Gestational diabetes support thread

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

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...

Hi,

Anybody had any experience of GD in a twin pregnancy? I've just found out there's two on board! I had GD last time and was already highly likely this time to have it again. I've heard a multiples pregnancy makes it even more likely, wondering if anybody knew how treatment might differ. I've not seen a midwife or doctor since I got the news.

ToriB, it can happen that you end up getting GDM later on after passing a GTT. Regardless, I would be pushing for another growth scan with results like that. Some areas will automatically do a GTT based on abdo circumference of baby alone. Why not phone your midwife and discuss it?

Quesadillas I was told today that if I get pregnant again (unlikely!) that I should contact the diabetes team rather than have a GTT. Maybe it's worth phoning them for some advice early on? I'd imagine that you will have the same targets but it may be harder to control blood sugars with my placenta for two babies. You'll be monitored lots with twins anyway so it may not be much on top of that. I suspect that they'll be extra vigilant with dopplers etc.

Hi i am 18 weeks pregnant. I got told this morning I have gestational diabetes. This afternoon my daughter got took in hospital, we are going to be here for at least 2 days. What can I eat? What snacky things are good? I am currently starving after only having 2 slices of toast for tea :(

Hello ladies. DD was born yesterday by elcs at 38+3
We are all doing fine and she had already 3/4 good strong feeds. I think still feeding her 3yo sister meant enough for her to latch on.

They have taken her bloods twice and were happy with them so far.

I have stopped my insulin and metformin and my fasting levels were also good this morning.

Mummytogoldie, I tended to snack on cheese or nuts. My hospital has a m&s simply food, does yours have similar? I'd stock up on stuff like that.
Hope your daughter is OK

Tori

I think there are couple of people who had passed GTT at 28w, yet ended up diabetic. - me included. Actually had passed2 GTTs, 28w and 35w.

Hbac1 measures your glucose level for some time in the past, it is something like average for last 6 weeks I believe. I dont know how it works but it gives better picture. I have passed that also.

The best way to know whether you have it or nor is just do daily testing over period of time so see what you glucose levels really are.

The consultant told me that according to new giudance the new threshold for passing GTT is 7.0 instead of 7.8. Supposedly not all hospitals have switched to new guidance yet.

Tiny tear

That is amazing to hear, congratulations!

Evening ladies, room for a latecomer?
I'm 36+6 and as of yesterday I've had to monitor my blood sugar levels. I kept getting sugar in my urine, despite two GTTs coming back negative so now I've got my little lancet and strips pack.

Yesterdays results were quite good, an hour after my breakfast my reading was 7.2. Today, after the exact same breakfast (mix of hi bran and Dorset cereals really nutty muesli, chopped grapes and semi skimmed milk) gave me 12.7! How does that even happen? I've just had poached eggs, slice of ham on wholemeal toast with baked beans so will have to see what I get with that. Does that sound like a GD friendly meal?

Baby had quite a jump about 6wks ago where he had measured on the 50th centile in all previous MW appts and then suddenly he was in the high 90s. Now I'm terrifying myself with stories of macrosomic babies and shoulders getting stuck. It seems the water birth I had my heart set on will be a no too. I'm so upset, and worried about what all this could have done to baby and what complications there may now be. I'm full term tomorrow and I would rather he comes out sooner rather than later to be honest! I'm worried that any damage is done and its too late to change anything

Mswnibble

Im exact same as you. 36+2

Was set on waterbirth but was told today it is a no, midwife-led birth center is also a no.

Continuing fetal monitoring is required, possibly some IVs with insulin or something like that and often blood glucose monitoring.
Baby needs to stay in the hospital for a while to be monitored, possibly special formula must by given.

I really can not get over it as it is so late to be changing everything and Im so scared of the birth and shoulders being stuck because of large size.
I have asked if c-section was a possibility and they said no.

Regarding your meals, im not an expert as I am also new to this, but the 12.7 result doesnt seem right. Did you wash your hands good and didnt you by any chance have any sugar residue on them? Did you try to retest? Ithink if you get over 10 you are to go to triage.

Its awful isnt it zahrah? I'll be honest reading about the possibility of special formula has really upset me, ive got my heart set on breastfeeding. Everything is pointing to a positive GD diagnosis and it will mean that I wont get anything I planned to. Just the idea of having to stay in hospital for even 24hrs makes me feel sad and teary. I was all set for a low risk birth in the midwife unit, in and out and its all up in smoke now. I was dead set against an epidural and now im feeling all sulky and thinking fuck it, im not going to have birth I wanted so I might as well not be in agony as im stuck on the bed.

