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...

Thanks NoRoom. I will see what happens tomorrow then if still getting a high morning result I will try the bedtime snack. Come to think of it I do usually have something after testing (eg tea and a bit of dark choc or fruit) and didn't last night so maybe that was the issue this morning. Really really want to keep diet controlled as I am hoping to get to 40 weeks.

My post meal readings have generally been ok, only high or high ish ones have been when I've eaten something silly (granola, duh) or have had a big gap before eating so eg when I've had a late lunch and no morning snack. So think I have the post meal ones fairly under control... fingers crossed.

Interesting that we have different target levels, I'm a bit about that! I am supposed to ring if I get 3 high readings in 7 days so again that seems a lot stricter than your rules. I might ask about that!

Bedtime snack used to work for me. Think there's some sort of rebound effect if your sugars get too low in the night.

I just told the midwife in the delivery suite that I wanted a side room. I don't think they have that many but I was able to get one each time. I think they like to put women who have had c-sections in the wards as it's easier to check on them and my hospital had a high csection rate (main hospital setting in an area with lots of mlus). Maybe that's why there was always one free.

Thanks Tarka, will give it a go.

I've been looking up target levels at 5.1 does seem on the low side. Hopefully they will take that into account.

Another question sorry! When is everyone having scans? I have one at 36 weeks but nothing before. I keep reading about scans at 28 and 32 weeks as well as 36?

I've had a scan at 28 weeks and will have another at 32 and 36 weeks. Serial scan are more accurate as you can see the curve of growth.

Hmmmm too late for 28 weeks but wonder if I should press for a 32 week one. Am 32 weeks this weekend, seeing dietician (part of diabetes team) next Tues so might ask her.

I was scanned monthly.

Hi all. Can I join? Have just read this thread and already got some good tips especially about importance of snacks. I hadnt realised that and although I do usually have snacks it makes me think about timing even more.

I am in metformin but still feel like levels are a bit erratic. It's hard to adjust your entire eating patterns with no warning or preparation. While still living a normal life. Mistakes for me are inevitably when i land up changing my planned meal schedule etc.

I am to be induced at 39 weeks currently. All growth scans show baby is totally on track with abdominal readings on the 50 percintile throughout so I am not worried about growth.

It's stressful though. And I am terrified of type 2 diabetes after. My mum died recently as a result of diabetes complications. My dad is even more stressed than me.

Hi Working, so sorry to hear about your mum. I can see that adds an extra layer of worry for you too.

Yes I am finding having a snack 1-2 hours before the main meal really helps.

I've also learned the importance of washing my hands before testing! I thought my hands were clean enough but in the past few days I've tried washing hands and then re testing and it seems to bring the result down by 0.4 or 0.5, esp my fasting reading. Wish I'd been more careful about that before.

Yes, it is very important to wash your hands first. Also, if you have someone do your blood sugar reading for you in hospital, make sure that they don't use alcohol gel to 'clean' your finger first. For a start, it will hurt and secondly it will give a falsely high reading. The other thing to not do is squeeze lots to get the blood out as this can affect the result by encouraging more plasma and interstitial fluid to mix with the blood. It's not normally such a problem for young women, but I can remember having to test blood sugars on old men who had skin like a rhino's! Try not squeezing then!

Thanks both. Blimey, I never wash my hands first as I generally land up doing it in the car or at my desk. Will remember that, especially when I get high readings!

Ooh I didn't know that about squeezing - I always have a squeeze as am impatient and don't bleed easily (poor circulation probably!). right, will not do that then. I had noticed the blood looked quite "thin" actually.

Yes not cleaning hands can make a massive difference - especially if you've been eating. Another tip the midwife showed me after ds was hypoglycemic and had to be tested as a baby was to prick, let some blood come up, wipe with a clean tissue then let some more up, then test. Not sure why but she said it was more accurate.
Being well hydrated makes a massive difference with getting enough blood. I think it gets easier the more pregnant you are as well because your blood volume increases or something (very scientific me ).

Thanks NoRoom for starting this thread! I'm 40 weeks today, and I've had GDM for about a 3 weeks now. It's getting harder all the time to find new things to eat. Unfortunately I love carbs and sweets, although I'm generally a healthy eater - therefore this has been quite tough and I can't wait for baby to be here.. for many reasons of course but the GDM being one of them!

A few things that have worked for me:

• Carrying around nuts and oat biscuits (Nairns, I've learned through prick tests seem to be okay for me) in my bag when I'm out to make sure I have something to snack on and avoid the sugar lows,
• Substituting blueberries & double cream for pudding after Sunday roast dinner,
• Tuna fish on one piece of whole wheat toast is good for lunch,
• I've taken to making an easy cream of broccoli soup (www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/creamofbroccolisoup_88262), carrot and coriander soup (see Delia's website) and now I've adapted these recipes to make a cream of leek soup.
• Soda water + lime + ice to replace juices and other sweet (soda) drinks.

