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...

congratulations noroom!

Zaharan5 - I think there is some flexibility on birth if you are diet controlled and do not have a big baby. I was told that I could have a birth in the mlu but they didn't encourage it. (As I knew I wanted an epidural as I couldn't leave straight after the birth that didn't bother me too much.) They also wanted to discuss induction at 40 weeks but not before.

With dd (a non gd pregnancy) I had a birth plan that never happened so this time I ended up just writing down the key points. However, this time with a 40 minute labour at 36 weeks there was not time to look at it and in the end being pre-37 weeks trumped gd in terms of monitoring. I could have left after 12 hours once they were happy with ds's blood sugar but had to stay in 24 hours for extra monitoring for being early. Maybe with longer labours birth plans are more taken on board but that has never happened to me!

Hello all - can I join?
Had fasting glucose yesterday at 26+1. Had the call to say fasting levels were fine but after the 2 hour glucose thing was a bit high at 9.something... having read some of this thread that seems very high?

Been back in and got my new prick my finger kit! Have to do it 4 x a day and they expect pre breakfast fasting to be under 5 (or5.5?) and others under 7. They did it today as it was two hours after lunch and it was 6.9

What are you all doing re exercise?

Welcome seamist. It's not much fun but better to have the diagnosis than not. The 2 hour reading should have been under 7.8 so 9.something is quite high but if your fasting levels are OK that bodes well for being able to control it with diet. Have they given you tips on diet? Having snacks and then smaller meals seems to be key to good readings, and keeping carbs at less than 1/3 of your plate, balanced out with plenty of protein and veg. For me this seems to be more important than the type of carb, but others have had different experiences so it does seem to vary. Don't be afraid to do a bit of experimenting but if your readings are consistently high and you can't work out how to bring them down they will try metformin or insulin.

Have you been given 2 hour targets? I have to keep under 7.8 but that's 1 hour after eating, and fasting should be under 5.5. I only have to test twice a day but at different times each day.

Not been doing much exercise, apart from walking. Keep meaning to go swimming but am so tired by the evenings. I have a 3yo though - she keeps me on my toes.

How is everyone? Has been very quiet on the thread. Not much to report here - next growth scan is on Tuesday. Readings have been spot on for a couple of weeks now except for a massive 9.9 blip on Wed after what should have been an OK meal. Really pushed it yesterday and had Chinese takeaway and still only got 6.4 so no idea what my body is playing at really but diet is quite relaxed these days apart from avoiding actual sugar and still getting good readings almost all of the time so am feeling good. 34 weeks tomorrow! 3 weeks left at work.

Welcome seamist. My targets area about the same as longestlurkers, monitoring every other day, 6 times a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner - pre (

Hi guys - I'm trying to look at it positively - I was getting a bit of a cake habit so would have been a porker post birth - hopefully this will sort me out

I have to do 4 x day. Last night 2 hours after dinner was 5.2, this morning after fasting 4.3, 2 hours after breakfast 5.7, 2 hours after lunch 6.2 - so I'm happy with all those readings, don't know if they are on the high side but I have to keep under 7 post meals and 5.5 after fasting.

I have my first growth scan next Thursday (at 27 + 2). At the moment they are expecting me to have c-section anyway as have placenta praevia covering the exit which they don't expect to move! At 20wk scan they said c-section at 39 weeks - do people with GD tend to have the babies earlier, even if by c-section?

Hello

I have several update:

Has second growth scan, first at 35+5 shower baby' abdonimal measure off the chart.
Now at 37+7 abdonimal measure is exact average for given gestation ( came smaller! Than at previous scan) and her weight in spot on too.
I understand that the scans are not exact, but this is little extreme. But it helped to calm me down, as it is not likely for her to be giantic.

Has episode of not feeling movements, went in, obviously once on my way from the house she started to move. The trace was fine but they were seriously concerned as it was second incident.

My consultant proposed earlier induction mostly due to reduced movements concerns, as one of the risk for diabetic mothers is stillbirt, so she didnt really need to tell me twice.

Im booked for next week, it will be only 5 days before due date so not too early. In the meantime I have to go to monitoring.

Now RANT

At hospital I was given Bayern monitoring device which I loved. Hospital gave me some supply of strips and told me to go to GP to prescribe more. I did go and the receptionist told me they can not orescribe Bayern stripes. They can only prescribe some other type of strips and new machine to go with it. I declined this as I tought it was ridiculous. I booked GP appointment for next day and with no problems got prescription for Bayern 50 strips. All good.

But I ran out.
Went back to GP, gave them letter from midwife asking for Bayern strips.
In 3 days I go to pick up my prescription, bring it to pharmacy and received totally different strips. Go back to GP telling them they did not prescribed me Bayern strips but some other ones and not even bothered to mention it. Another argument with receptionist, but I gave up and told them I have only 5 days to go as diabetic but if they think it is better NHS money saving decision to give me new machine, pack of 50 strips and 100 needles insstead of pack of 50 Bayern stripes all what Inasked for, then I will take it so I can use the strips they prescribed.

Ok, received shiny new red i-care machine looking like ipod.
After lunch I go to do testing. First test shows 1.6!!!!!!!!!! Then another shows error, according to instructions glucose too low from range to be read. Third strips shows 3.6, another 5.1 and another 5.6.

