Gestational diabetes

[Esindi]

I’m 26 weeks and just been told that I’ve got gestational diabetes. I’m having another glucose test tomorrow as my reading after 2 hours was the highest so I wanted another test as I was a bit sceptical. Has anyone any advice on it, meals or anything to stop the worrying?

This website is a good resource of recipes and advice:

www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk

There is also a linked Facebook group Gestational Diabetes UK mums which is great for posting questions and looking for advice.

Although it’s a shock to get the diagnosis, it is fine honestly. I was diagnosed at 26 weeks also, and managed to stay diet controlled, you just have to do a finger prick test 4 times a day, and limit your carbs and sugar. But protein and fat are fine, so a good excuse to eat all the cheese!
Because of the nature of the diet I didn’t gain any more weight after diagnosis, so actually ended up lighter after I had given birth than I was before getting pregnant. Which was a bonus for me as I was already overweight (and now working on getting rid of the rest as am more at risk now of getting T2 diabetes so need to get down to a more healthy BMI)

Good luck with it, but honestly it’s not as bad as you would think and you soon gets used to the diet.

Oh and baby wise, everything was fine there too. I had regular growth scans (always nice to see baby more times!) and was booked in to be induced at 40 weeks as they don’t usually want you to go overdue with GD.

At my last scan his growth has slowed down ever so slightly (just a tiny dip) so my induction was brought forward to 38+5 and he was 9lb when he was born. So a fair size which may or may not be down the the GD.
I genuinely didn’t think I would need to have the induction though as I was convinced that he would be early, as DS1 came naturally at 37+4. But this one was obviously quite comfy where he was!

Sorry 39+5 was my induction.

I had GD diagnosed at 30 weeks with child 1 and at 12 weeks this time around (currently 20+4).
It depends what your triggers are as to what diet you need to follow - mine is only really high at night which is apparently hormonal so I can eat more or less what I like (keeping portions at recommended size and not too much snacking although it can drop during the day and this time around I've had two hypos already). I take 1000mg Metformin with my evening meal due to the rise at night which keeps it below 5.3 for my fasting result. My GT test came back as normal but the fasting reading was too high which is why I was diagnosed. It will no doubt become hard to regulate during the day later on but fine for now.

Basically you need to hear back on your own case from the Diabetes team and go from there as you may have it totally differently to what I or anyone else does. Don't worry - it's easily managed and you get used to all the glucose monitoring! The good side is it stops mindless "eating for two", I'm still 11lb lighter than I was at conception so it's a silver lining! Good luck OP

Thank you for your replies. They have been a comfort and the link looks fabulous! I’m not in the UK, although I’m originally from there so I’ll look out for a Facebook group where I am as I’m sure there will be one.

I’ve been panicking about breakfast, lunches and baby since the diagnosis! It’s good to hear there are some positives and that both of you and bubs have been okay.

I’m going to keep my fingers crossed for the second test is negative, but it does explain the swelling I’ve had for weeks.

Thank you again!