• I had to give up porridge and golden syrup as the carb was spiking my sugars too high!
• I've also had to take smaller meals or portions of sugars (from fruit) and carbs.

I've not been doing prick tests anymore and this GDM diet is getting tougher to stick to but hopefully it will payoff and baby will be soon!

Hello all, can I join please? So glad to have found this thread! I am 31+5 and only found out I have GD 10 days ago. I've been testing my bloods now for 4 days and so far so good but I do feel a bit like I'm just guessing and hoping for the best most of the time!

So far, other than telling me that I can forget a water birth on the MLU, and that I won't be allowed to go over 40w I haven't really been told anything about what to expect of the birth or what tests they will do on baby etc. This is my first baby so anxious enough without the GD!

On snacks, so far I have done well with houmous and carrot sticks or rye crackers, apple and cheese, sugar free jelly and muller rice/yoghurts. But, it's early days for me!

Welcome to everyone joining the thread.

I believe that it naturally gets harder to control sugar levels as the third trimester progresses because of the hormones increasing that affect blood sugar control. Particularly at 32ish weeks onwards, there is a significant increase in progesterone which has an effect on blood sugar control. Apparently there are five different hormones that affect blood sugar control and the one that has the greatest affect is progesterone. So that's why it's common to start off GDM being diet controlled but later need meds to control it. It's not your fault! It's the pesky hormones.

Evening all. Can I join. I don't really fit in anywhere .
I'm 22+4 with my dd2. I'm a type 1 diabetic . I just thought you could all help me motivated and vice versa.
I was diagnosed with t1 diabetes 5 years ago.
I had my dd1 in January 2013 at 36wks by cs weighing in at a healthy 7lb 11oz. She spent 5 days in NICU due to hyperglycaemia , which was expected but otherwise a healthy mummy and baby.
My bs become so out if control when pg I really struggle to stay focused.
Any questions please ask. I am no means an expert in diabetes , but I'm willing to share my experiences .
All the best x

Of course you can join and share your expertise Bubba!

Argh! I've had an annoying few days of randomly high fasting bloods but then persistently low post-meal sugars. What's going on?!

Welcome bubba!

NoRoom no idea sorry... but I've found a bedtime snack of say cheese & two oatcakes helps my morning readings (as you mentioned to me!). I've read you want to eat the bedtime snack about 9-10 hours before your morning reading.

Hi I'm being tested for GTT next week I'll be 38+5 when I have the test, can anyone tell me what's likely to happen if I have got it at this late stage? My bump isn't big in fact I only measured 35wk today instead of 37 with the tape measure a scan showed he weighs around 7lb so he's not big.

Do you mind me asking why you are being tested at this stage? I thought that the GTT wasn't reliable after 36ish weeks but I can't remember where I heard that...

Anyway, diagnosis will probably lead to some proposed changes in birth plan eg induction by 40 weeks, monitoring of blood glucose during labour, continuous foetal heartbeat monitoring. You may have time to start monitoring your own bloods at home but it seems unlikely. The point of finding out will be to do with how your baby is monitored for at least 24 hours after the birth in case he/she gets low blood sugar or any other complications from having untreated GDM. It's not likely to be a big problem but occasionally they need to go to the neonatal unit for a short while.

I had a booking in bmi of 30 even though I've lost a lot of weight during the pregnancy I'm still over a stone lighter than when conceived, they offered me the test ar 28 wks which I decided against as I had lost so much weight and had had no trace of glucose in my water. I've had glucose show up in my last 2 samples in the last couple of days.

It's very common for pregnant women without diabetes to get glucose in their urine and conversely for pregnant women who are diabetic to not have glucose in their urine. It's not a particularly reliable indicator. It is worth having the test though because there are privations for the baby if you do have GDM.

Sorry implications not privations!

I wish they would explain that whilst weight increases your risk of gdm, it is very possible to have gdm AND have a healthy bmi. I honestly can't understand why anyone correctly informed would refuse a non-invasive test that can detect (and allow you to prevent) an increased risk of stillbirth and neonatal death.

It makes me so cross how badly information about GD is communicated by healthcare professionals. And, it's not helped by all the "I've eaten a lot of haribo in the first trimester - have I given myself GD?" on here. Lots of countries routinely screen ALL pregnant women for GD because the consequences are serious and easily preventable.

Sorry, rant over.

YY noroom and tarka I've always had a normal BMI, not put on that much weight in pg - and I have GD.

I was screened (ie had the GTT) because I have PCOS - but many websites and trusts don't recognise this as a risk factor so I wouldn't have got screened. Not had glucose in urine I believe.

I have noticed I eat a LOT more sweet stuff in pregnancy (esp this one) but I think that may be caused by the GD rather than the other way round iyswim.