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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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ILiveOnABuildsite · 30/01/2015 21:49

fatty the test is only unpleasant in the sense that it's a faff and is really quite boring. Plus I hate lucozade so having to drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is a bit bleurgh but it's more of an inconvenience rather than physical unpleasantness. Sorry didn't mean to scare or put anyone off. Make sure you have plenty to do while your waiting anf you'll be fine.

TarkaTheOtter · 30/01/2015 21:53

polar I think all women have a degree of insulin resistance towards the end of pregnancy. What had you eaten in the hours preceding the test?
I vaguely recall they don't bother with the GTT at that stage. I agree with Rum that they may well do a growth scan. They might ask you to keep a food diary and test your blood sugars for a week. I don't think they will take bloods because the only diagnostic test for GD is the GTT I think and that requires fasting. Be prepared for a long wait as most diabetes clinics are ridiculously overbooked.

fattymcfatfat · 30/01/2015 21:53

I will take a book with me....may even buy a new one....my mum says theres too many books in my house though. ...my kids have over 200and im not far behind hmmm....maybe she is right?! Oh well reading is good! And it will stop me being bored when I spend a morning in hospital!

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 30/01/2015 22:03

I don't know what they'll do at clinic. Possibly a scan to asses the baby's size and the condition of the placenta etc. You would need to have a proper glucose tolerance test to rule out GDM and it doesn't sound like they'll be doing that because they haven't prepared you for it. I guess they could do another random blood sugar test but a random blood sugar isn't enough for a diagnosis not enough to start any treatment (not that you would necessarily need anything other than diet control anyway).

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 30/01/2015 22:11

So I've administered my first insulin injection. I feel weird. I now associate myself with being diabetic (even if it is temporary) because I have injected myself with insulin. Beforehand I just felt like I was making a mental note to eat healthily and I had to test my blood sugars to 'prove' that I was eating healthily. That's not the case at all though Sad I know it sounds weird but I've looked after so many patients who are diabetic and most of them were either seriously overweight, smokers or drinkers it a combination of the three. Accepting that GDM is not my 'fault' nor something that I can control easily is a bit hard! I'm not dealing with this very well at all!

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 30/01/2015 22:13

Fatty consider taking a puzzle book or something to occupy your hands (knitting!).

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ILiveOnABuildsite · 30/01/2015 22:26

Oh NoRoom that is an understandable feeling! I felt awful in my first pregnancy when I started on the insulin because I felt I had failed. But the reality, as I'm sure you know, is that sometimes there is nothing you can do to prevent your levels going up during pregnancy because of the pressures from the baby/placenta. Also, you won't have all the complications of 'regular' diabetic patients, a you know, because all being well you will return to normal after giving birth.

Hope you feel better tomorrow and that the insulin helps with your results in the expected way. At least the injunction itself it's too bad really, I was rally dreading it at first but soon got the hang of it and it wasn't really a big deal to administer.

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 30/01/2015 22:33

Thank you Iliveonabuildsite Blush I agree that the injection itself is not a big deal.

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fattymcfatfat · 30/01/2015 22:45

Oh yeah, may take my knitting in! Thanks good idea!

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 31/01/2015 06:54

Oh wow! I've woken up with energy! Now to test...

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 31/01/2015 07:14

5.3. An improvement Smile

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polarbearshuffle · 31/01/2015 07:14

I'm prepared for a long wait I know what my hospitals like! Grin Thank you for the replies. It'll be interesting to see what they do with me being so close to my due date. I did have the glucose test with the horrible lucozade and that came back fine. I was able to have it at my doctors so could go home for the two hours as long as I didn't do anything at home. However my midwife is the only one to allow that. Anyone under a different midwife gets sent to hospital for it.

Naturegirl82 · 31/01/2015 07:25

I'm fortunate my midwife comes to my house to do the test, which I'm thankful for. Had it done in hospital and drs before and it's annoying.

ILiveOnABuildsite · 31/01/2015 08:02

That's a great result NoRoom! Well done.

