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Gestational diabetes support thread

859 replies

NoRoomForALittleOne · 29/01/2015 18:12

I thought I'd start a support thread for those of us being tested, just diagnosed or being treated for GDM.

So collapse on a sofa, grab a low carb snack and come and chat about blood tests, finger pricks, diet changes, medication and birth plans...

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ILiveOnABuildsite · 12/03/2015 16:23

Longest for me it was unrelated. I lost my plug and then had some blood loss as well, this triggered labour although they have no explainations as to why it happened. This is my second gd pregnancy, first time I was induced at 38 weeks but I'm convinced dd would have stayed in until well past her due date if she had been allowed.

PenguinTuxedo · 12/03/2015 17:00

Hi everyone, hope you don't mind me joining in, as I haven't actually been diagnosed with GD yet.

I am overweight, so have a GTT booked for 26 weeks, on 25th April, so a little while away yet. I met my consultant a few days ago, and whilst looking through my blood results from two weeks ago he said "there was a sugar result, so it's important to get the GTT done on the 25th April".

There was so much going on at the time, so much to discuss and had to see an anaesthetist as well, so I didn't think to question this at the time. I'm guessing though, that it looks like I'm going down the route of having GD. As it's a while until my test, I was wondering if there is anything I should be doing in the mean time to help myself? I don't know much anything about GD really, so I'm just a bit worried about affects on the baby etc. Thanks

minipie · 12/03/2015 17:18

welcome paddle! Till your appointment I would recommend staying off sugary food and drinks, juice, bread/baked goods and mashed potato - they seem to be the worst foods for GD - then you can get more comprehensive diet advice at your appointment hopefully along with your test kit.

Noroom Shock how far along are you? I think you're about 34/35 weeks is that right? Will they do anything to try to stop it? Best of luck, hope you manage to hang on a little longer. DD was born at 34 weeks, it was scary but she's fine and the stats are good at that stage.

Penguin hello, I think lots of women can have sugar in their urine and no GD so don't assume the worst just yet! If you are worried then try eating low GI in the meantime which means no sugar, bread/flour, mash and more complex carbs instead, also more protein and veg. Effects on the baby should be very little provided you are monitoring it and treating it so it's good that you're getting tested.

minipie · 12/03/2015 17:20

I have just eaten a kitkat and two krispy kremes Blush Sad not sure what came over me but guess it was a sudden burst of rebellion or something! I will have to be extra good for the next few days... hopefully a one off shouldn't have much effect...

PenguinTuxedo · 12/03/2015 17:31

Thanks Minipie It was from a blood test, not urine if that makes a difference? No bread or mash Shock I don't know how I'll cope! What about baked potatos then?

TinyTear · 12/03/2015 17:37

Penguin, important is reduce carbs, brown and whole ones better, try and eat low GI if you can... Good luck

paddlenorapaddle · 12/03/2015 21:20

Thanks LIG1979 its just that she called and now i've got days to wait to find out more about whats going on

norroom I hope you and the little one are ok and hanging in there

Thanks longest and mini that makes so much sense lettuce it is then lol

longestlurkerever · 12/03/2015 22:51

Gay just got back from a tapas meal and reading is 4.4. Really wishing I had had the potato croquettes. Dammit i probably could have had the churros!

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 12/03/2015 23:29

4.4 after a meal?! Confused Eat some chocolate!

Thanks for all the well-wishes. I'm 33+1 with a history of pre-term labour and fast labours. I've been admitted for sliding scale insulin so I'm being finger pricked every hour. So far I've had over 20 units of extra insulin in addition to my normal insulin! I'm having my next jab in a sec. Not looking forward to that!

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 12/03/2015 23:47

Oh, I should add that I don't expect to produce a baby, I reckon that I have an annoying irritable uterus. But the docs want to be cautious.

As for the steroid injection - ow!!!!

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 12/03/2015 23:49

Oh, and Longestlurker, monitor baby's movements if you're having lots of low readings.

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WorkingBling · 13/03/2015 07:03

Good luck NoRoom. Hope you are ok.
We we off to hospital shortly for induction. Hope to quick. Don't want to be there for days before and after baby arrives!

ILiveOnABuildsite · 13/03/2015 07:48

Good luck NoRoom I hope all is well for you and baby. And yes I agree those steroids burn! I couldn't believe how much the first first time I had it and then when I had my second dose I couldn't believe I was just lying there letting them put that in my thigh!

ILiveOnABuildsite · 13/03/2015 07:49

Good luck with the induction WorkingBling hope it all goes well for you and it's quick!

longestlurkerever · 13/03/2015 09:44

Good luck working!

longestlurkerever · 13/03/2015 10:06

How are you this morning noroom?