Im just so pissed right now. Im not even sure whether the readings are correct. Bayers at least showed error if it didnt received enoug blood on strip. Looks like this one needs much more blood. oMG, I am furious.
Im going to hospital for monitoring tomorrow and will show them, perhaps MDU will have some supply of strips.

Hello welcome seamist

Those results are very good, keep up!
Keep in mind that there was change in NICE guidelines in February where targets became much stricter and not all hospitals had adopted it yet.
Fasting should be under 5.3 and 2 hrs after meals only 6.4. My hospital told me 7, same as you.
I do try to stick within the NICE giudelines most of the time.

With GD they would not let you go overdue. Then the timing of delivery depends whether they see you can manage the sugars by diet or you need medication and the growth of the baby and other concerns.

Keeping the sugars low is the best you can do to avoid issues.

seamist those readings are very good. Well done! -Glad gd is not messing up your birth plans. If you're diet controlled and your growth scans ar ok they shouldn't bring your c section forward.

I spoke too soon and had another high reading after tuna, rice and beans, which I thought would be ok but beans were in some sort of chilli sauce si maybe that was it. Annoyed as was all going so well but never mind!

Exciting you have not got long to go zahran. Sorry you're being messed around over your strips and that baby gave you a fright.

What would a 'normal' person's readings be do you know? I'm tempted to prick DP's finger and find out!

My reading yesterday morning was 4.6, (had 5.2 after both evening meals) but this morning's reading is 5.1 - not very keen on that one and wonder why so much higher.

I think similar seamist but they wouldn't have to be careful with their diet to maintain it.

So yesterday afternoon my cake craving got the better of me and a visit to Costa for a 'coffee' turned into the addition of half a millionaires shortbread and half a raspberry slice, this was around 2pm. I didn't have dinner until 7pm which was chilli con carne with small rice. After dinner got at 5.6 reading.... is this because the cake effect had worn off by then as my reading was until 9pm?

Yes of course, you measured too late. You can try to measure 2 hrs after cake to see.

In Costa I found cappucino with sweet and low and half a pack of regular sugar plus package of ginger biscuits is doing no major harm while satisfy the craving.

The cravings are less if you manage to keep sugar levels steady without spikes and lows.

I think I best avoid coffee shops - I'm too weak, but ginger biscuits I might try

After lunch I had my first test that was above the allowed levels - it was 7.4, I was a bit shocked so immediately tested on another finger and got 7.1?

Going for induction tomorrow at 39+ 2.

Baby was monitored twice this week and was doing great.
Scared as hell and definitelly dont feel ready at all but just need to stay strong I guess and let things happen.

After that will have big piece of cake.

Wishing you all the best Zahrah, and enjoy the well earned cake!

Good luck zahrah! Very exciting.

I had my growth scan and midwife appointment today. All good. Ac deviating off 50th percentile a bit compared to last time but apparently is still good and baby predicted to be average weight. Still no chance of birth centre, apparently, but will try once more when I see consultant. Apparently it's a London wide policy to never allow it for gd women. Anyone have any counter info?

seamist how are you doing? I wouldn't stress too much about one slightly high reading but I don't know about the discrepancy. I haven't tried testing twice in a row but apparently thing like washing hands and squeezing the blood out can affect it.

Good luck zahrah - how exciting, very soon you will have a baby and cake - yay!

I haven't had any more 'over' readings so I am guessing that is all good. Its hard to know though with nothing to compare it too. Have almost finished my first week of monitoring - tomorrow is first growth scan and consultant/diabetes specialist so will see what they say and ask them about those two readings also. I always wash my hands first and always have to squeeze the blood as otherwise it doesn't come out! The midwife who showed me how to use all the equipment called me 'the woman who doesn't bleed'!

Hello,

I'm 14 weeks pregnant with baby number 2. Had GD in my previous pregnancy, diagnosed at 34 weeks. This time I'll be having my GTT at 16 weeks. I've dug out my old testing kit, I'm curious and want to know my readings now. Can someone remind me of what I should be aiming for, is it between 4 and 6.5? And do I test an hour or 2 after eating? Thanks

flip ccongratulations on your pregnancy. It seems to vary a bit but my targets are under 5.5 for fasting and under 7.8 one hour after meals

flip My readings are supposed to be under 5.5 fasting, and under 7 two hours after meals.

I spoke too soon re no more 'over' readings - after breaking gave me 7.9 - did immediate retest on different finger and got 7.3?????? I had the same no sugar muesli as had last few days but did notice seemed to have more raisins in this morning. Going to steer clear of it now!

breakfast not 'breaking'!

That's great, thank you. No doubt I'll be back for more advice after my GTT.

seamist For breakfast I have found the following OK for me:

• Porridge with nuts and dried fruit or a banana;
• Full fat yoghurt with fruit, nuts and a tiny amount of muesli;
• 2 slices granary toast with peanut butter (apparently the protein in the peanut butter helps you control the carbs in the toast);
• Egg and soldiers or scrambled egg on toast; or
• Bacon sandwich.

I have avoided my usual big bowl of muesli with milk.

Also avoided, with rather more regret, crumpets, croissants or Danish pastry - 1.5 hot cross buns gave me a reading of 8.9!