All about gestational diabetes

[Rubberyduck]

Can anyone fill me in? I am going for a GTT test but really don't know what the implications are here.

What happens if it is positive? How do you manage it? I have an almost 2yo and am generally exhausted all day every day- do things generally improve with adjustments to diet? Is work still feasible? Lots of threads I have googled suggest you are signed off? What about labour? Does it make a difference to that?

Hmm the questions should have been separated. Stupid phone

I had it with my 2nd pregnancy.
It was diet controlled and had to do blood sugar tests 3 times a day with a kit from the hospital and then record the number in my notes. Had to go to hospital every 2 weeks to see the diabetes nurse.
Didn’t affect work or life, still carried on working full time and managed fine with my then 5 year old.
I did go into labour a month early but had my first early so I don’t think the diabetes had anything to do with that. Labour much easier as well.
We had to stay in 24hrs after birth to monitor mine and DD’s blood sugars, both fine so discharged pretty quick!
I can only speak from the experience of being diet controlled but it was fairly easy to manage with a few changes to my diet.

It's fine. I was diagnosed at 28 weeks. I test 4 times a day. Before breakfast then an hour after each meal. Basically you need to eat a high protein low carb diet. If you add in some exercise you can eat more nice stuff. As long as you burn the sugars off.

There is also a gestational diabetes recipe book from amazon which is brilliant.

Can I ask what triggered the gtt test? As I don't think it's what everyone has is it? I'm 27 weeks see midwife in a week for 28 week appointment just wondered if I will be sent for test? Can't see any reason I would be had slow weight gain etc

I have it,im 33wks.i test myself 6x a day before a meal and 2hrs after a meal. Mine is under control by cutting out sugar but white pasta and bread does make my sugar go high. I try and do a walk after meals to lower it,midwife said ive done well keeping mine down.
i was upset when i found out i had it,i havent put on much weight either so i know my eating wasnt bad to start with.

I'm 33 weeks and I also have it. Fasting levels were an issue not resolved by 4x metformin per day and now on insulin injections at bed time. Seems to be more under control now unless I do something silly like have a massive Chinese takeaway. Will know more about possible induction at 36 week growth scan.

I’ve just had it, completely diet controlled. I followed the diet religiously and tested 4 times a day. I also had regular scans and clinic appointments.

My baby was average sized at 6lb 10, straightforward 6 hour labour. She was monitored for blood sugar in hospital for 24hrs then discharged, has no issues.

It was mildly irritating at most tbh, don’t worry about it.

@ameliathomas84
There are various risk factors, I was tested as have a parent with type 2 which makes it much more likely.

People of South Asian origin are prone, as are people with a high BMI.

Your MW will asses risk to determine if you need a test.

I have a high bmi and my nan has type 2 diabetes so I was tested because of these things.

If your bmi is normal and you have no other risk factors you wont be tested. Doesnt mean you dont have it. It will just probably be picked up in other ways. It generally leads to increased sized babies.

OK thanks. I wonder why so many people end up signed off work.
I don't fancy all the testing mind, but it's a small price to pay

Signed off work for GD? @Rubberyduck I’ve never heard if that at all? There’s absolutely no reason why that’d be necessary.
You don’t feel ill with GD

Sorry posted too soon, there are no symptoms for the mother.
It does restrict where you can give birth, no home births or midwife led unit usually as you’d be consultant led.
If you need metformin or insulin then more monitoring is needed and usually induced early.
I was diet controlled and growth scans were normal so I was induced at EDD, but I was also 41. I could have gone over if wasn’t also older.
I had a fast labour with gas and air though.