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...

Still working my way through this thread but have first appointment with diabetes clinic tomorrow. Appreciate all the positive comments as am a bit at sea over the news I have gestational diabetes.

It's a shock at first but 6 weeks into diagnosis I've found the GD UK Mums Facebook page a huge support, plus a new website www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk

I'm lucky in that I've had a late diagnosis but my first few days of monitoring are crap, I haven't met the targets once. I'm slim (bmi was 20, only 24 at 36 weeks) and I eat healthily and quite low carb, thought diet control would be easy. I've been told 5 for fasting, 7 after meals. Mornings have been 5.1 and meals 9.6, 8.6 and 8.3, even now after breakfast it was 7.6 and I've had the smallest breakfast ever then been starving since having walked around 2 miles on school run and shops!

I used to low-carb diet so I know what to do, I'm 37 weeks luckily and bump measures small.

Does anyone have experience of similar? I think I'd have to starve/ no carb to go under but then I'm very anaemic and have morning sickness too so I'm carving carbs like crazy, it's been torture just eating sensibly

Misterpip if all your levels have been over, you really need to let your diabetic team know asap. It's likely that you will need medication, don't try to cut carbs too much or you'll end up with high ketones. I really can't recommend the Facebook group linked to above enough. It really got me through the last 12 weeks. Good luck

Hi everyone. I am 25 weeks and had the gtt at 24 weeks. Fasting reading was fine (can't remember what is was) but my 'after 2hrs result' was 7.8.and 7.7 was the upper limit for 'normal'. As I had a bad cold when I did the gtt the midwife wants me to redo it on Monday.

I was just wondering if there is anything I can do to help reduce my result by 0.1 for next time? I fell asleep for the two hour wait last time and am worried that this means I wasn't 'burning' any glucose but have no idea if this is a valid concern.

If I do have GD and the test picks it up then I will be fine with that (not over the moon but you know what I mean) as it is best for me and the baby that it is properly monitored/treated etc.

Thanks

Thank you ladies. It's been useful for me to read this. I took my first metformin tablet yesterday after beating myself up for the whole fact I need to take it anyway. I've split my post into sections as it's long!

STATS: I'm 23 weeks and I've lost over 6kg since being pregnant. My fasting readings are between 5.2 and 6.2 so apparently this is why I now need Metformin.

MENTAL STATE: I really REALLY don't want to be taking it. However my consultant tells me to test TWO hours after meals, and I see a lot of you are ONE hour so I wonder why this is different. It's demoralising seeing the readings, and I too have had situations where one day a meal is fine and the next it isn't. Last night when I was being stubborn about starting the Metformin I had a horrible thought and memory which made me take it. When I was younger I had a friend who had a 14lb baby stillborn because GB went undiagnosed. So I figured best to take the meds and be on the safe side. But I feel the pressure and it feels like people (mother etc) are judgemental and think it's because I have cake (which I don't). I really wanted to control this with diet and I've only ever had a few readings over 9.

However I've also found myself trying to be sneaky which I know is self sabotage e.g. if I eat later then I go to bed before I take the last result as I will sleep within 2 hours of eating. I also have found I've conveniently left the kit at home when I go out, so I therefore don't test.

I know this is daft and I'm struggling right now with the whole thing. HOWEVER the good news is this - I said I always wanted to have a baby in Inverness, not my local hospital, and now I am on metformin I am going to go there... so I guess I got what I wanted in the end.

Plus, sore calloused fingers sucks.

the post above mine raises a good point. Is it normal for blood sugar to raise during pregnancy anyway as I've been told the ideal is under 5.0 but that I am only to record what I ate if I go over 7.0 in readings. So how come there's no consistency?

Hi, I'm 29 weeks 4 days first time mommy to be and got told yesterday I have gd. App is in 2 days at hospital. Have been told nothing except that my sugars were really high. I also have long qt just to help make matters more confusing. Heart set on not having a c section if possible but if that's best for baby I'm all for for it. Will be going to Edinburgh royal on Tuesday to diabetic app. Anyone have any idea what will happen at this app? Midwife just told me this app was non negotiable I must go to it ( my work are gonna love this hard enough getting time off for apps)
Thanks for any help advice xx

Hiya I had the glucose test at 28 weeks pregnant due to a family member having diabetes. The fasting blood was normal range at 4.1 but the 2 hour result was high at 9.2.

im normal bmi and I exercise 3 -4 times a week.

I have been eating chocolate more than usual. Is this why?

im waiting for the hospital to call me. Which should be tomorrow.