Welcome penguin. No harm in trying to be careful but the odd one off high blood sugar doesn't mean diabetes - the GTT will test how your body copes with the raised levels and how quickly it can bring them back to normal. Baked potato may or may not be OK depending on how you cope with carbs. Potatoes are generally quite high gi but I seem to cope OK with them - whereas pasta seems to be a bit dodgier though technically it is lower gi. Some people say to avoid all bread but I seem to be fine with brown or granary toast.

I spoke to the gd midwife about my readings (high and low as this morning's fasting reading was 2.4) but she didn't seem overly concerned - just said I had probably overdone the diet and to eat something. Not totally convinced but have been out for a big breakfast with my cousin so will test again in a mo and have my proper consultation on Monday so will see what they say then.

longestlurkerever · 14/03/2015 10:11

Hope you're all well this weekend. Working is your baby here?? Noroom I have been thinking of you.

Am a bit confused about my levels and can't wait to see consultant on Monday and hopefully get some reassurance. Yesterday had some ridiculously low ones (2.4 fasting, 3.2 after lunch) so took mw's advice to eat more and got my highest ever post breakfast reading of 7.2 this morning. Was my usual porridge, prunes and nuts, just a slightly bigger bowl.

LIG1979 · 14/03/2015 10:37

No room - hope you are ok.

working - any baby yet? I am craving a big bag of haribos when ds is born. (I don't normally eat that sort of thing but now I can't, I really want to.)

Lurker - do you keep a food diary, I try and keep a food diary and also note other things such as activity levels, sleep and sickness to see if I can see a pattern. your values sound low and maybe you need to eat more. I did find that initially a 29 weeks I could eat quite normally and be between 6 and 7.8, if I ate very healthily it was more around high 4's/low 5's post meals. Then around 32 weeks it suddenly got tough and meals that were 4/5 were sending me up to 6/7 and anything else would send me over. now at 35 weeks, I seem to have very low levels.

Last night I thought I would see how high I could get it and had soup, bread, a cupcake and ice cream and it went to 7.2. Not sure I want to eat that much rubbish but good I ca relax a bit with sugary carbs again. Got a scan and consultant appointment next week so will discuss it with them more then. I feel at the moment I could keep it below 6 without too much effort but wonder if there is any point to that.

longestlurkerever · 14/03/2015 11:47

I do note things in my little book but no obvious pattern yet. Am only 29 weeks atm so prepared for things to get worse but good to hear it can settle again. I had a couple of very high readings so have been quite strict but perhaps they were blips and I can be a little more relaxed for now. It's the erratic nature that's bothering me. Low of 2.4 and high of 9.8 without an obvious cause for either extreme. Vast majority have been ok though so hopefully consultant will be reassuring.

TinyTear · 14/03/2015 12:39

This morning was a rebel and had rice krispies multigrain and my 1 h reading was 8.7

Eek

WorkingBling · 14/03/2015 19:44

Hi all. Still no baby appearance. But sugars in hospital been fine so no one is terribly strssed except me. I am not enjoying lazing around here!

MsMittens · 14/03/2015 20:00

Hi all

I have been lurking for a little while. Currently in week 2 of blood monitoring. Despite low Gtt test result, consultant asked me to do this for two weeks as I have suspected excess amniotic fluid which can be caused by gestational diabetes.

Having an issue with test results post lunch today. Took test and came out as 9.5 (which is 3.8 above my previous highest reading) so tested again 2 mins later and came out at 7.7 !? Did control reading which was just within normal range so I am now worried about accuracy of readings. Naturally no one picked up when I tried to call the ante natal clinic to discuss. Has anyone any experience of this? What should I do? I have just made a note in my record book to discuss but freaking out a little.

noroom hope you are doing ok.

LIG1979 · 14/03/2015 20:21

msmittens - I had something like that when it went to 10.4 and then down to 3.6 and 3.7 at that point I went and got a new monitor. (The screen was already damaged that morning so I think something happened to it.) Also, did you wash your hands before testing? There could be sugar on your hands?

MsMittens · 14/03/2015 20:30

Thanks LIG. yes I washed my hands before both tests. So Confused ..... Will see how my post dinner test goes and if it is still peculiar I will follow up on Monday!

Ellizardo · 14/03/2015 22:51

Hello all, just to say I'm going in for induction on Monday at 39 weeks as baby happy but big and they're playing it safe I think.
Working - have you had a pessary or gel or something else?! I am planning on taking lots of mags, downloads etc and preparing mentally for long haul.
Buildsite - was yr first induction ok?
Minipie- am impressed by you getting away with the binge..am still in zone of confusion as what gives me a high reading and what doesn't. Only general rule is that eating out, or even an M&S salad plays havoc with readings so sticking as much as possible to homemade food. So am bringing a cool bag with me to hospital with plenty of snacks!