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 Sweets that's very specific! BTW I disagree with the low fat milk/spread/cheese, for GD/blood sugar it's better to have full fat (my dietician agreed) but guess it depends if you also need to lose weight. I would guess shredded wheat is lower GI than weetabix since it's less crushed up and so is digested more slowly? Thanks also for the information about post birth checks and BF.

Hi all, just wondered if you could help. A friend has been diagnosed with gd. She and her dp have gone through hell to have this magic baby, lots of treatment and a few MCs. She's 32 weeks. Anyway, the gd isn't being well controlled, she's on insulin, and still her glucose is high. She's got a hospital appointment tomorrow, and is worried that they are going to keep her in. Induction booked for end march. What are her options? Is she likely to be offered a cs earlier?

I think it is unlikely they will keep her in at 32 weeks. I expect they will just increase her insulin dose. Once you're on insulin you can just keep increasing it. There will always be a dose that will get her sugars down - she just needs to find it.
I doubt they will want to induce/csection before 38 weeks unless there are other issues or the baby has reduced movements/is in distress. They'll want to ensure babies lungs are fully developed.

Thank you.

And your friend isn't likely to be offered a c section on the basis of GDM alone, it would be an induction of labour unless they thought that baby was in too much distress or there is another reason unrelated to the GDM.

Thanks again. I think she's just panicking as it's been such a hard slog to get to this point

I think her reaction is perfectly understandable even without the journey she's had up until this point. It is quite an emotional roller coaster being diagnosed with GDM and it is hard to accept the diagnosis.

Thanks for the thread....it is proving useful as I have so much to learn.

I definitely am in denial as I do know that I had blood sugar issues in my 20s but they could never diagnose anything but it was sorted when I switched to a lower GI diet. I then discovered at a scan during a mc in my 30s that I had cystic ovaries and that PCOS probably explained my bad skin and irregular periods although the doctor could never make that link. I then did a very low GI diet initially but then discovered as long as I was reasonably good most of the time, my periods stayed regularly and my skin stayed good. However, I do still feel I would have passed my GTT if I hadn't been unwell just through my normal diet and my dd was absolutely fine after the birth even though it was never diagnosed with her. I do however know that my body would not do well with a bag of haribo with a sugary drink!

minipie enjoy your indian. I think indian is quite good gi wise as long as you stay away from the naan bread but something dry would be a good choice or something like a dansak with lentil in it as I think they lower your blood sugar. When I was trying to get tested for PCOS they did measure my fasting blood glucose and HbA1c level (which looks at long term blood glucose) but that all came back normal. I do have a list of all the pcos tests I got done but even though at that point I had bad skin, irregular periods and cystic ovaries they all came back normal and I don't think they really believed I had a problem which was frustrating when I wanted to get referred to a fertility clinic. I can send the list to you if you would like?

sweets measuring food sounds really tough.

I did also call the diabetic nurse and she confirmed it did not matter if my levels went below target as long as they were above 4.0 and was not worried about my high levels if ill/not moving. She advised that if I am unwell then I should be strict about what I eat. It does sound tough as that is the time when I crave really sweet things but worth it I guess if I can keep my blood sugar levels under control. I did also have to argue with the hospital to get a growth scan earlier as they had decided because my bump was the right size and I was only just over the limit I did not have to see the doctor urgently or have a growth scan. The growth scan was the one perk of this diagnosis! They have now agreed to give me a growth scan so I can see the little guy . Did anyone else have trouble getting a growth scan? I sort of thought it was one of the 1st things they did with a GD diagnosis.

Will probably have to think about what to eat/during birth then if they want to monitor my blood sugar. Last time I didn't really eat but had sugary drinks and haribos not sure that is the best idea if they are monitoring my blood glucose. Any ideas or recommendations? Was also thinking I did not want an epidural as I wanted to leave straight after delivery, if I had to stay anyway, I may as well go for that pain relief!

