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

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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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fattymcfatfat · 30/01/2015 09:37

Hi all im 15+2 and was told at my scan that because my bmi is 30 (bang on) and because baby is expected to be big they want me to have a gtt in april (I will be about 26 weeks) I dont think I have it I think im just fat but they are worried as I put on almost two stone in the first 3 months! I havent weighed myself since booking so could be more now! But they said my dd would be big as she was always measuring above expected but she was only 7lb 10 so they could be wrong? Do I need to worry or am I right to think they are wasting a morning of my life for nothing?

TarkaTheOtter · 30/01/2015 09:38

No worries. They didn't tell me even when I was diagnosed with dc1 but with dc2 they gave me a massive lecture about all the risks. I was a bit Hmm as it wasn't as if I wasn't taking it seriously.
Fingers crossed you don't have it!

TarkaTheOtter · 30/01/2015 09:41

fatty see my post above.

It's possible to have gd even if you don't have any risk factors. Definitely not a wasted morning.

minipie · 30/01/2015 10:14

Morning all

ARGH I've run out of testing strips. Midwife gave me hardly any on Tues and my GP hasn't processed the prescription for more yet. I bought some (£27!!!) yesterday only to find out they aren't compatible with my machine! What a waste of money. Hopefully the prescription should be ready later today or tomorrow.

I missed a test on Wednesday too as was in the hospital for an eye test for DD age 2 and she was being a monkey so I really couldn't.

Anyone who's done this before - what happens if you miss some tests? Do they get cross?

Think I've worked out why the same dinner twice gave very different readings - I had a snack a couple of hours before the first time (low reading), no snack before the second (high reading). Bring on the snacks...

TarkaTheOtter · 30/01/2015 10:22

I'd prioritise your test first thing so you get a good fasting reading as that will show a sort of baseline for how well your blood sugars are controlled. Then maybe just test after the meals you have the most problem with. Wouldn't worry about the other pre-meal tests (if you do them at all) so long as you have that reading from first thing. That should help make the strips last a bit longer.

shimmysparkles · 30/01/2015 10:42

Hi, I was diagnosed just before xmas (!) and this is first pregnancy. It was bit of shock at first but worth doing the test in the end. Currently testing 4 times a day and on metformin, although last few days my readings have been all over the place so likely it'll be increased or we'll go on insulin. Currently 36 weeks. Baby measuring normal size so far...

fattymcfatfat · 30/01/2015 10:50

Tarka...I do understand that I just dont want to get myself worked up over nothing! Ive never had any experience of gd and am very much in the dark! Can I just say aswell that my ds loves tarka the otter! Otters are mine and his favourite animals!

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 30/01/2015 11:13

Thanks for the tips about the insulin. For anyone wanting to refuse the test - just have it! I wanted to refuse the test. I'm a size 8 and already have the 'perfect' diet but I do have GDM. Having given birth to a macrosomic baby who had a shoulder dystocia, I will do everything I can to not repeat the experience. And the risk of a stillbirth or a baby on the neonatal unit if diabetes is untreated doesn't appeal either. Incidentally, many countries test every pregnant woman because many women who have GDM have no risk factors and no symptoms.

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 30/01/2015 11:17

Oh and the target for fasting levels is interesting. My target is below 5.5. My levels so far have been 6.4, 5.8, 5.9 and 5.8. My 1 hour post meal target is below 7.8. I've only been over this once and it was the breakfast reading after my fasting test was 6.4. The diabetes nurse specialist said that my levels show that my diet is fine but I'm simply not making enough insulin at night. I'm only 27 weeks though and I understand that it tends to get worse throughout the third trimester. That will be a joy to look forward to Hmm

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fattymcfatfat · 30/01/2015 11:31

I dont want to refuse the test its just that its nit until april so have to wait that long to find out what is happening and its probably nothing! So they are having me worried for this long and I dont know if theres anything I can do in the meantime so im not stressing it so much!

TarkaTheOtter · 30/01/2015 12:12

fatty (feels a bit rude calling you that!)
Typically GDM only becomes an issue after about 6months pregnant, that's why they wait until then.

Noroom I think (based in no scientific credentials at all) that there is more than one type of GDM. I also have a low bmi and had problems with fasting levels. Interestingly my grandfather was diagnosed with type 1 in his 40s (although I also have a family history of "typical" type 2). They essentially treated me as a pre-existing diabetic in my last pregnancy and were very surprised when it disappeared postnatally. I did have a scary first 24hrs after labour though where my blood sugars were in the 20s! and they didn't know why.

Naturegirl82 · 30/01/2015 12:35

I'll join. I'll be having the GTT again this pregnancy (dc#2) as I have PCOS and insulin resistance. Luckily didn't develop GD last time (although DD1 was born on the 91st centile) so hoping for the same this time. Usually take metformin for PCOS but stop during pregnancy.

Hi Tarka

TarkaTheOtter · 30/01/2015 12:43

Hi Nature! I need to catch up with the postnatal thread again!

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 30/01/2015 15:24

That's interesting Tarka. I have relatives who have type 1 and type 2 diabetes but further back up my family tree. I'm hoping that I don't have your experience of high blood sugars after the birth. That must have been a stressful 24 hours! Did you have insulin just overnight for your fasting levels or throughout the day too? I'm wondering if there is any distinction in the expectations of how birth will be managed if I manage to only need insulin at nighttime compared to if I end up on insulin in the day too. I am fully expecting to be advised to be induced at 38 weeks. I'm seeing the obstetric consultant as well as having a growth scan and seeing the diabetes team (consultant, nurse specialist and dietician) on Monday. I hope to have a better idea then. The fact that I gave birth in 25 minutes including a shoulder dystopia is a total PITA because they insist that I need to be in hospital and all of my babies have been a bit early.

