me that in subsequent pregnancies they treat you as if you have GD from the outset - did you find that to be the case?

sisterofcaleb · 26/02/2014 21:06

Hi sid, I was always planning on checking it myself, but since it usually develops later in pregnancy I was giving myself the first (highly nauseous) trimester "off". However at my booking in (10 weeks) I had glucose in my urine so that gave me a prompt to get onto it! I think standard protocol would have been to refer me automatically at 20ish weeks to the diabetes clinic. But the glucose at booking in meant an automatic GTT according to their guidelines.

However, I had kept my blood glucose monitor from last time and got the GP to prescribe my new sticks and needles. So I told the midwife I would be monitoring it myself for now, I knew what the targets were, and if I wasn't keeping within them then I would refer myself to the clinic. She didn't give me any hassle at all. I do feel I was a bit pushed around in my last pregnancy though, and so I am quite clear in my head medical professionals are there to offer me a service and it is up to ME to decide if I want to take them up on it or not! My tone may have reflected this ;)

I had a Hba1c done by the GP to reassure myself things had likely been ok in the first trimester once I got the glucose in my urine at 10 weeks, and that came back at 5.1 so I was happy with that. I think I probably spill glucose easily (but I do also think I have GD).

So far my fasting have all been below 5.5 although slightly higher than they were last pregnancy, and I have only gone over after meals a couple times... and mostly for very obvious causes! I am very comfortable with it being diet controlled and not going to the clinic at the moment.

At my 16 weeks appointment the midwife checked that I was not wanting a GTT... I explained that if you have a GTT and fail it then they ask you to monitor your blood sugars.... as I am already doing that then it seems pointless to go back a step! She did see the sense in that ;)

I am actually only testing my fasting every day, and after meals maybe once a day, particuarly if I eat something different. It is SO much less stressful than going to the clinic. I am hoping for a home birth and I will only rethink this if I end up needing medication.

Sorry for the essay, hope that helps.

SidandAndyssextoy · 26/02/2014 22:35

That's really helpful, thank you. I'm hoping to be able to turn down intervention and monitor myself like you, but a bit worried that I'll be pressured into seeing a consultant etc. Hopefully the community midwives will shield me! The diabetes clinic was just awful.

I really hope you stay diet controlled and have a stress-free pregnancy.

BunnyTamer · 26/02/2014 23:17

I found out I had GD at 28 weeks, then found out both my grandmother and aunt had had it so it must run in the family. I was still frightened about what it would mean for the baby but the care I have received has been fantastic.

Obviously meeting with consultants and the dietician has helped a great deal but I just want you to know it's a learning curve and you'll never get it right 100% because your body will keep changing until the end of pregnancy. I still have the surprise spike reading about once a week.

My top tip is to look into food combining. Protein with a carb is excellent, so bacon with one slice of wholemeal and an avocado for breakfast, apple with cheese as a snack, plenty of beans (e.g. butter, borlotti etc) in with pasta. This helps keep my readings down.

Also beware 'low fat' options because every time I've checked the label of products like these the second ingredient is generally sugar! Beware of sugars in sauces etc. I was craving a Black Forest Gateau and made up my own dessert of frozen cherries (cooked) with diabetic chocolate covered peanuts melted on top and then thick Greek yogurt instead of cream. Quite indulgent and hits the spot, as does sugar free Angel Delight.

And if you find yourself unable to control them and you get a high reading after an apple or something, don't beat yourself up. We need to eat some level of carbs for energy and pure Atkins isn't good for anyone let alone a pregnant lady.

Metformin has been fantastic for me and I'm on the low dose (I think), and haven't had one side effect from it, which I thought I would because I have IBS anyway.

Keep at it and remember there is no shame in asking for help. Plus I think the nutrition lessons we learn from this will keep us healthy long term.

LottieTee · 29/07/2014 23:28

Really helpful thread - Mumsnet at it's best. my sister is struggling with GD at the moment and it's great to be able to get first-hand info.

Elliekins · 16/08/2014 09:23

Place-marking while I read the thread...

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