LIG assuming you do have GD...
You may not be "allowed" to eat during labour. For both of mine (including my first where I didn't need insulin during pregnancy) I had insulin and glucose drips and tested my sugars on an hourly basis. The insulin was on a slide so they could adjust the level depending on my readings. Might be different if you are diet controlled though.
I had growth scans with each consultant's appt, so monthly.

That sort of makes life easier tarka as I didn't really want to eat during my last labour but knew my energy was getting low from the physical exhaustion and I hadn't eaten for several hours so it was trying to find what I could stomach and something like a sandwich was not really on the top of my list. (I found the sandwich I brought for lunch before I went into labour in my hospital bag when emptying it a few days later!) So a drip does sound like an easier option that worrying about what to eat.

I was certain my diagnosis was wrong because of stress I was going through at the time affecting my sugar readings. The nurse kindly, but firmly, pointed out that while that might have triggered it, I would not have got the readings without diabetes. Her point being that someone else would not have got the high reading, even with the stress.

got a 7.1 an hour after Indian meal (lamb chops + chickpeas/dal + little bit of paratha) ... so not toooo bad, though worse than most of my post meal readings.

LIG I have a scan at 36 weeks but nothing before that, not monthly like most GD patients seem to get. I will be asking about having a 32 week scan at my appointment on tues, but doubt they will give me one since I'll be 33+3 by then and my 36 week scan is actually at 35+3 so would only be 2 weeks later max. However if they say anything about putting me on meds I will certainly expect a scan first.

tarka I didn't know that about glucose/insulin drips during the birth. There's another nail in the coffin of my hoped-for natural birth in the MLU I will ask about that on tuesday too.

gin hope your friend is ok. I believe CS is only offered if the baby looks huge on the late (36wk) growth scans? Or if some other issue arises ie foetal distress. GD can be linked to pre eclampsia so I guess if that develops it's earlier CS territory - but I'd have thought that's unlikely since she's been diagnosed and is being treated.

The dietician suggested to me that breaking my foot may have been the extra strain on my body that tipped it over the edge. Regardless, I found it much easier to accept the diagnosis when I needed insulin. It does still seem weird that my post meal levels are all fine but then I eat fairly healthily most of the time anyway. I've only managed to go over my post meal target once due to what I ate (as opposed to the two post breakfast ones when my fasting levels were so high that I didn't stand a chance). As far as I'm concerned, my body is simply not making enough insulin at nighttime for some reason but one little jab a day sorts it out.

Oh, I feel rough today. No idea why. I hope that I'm not coming down with something. I'd quite like to go and hibernate. I keep on wondering what happens if I start with hyperemesis again. Surely that's not a good combination with insulin?

How do you cope with the test when you have heartburn or acid reflux? I'm suffering terribly and the thought of fasting from 10pm until 12pm the next day fills me with dread. I'm worried I'll be sick with the acid build up.

Hi all, haven't been back in a while. Been getting intermittent high post meal levels when I've fallen off the wagon (sushi was my downfall ) so need a boot up the rear to be more disciplined. Thanks for the advice morethanpotatoprints. I have familial risk factors for T2DM anyway so I know that if I carry on my love affair with sugar and baked goods it will all end in tears even after the pregnancy.

Sorry you are feeling rough NoRoom. How far along are you?

I'm 29+2 today. It turns out that I was dropping my blood sugar. I think a combination of taking insulin a bit late and forgetting a mid-morning snack meant that the insulin was still working but on not enough food! I totally didn't realise what was happening until I couldn't get up the stairs and was a fetching combination of nauseous, shivery and very irritable. Ah well. You live and learn...

Hypos are horrible, noroom.
Good excuse for a sweet treat though. Can't believe I wasted the early ones on glucose tabs and not jelly babies.

Hopefully it doesn't happen again and at least it's not hyperemesis!