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Marmot75 · 30/01/2015 17:24

To agree with Tarka - coincidentally, I was talking to a friend today who is a paediatrician and she told me that as well as the risk of the baby being bigger and having difficulty controlling their blood sugar after birth there is a also an increased risk of the baby dying in late pregnancy. She said it's important for that reason not to go overdue. I assume connected with the placenta ageing. Nobody told me that in my last pregnancy and I had my son at 38 weeks (failed induction then caesarean) after a growth scan revealed concerns about his growth since a scan at 36 weeks and placental blood flow. I don't like to think what might have happened otherwise. He was a normal weight by the way but did have trouble controlling his blood sugar after birth and it was touch and go whether he'd need special care but didn't in the end.

ILiveOnABuildsite · 30/01/2015 20:30

NoRoom that's interesting about the target levels. My fasting target if 5.0 and my 2hr after meal is 7.5.

Interesting how different they all are, I wonder if they are set by the trust or on an individual basis. Does anyone know? Also some of you oh are saying you are testing 1hr post meal whereas I've always been told to test after 2 hrs. I can't even imagine how high my results would ge after only one hour if they are quite high after 2hrs.

When I had my diagnosis with my first pregnancy I was really shocked, there are incidences of type 1 and 2 diabetes in my maternal grandparents family but nothing (as far as I know in any subsequent generation). My father was not involved in my childhood so I don't know anything about his family history so maybe there is something there. I'm a slim, fit and active size 10 with an average healthy bmi, my diet is good, I do have a bit of a sweet tooth but also quite a strong willpower so don't tend to indulge too often. I was actually very lucky to be offered the Gtt and was only offered it because my grandfather developed type 2 diabetes in later life. If I hadn't mentioned that I can't imagine what would have happened with my daughter. I actually have two Gtt in this pregnancy and as unpleasant as the test is I'm glad I was offered them.

fattymcfatfat · 30/01/2015 20:38

Ah...thanks tarka...so ive no need to worry about it unless my results show something in April? Thats a relief. Ive been panicking so much! And reading this it seems like its manageable and you can have healthy babies even if I do develop it!
Iliveonabuildsite.....is the test really unpleasant. ..I thought it would just be sitting and drinking sugar basically. ..see how educated I am on this lol

RumNoRaisins · 30/01/2015 20:45

Hello, am now 31 weeks and diagnosed at the new year. Been doing ok with sugars so far but really restricting carbs in order to achieve good readings. I miss cake Sad.

I was a size 8/10 pre pregnancy and gained a lot of weight by the time I was 28 weeks, don't know if that was a contributing factor but I had the same weight gain in my first pregnancy and no GD then.

mini I've missed some tests too, mainly because of the nature of my work they're were a couple of occasions where I just couldn't nip off to do the testing. They were fine with it but my readings have been good and they didn't want to see me for another four weeks so that might be why.

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 30/01/2015 20:48

The test isn't that bad. I found it nauseating and boring but other than that, it wasn't a big deal. I preferred having the drink that I was given where I live now (I think it's called polycal) compared to the 500ml of lucozade that I had to have in a different trust.

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polarbearshuffle · 30/01/2015 20:52

Hi I'm not sure if this is the right place to post...don't want to hijack the thread but I'm just looking for a bit of advice. You can tell me to go away if I'm not in the right place Smile I'm 36 weeks pregnant with dc2. My first pregnancy, and up until now, this pregnancy has been fine. However on Monday I had a midwife appointment and she found sugar in my wee. She took bloods and on Tuesday let me know I had a blood sugar of 6.5. Apparently this is slightly high. On Wednesday she kept trying to speak to the assessment unit to see what they thought but couldn't get through so has booked me an appointment with the diabetes clinic at my local hospital on Monday (I'll be 37 weeks). So I'm just wondering what to expect. Midwife said they might just give me diet advice or they might take me I she didn't know. I do tick a few boxes for GD (DM had GD with all of her pregnancies, diabetes in family, ds1 was a larger baby & my bmi is slightly high). Any advice would be appreciated as I can't find a lot about high blood sugar towards the end of pregnancy.

fattymcfatfat · 30/01/2015 20:57

Noroom. Give me lucozade any day! I practically live off the stuff. ..possibly partly responsible for my weight gain after dd was born! I needed it to stay awake was my excuse! Even my mum agrees its probably the sugar intake that made me fat as I never changed my diet and I was usually a size 8-10

fattymcfatfat · 30/01/2015 20:58

I should add I cant drink it now....any kind of fizzy drink makes me dizzy and gives me a bad headache dont know if thats a good or bad thing!

FruitySalad · 30/01/2015 21:02

Hi all, interesting reading everyone's experiences. Im 32 weeks and today was my first call in to the clinic and was happy that all the readings were fine and within target. My morning target is 5.5 and my 2 hr after dinner is 7, but they have all been between 4-5 with a strict diet

When I got the news initially I was told very little other than how to work the equipment, but insisted they gave me more info. Obviously I started panicking and you don't need to look far beyond the nice guidelines to understand the importance of monitoring, I think I'd rather be assured that any risk is managed.

It's such a lot of info and stress for us all to process in addition to general pregnancy!

RumNoRaisins · 30/01/2015 21:09

polarbear if the blood that she took wasn't a fasting level it may not be that high. Try not to worry and see what the diabetes team say. If they suspect GD they will likely do a growth scan to check baby's size.

polarbearshuffle · 30/01/2015 21:21

I hadn't fast so it could simply be it isn't that high. Thank you for the reply. I'd be quite grateful for a growth scan because ds1 size was a shock! What will they do at the clinic on Monday? Take bloods etc