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 31/01/2015 09:33

Oops! Post-breakfast was 8.2 with lovely thirst and strange head accompanying it. I had my normal breakfast and it is normally around the 6 mark after that Hmm I've got until Monday afternoon to see how things go. Hopefully it's just a blip.

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ILiveOnABuildsite · 31/01/2015 12:36

Might be a blip or might just need a bit of adjusting, I'm sure your diabetes consultant will have good advice for you. How far along are you now? Do you think growing baby is just putting a lot more stain on pancreas? I had to adjust quite a bit in the first few days of taking insulin but I got in a good insulin routine after about 10 days. See how you get on after lunch and dinner.

Fingers cross for good results.

ILiveOnABuildsite · 31/01/2015 12:40

Both my results were within target today so I'm considering going out for lunch (we normally eat out on a Saturday) but not sure where we could actually go. I wonder if a rotisserie type chicken with veg and salad would be okay? I can't really see why not but a bit worried anyway. Will let you guys know how I get on. I don't really want the whole family to have to change their routine because of me. Aaaargh, so indecisive about it!

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 31/01/2015 12:45

I'm hoping to go out on Friday night for belated birthday celebrations. I was considering the local Mexican because I reckon that wouldn't be too bad - lots of chicken and veg type meals. I reckon you'd be fine with that Iliveonabuildsite. I'm 27 weeks, by the way.

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ILiveOnABuildsite · 31/01/2015 15:36

I had a gammon steak and a side salad and about 5-6 chips. I also had one and half of dh's profiteroles because I'm weak Sad, waiting until 16:45 to test to know what the damage was. I'm 28 weeks so I'm hoping because I'm not too far along it might be okay Confused.

Mexican restaurant should be okay too I think. Be weary of fajitas, I em ever getting a shocked really high result in my first pregnancy from some fajitas, but that might have been the glaze on the prawns rather than the fajitas themselves.

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 31/01/2015 15:47

No! Don't tell me that! I thought fajitas wouldn't be too bad if I had plenty of filling. Rice is my problem food even in small quantities.

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RumNoRaisins · 31/01/2015 16:25

What is everyone doing for snacks? Am feeling a bit down today as readings have been high because I had some bread with breakfast and rice with lunches. I am just sick of living of salads and I don't really like large amounts of meat anyway.

Once this baby is born I am going to have a massive meal of sushi with cake any ice cream after!

ILiveOnABuildsite · 31/01/2015 16:52

Just did my post lunch test and got a 6.2, really pleased with that, looks like the couple of profiteroles didn't too any harm after all! Really happy.

NoRoom the fajitas I had I think had a BBQ and honey glaze, it was really soon after my diagnosis and I was in a bit of denial about what I could and couldn't eat still. So just plain or spicy fajitas might actually be okay, particularly with mo filling and less tortilla.

Rum snacks are a nightmare. I feel your pain there, I never know what I can have in between meals if anything. I'm sorry I haven't got any great idea although I hear that sugar free jelly pots are a good sweet hit that doesn't affects results too much. Not tried it myself though but might be worth bearing in mind.

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NoRoomForALittleOne · 31/01/2015 17:01

Having a small amount of fruit is better than having no snack at all. Peanut butter on toast. Pitta or veg crudités with hummus. Oatcakes. Crackers with cheese.

Adding sime protein is the most helpful thing to do. My dietician suggested even having a small glass of full fat milk will help. But having a snack definitely helps the post meal blood sugars so even having a slightly 'not-so-good' snack seems to be better than not having one at all (for me anyway).

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RumNoRaisins · 31/01/2015 17:14

Thanks for the tips. Am consuming massive amounts of hummus and cheese at the moment, also drinking milk (as hot chocolate is out). I think I need to proactively plan my snacks and meals so I don't get caught out when hungry. Just realised I haven't seen a dietitian! I was meant to at my last appointment but I think they forgot as they got a bit panicky with the scheduling and I ended up being seen last.

TarkaTheOtter · 31/01/2015 19:25

Noroom I think tortillas might be too high GI. So I'd watch it on those unless they have the option of wholemeal ones. I hated eating out with gd, felt like such a waste of money because I had to pick things I didn't even really like.