I hope it doesn't happen again! It seems such a weird thing that my fasting levels are rubbish without insulin so I have to take it. But I can eat a fair amount of (healthy) carbs during the day and be fine after meals. The dietician was very strict with me that I need to eat enough carbs though because I'm so slim. I thought that I was supposed to put on a bit of weight myself when I started insulin but I don't seem to yet. If anything, I'm slimmer all over (apart from my bump) compared to pre-pregnancy.

Had a big pre Valentine's Day steak tonight with homemade cauliflower cheese which was incredibly satisfying despite no chips! I really noticed however the disparity - for those of us who took a while to come to terms with the diagnosis - when I tested my Oh 'for fun' and despite the fact he had pudding as well as chips, his reading was 5.1 to my 7.0

Went to have growth scan (I get them every 2 weeks and I'm 34 weeks) this morning and meet diabetic nurse and consultant. Both reassuring, baby healthy size and weight but minipie got exact same feedback in terms of no MLU, constant monitoring etc. A shame but trying to look on bright side! At least an epidural is close at hand if necessary!

Can I ask about the additional care / scans?

So at 32 weeks I got a borderline diagnosis and have been monitoring my blood for 3 weeks. A few readings over target slightly, but mostly fine.

Other than one 15min appointment with a nurse to show me how to test my blood and a Friday morning phone in to tell them the readings, there has been no other chat about it? In my area you are scanned at 12 and 20 weeks and nothing extra has been mentioned or planned. I'm not due to see my midwife until 37 weeks.

I've repeatedly asked about the growth of the baby, complications and options for labour but they don't seem worried? Neither are they very forthcoming with information.

I'm worried that I won't be able to maintain diet controlled GD in the coming weeks and then things might spiral? Should I be making more of a fuss to see the consultant or diabetes midwife?

No room - that sounds scary. If you are going to eat high sugar then you may as well enjoy it!

Tranquil - I don't know much about reflux but could you eat something that doesn't impact your reflex so something alkaline maybe high on fat but not sugar? Would something like cheese help neutralise the acid and not impact your sugar levels.Â

Got another question. How does alcohol impact your blood glucose? Been enjoying the odd small glass of red wine since pregnant and will be having a nice meal tomorrow and a glass of wine would be lovely. (Not had one for a few weeks with being so ill but now i am better i would really like one.) How would that impact my blood glucose?Â

Eliizardo - I do need to test dh too as a comparison but he isn't keen. I do find that dessert doesn't necessarily raise my levels and some days I have had dessert and got readings in the 5s and had higher readings on days when not having dessert. I have however tried to stick to creamy fatty desserts or ones based around dark chocolate rather than sugary fruity ones. (I love Eton mess but I imagine that wouldn't be a good idea.) I am still holding out hope for some compromise on birth plan but if I have to stay I think an epidural may become my pain relief of choice. (Last birth I ended up with an epidural and theatre trip post birth for a retained placenta and wished I had had it during birth! )

Been trying to find out what normal readings are post meal for pregnant women. Does anyone know? I guess they would be higher than the normal range but not sure how close they are to the gd targets? Maybe I should also start testing pregnant friends who have passed their gtt!

Hmm fruity I thought my monitoring was at the low end and I'm having a lot more than that. I had an appointment with dietician last week (about 2 weeks post diagnosis) then I've got an appt with GD midwife next week (33 weeks, about 4 weeks post diagnosis) to see how diet control is getting on, then I have a growth scan at 36 weeks.

Most GD women seem to have more scans than this. I'd have thought one at 36 weeks would be the minimum to see if your baby is looking huge. I would call the diabetes midwife and ask about a scan...

fruity - I had to push for a growth scan and it will be over 4 weeks from failed gtt to seeing a doctor. The diabetic nurse did call after a week of testing and she said she would get the doctor appointment and growth scan if there were blood problems. eventually my midwife sorted out a growth scan as the diabetic clinic said I didn't need one as I was borderline and measuring ok for dates.

After being told how serious it could be if not managed I am very surprised that I don't get to see anyone who can do anything till 34 weeks.