Re the 12.7, I didnt think to retest actually! I was a bit dazed and in a rush to get to my MW appt. I have been meticulous about hand washing but I may try a different handwash as its a fruity 'flavour' one.

I thought my tea would have given a good result but no, an hour later my level read at 8.1.

This may be clutching at straws but has anyone else been told that the whooping cough jab can affect readings? I had mine yesterday afternoon, after my two good results. Every test since has been high, even this mornings fast result was 6.1.

Sorry to be such a negative person re: all this!

That's good to hear Tori, thank you for a sliver of positivity!

Congratulations Tinytear! I'm looking forward to stopping my insulin...

MsWibble with readings like that I would start preparing yourself to be encouraged to be induced at 38 weeks. Does your consultant led unit not have a birth pool?

Mummytogoldie just wondering how you are getting on?

no room even this mornings reading was a shocker, 11.2, so HiBran and muesli are obviously on the naughty list.managed to get it down to 5.3 after lunch but to be honest I was pretty hungry afterwards so not sure if its sustainable. I had cucumber, carrots,baby plum tomatoes, houmous, ham and a cheese string. I've just had steak with a baked sweet potato and reduced sugar/salt baked beans so I have my fingers crossed that I get a good result in an hour.
I think there is a pool on the delivery suite but I read that with the monitoring I would require they wouldn't let me use the pool. Is that not right? Maybe a glimmer of hope!

It depends if your unit has waterproof telemetry (wire free continuous monitoring) or not. My unit does but it takes all of the CLU and MLU from the area (small unit which draws from a few small towns and lots of rural areas). In some ways I think I'm benefiting from the fact that they have lots of midwife-led ladies on the unit.

Mswibbe

You can still breastfeed, it is just something they might have to give them after birth due to not good sugar levels.
But at my breastfeeding class the midwife also said that once formula is given, some sort if protection barrier in their digestive system is broken.

Did you check the sugar content of that cereal and muesli? Im finding I am doing good with just plain oats instead of cereals. Im having it with low-fat white yogurt with small spoon of lingonberry jam from Ikea, its not that sweet.
I think the muesli you mentioned has lots of sugar.

With readings like that I think you should go to your midwife, perhaps better if they put you on insulin or medication early on.

Off to research active birthing position with monitoring and epidural.

Well I'm going to eating like a king every night until bambino is born! My feast of steak, sweet potato and beans gave me my first good evening result of 6.6! Hurrah! Steak every night!

I think its definitely the muesli zahrah, though its a Dorset Cereals one with no added sugar, just oats and nuts according to the box. Anyhoo i'll be knocking it on the head anyway. Will be trying scrambled eggs, mushrooms and a rasher of bacon tomorrow for breakfast.

How is everyone getting on?
I have spend half a day getting a pescription for strips and needles, then went to 2 pharmacies, none had strips in stock.
Yesterday tried it again as I had only 4 strips left and third plece I went I got lucky- I was just about to give up.
Readings have been good, for me it is really more of just giving up the junk and sweets I used to eat.

My blood sugars are OK. Four days and counting until induction...

Hello everyone. Just back from a week away. Yeay to baby tiny and welcome newbies. Gdm is a bummer, especially when it scuppers our birth plans but it doesn't necessarily have to mean no pool during labour. My hospital said monitoring didn't need to be constant and I could probably use pool on labour ward between checks.

Readings while I was away a bit mixed. Had a cold which made it harder to control but seem to be back to normal now apart from a blip of 9.9 after 1.5 hot cross buns and a plum! Porridge with fruit or wholemeal toast with peanut butter or eggs seem to be my safe breakfasts. Just went for a naughty thai lunch though and got 5.1. Did go easy on the rice though.

Good luck no room!

Dd is out of hospital so can try and concentrate on me now and getting these sugars under control. I am not eating much and am starving but they are still high (I think). Can anyone give me snack ideas so I can snack between meals as I am starving :( is fruit a no no? Crisps? Cheese and crackers?

mummy glad dd is home. Snacks are key as smaller meals and no big lows are key to good post meal and fasting readings. I have been eating fruit. Avoiding it made me constipated and dietician sais it nd was good as low gi, except for mango, pineapple and lychees. Bananas best underripe. I have been eating loads of nuts and seeds (chilli cashews and tesco chilli seed mix are my favourites). Also oatcakes with hummous or cheese. I tend to have a handful of nuts and a piece of fruit at 11 and 4. I also have fruit with my porridge and sometimes with plain full fat yoghurt as a "treat". You do need some carbs and I seem to be ok as long as I avoid chips, too much pasta (a small portion is ok) and non basmati rice. New potatoes, lentils, oats and basmati rice seem to be the best for me. I have avoided crisps as chips have given me high readings, and carbs with protein are better than just carbs.