Hand hold? Possible gestational diabetes from GCT results

[Spooples]

Hi ladies, I had a GCT (non fasting) test exactly a week ago at 29+3. I've just got home to find a letter from the hospital saying my blood glucose levels were elevated (9.1!) and they want me to come back for the fasting GTT test next week.

I feel so upset. I'm pretty certain it's going to come back positive. I've been exhausted, constantly thirsty, and peeing loads but put it down to just pregnancy. And because of the fatigue, I've been eating loads of junk like biscuits and now am convinced I've harmed my baby 😭

I'm also going to be well over 31 weeks by the time I get the results and am worried the damage will already be done. I feel sick.

Has anyone else had a high GCT and then had the fasting GTT come back normal? Alternatively, if you've been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, did it cause any problems for you and how did you manage it?

Sorry for the waffly post. I just feel so upset and angry with myself

I had Gestational diabetes in my first pregnancy, diagnosis at 28 weeks from fasting gtt test. I had more growth scans, clinic attendance fortnightly with a consultant. if you have it you will get a monitor and have to take readings on waking and an hour after every meal to see how high sugars are. My trust aim for 6mmol on fasting and 7. After meals. I managed mine with diet and exercise and refused metformin medication as I never had a high reading and deemed it unnecessary. The scans are to check growth as it's common for baby to get big if not managed and possibly cause complications in labour. I was pressured for induction at 37-38weeks but delivered dc1 at 36 without complications and weighing 5lb2oz. It was a stressful pregnancy though I also had a late diagnosis when pregnant with dc3, due to nhs guidelines changing. I remember being upset when I found out, like I was to blame. Your not though, just your body reacting to pregnancy in its own way. If you have it, try not to worry, there are loads of pages with dietary advice, etc to help and follow, fb groups etc. Try not to be upset or angry, I do remember feeling similar.

I think the reason I feel so upset is because I feel like I must have done something to cause it. I ate a lot of junk over Christmas and recently can't stop eating because I'm so tired all the time and need quick energy. I have none of the risk factors (I'm under 30, a healthy weight, Caucasian, have no family history of diabetes etc) so feel like it must be my diet. I keep blaming myself and wouldn't forgive myself if it has an affect on the baby.

I was diagnosed with GD at 28 weeks (now 35 + 4). I went through the blaming myself stage too, but GD is a hormonal disorder, please try not to beat yourself up over it.

What you may find is that any NHS advice you receive can be quite outdated and better for Type 2 treatment than Gestational! If recommend joining a Facebook group called Gestational Diabetes Mums UK, and having a read through their website too, the advice, support, and recipes there has allowed me to remain diet controlled throughout, whereas if I'd followed my clinic's advice I would have been medicated without a doubt!

You didnt cause this.

I had GD - diagnosed about 33 weeks. I was induced because baby was huge (and in highlight it was because of GD because he's been a skinny one since about 3 months old) but otherwise no problems at all.

Don't worry. GDM is caused by hormones from the placenta causing insulin resistance. It's not something you've done, though some people are at higher risk. Like you, I have no risk factors so was surprised to be diagnosed at 28 weeks. This is my third pregnancy and I didn't have it in the first 2. I tried to control with diet but couldn't, as ANY form of carbs (even small portions of brown rice) sent my sugars rocketing, so I ended up on 2 kinds of insulin.

My GDM is well controlled now and I'm so glad it was spotted. Baby is normal size and a problem I had with excess amniotic fluid (related to the GDM) has disappeared since I got blood sugar under control.

It's not something to worry about and it's unlikely to have harmed your baby at this stage. I have a very sweet tooth and before diagnosis my blood sugar must have been ridiculous as I was eating a lot of sweet things.

I did. Controlled with diet. I was very upset about it at the time but in retrospect I overreacted. It was just one of those things. I was fine and baby was fine.

I had gestational diabetes (along with hyperemesis) and both obviously are to do with hormones : mine go out of whack when I'm pregnant. I couldn't eat (I weighed 2 stone less full term than when I got pregnant). I either threw up food or kept it down and crashed out asleep.

I'm telling you this because the treatment for the gd made me feel so much better that I was simply grateful for being treated. I had 4 injections a day and they were, to me, like a magic potion. I was induced at 38 weeks with 7lb 1oz baby who was fine

Don't waste time blaming yourself is my message. Honestly. You will be given advice on diet and if they think you can control it then they won't prescribe injections but for me, they were magic potion wonderful.

It's nothing to do with your risk factors, or what you've eaten. It's purely caused by hormones produced by your placenta, in other words you're just unlucky.

I had it with both of mine - 2nd baby was bigger but they were both fine. Just take the treatment as your doctor recommends - it's nothing terrible.

I have GD and was diagnosed at 16 weeks, it's my first baby and I was only 8 stone so definitely nothing I did wrong. It's just hormones unfortunately!

Join Gestational Diabetes Mums UK on Facebook. I've not missed out on anything other than cereal! You soon get used to it.

Good luck

i was diagnosed with GD last week and I can't tell you how stressful it has already become. i had my first session with the diabetes midwife last week and only had 1 pending preganacy appointment, I left the session with a 3 further appointments booked! don't get me wrong I'm happy that I'll have a further 3 more scans so get to see baby more and I'm glad it's been diagnosed now (I'm 25+6 today) but it's causing me to second guess my whole diet.

The group session was actually brilliant. we were given so much information to help us and I've been following it to the T to ensure I'm doing everything I can to avoid any issues. I'm Indian and my family have a history of diabetes so I kind of expected it but I didn't realise just how careful i need to be. i have to do the prick test 4 times a day to measure my sugar and I swear to god I am eating as healthily as physically possible without starving myself but may sugar level is always over 'the norm'

I was on metformin for 3 months prior to getting pregnant. this wasn't for diabetes but to help me conceive so maybe I will be put back on it to help my sugar. i have to have a weekly appointment with the diabetes midwife and tbh she's actually brilliant so I'm sure I'll be okay.

All I can say is don't worry about it and just know there is so much help available from your midwife to help you manage it. xxx