Is gestational diabetes common?

[Cobbsgirl92]

Hi all,

Just a query really. I’m interested to know if gestational diabetes is common In first/any pregnancies or if it quite literally down to individuals and diet?

I’m now 14+ 5 and finally starting to eat normally again after feeling constantly sick etc and Eating anything that would stay down.
I was just eating a slice of cake as a snack and started worrying that I’m doing wrong now for my baby and need to cut out sugar etc.
I will admit that during the first twelve weeks I ate anything I fancied which changed so fast I couldn’t keep up and now I think of it the things I stomached were quite unhealthy in the end (kitkats, crisps etc)

So really I’m wondering now how much affect that could have or really if I’m worrying to early as now I’m eating a lot more healthily again but also enjoying a cake or a kitkat if I fancy one?

Any advice is appreciated!
Thank you

www.nhs.uk/conditions/gestational-diabetes/

That explains it well. Nhs is always my first port of call for questions about pregnancy!

Thank you, I did have a look at the NHS website I just wanted to hear from anyone else experiencing the same worries or fears.

I think the NHS website is very helpful for all questions pregnancy related

It's more to do with genetics/hormones than diet - the risk factors are listed on the NHS website. You can't cause it by eating the odd KitKat, but if you develop it, eating sensibly will help control it.

I thought I'd end up with it, I was classed as high risk due to PCOS and I was already on metformin to conceive. I was told it was quite a high does too (3X500mg daily). My BMI was 29 at my booking appointment too which is getting on the high side for NHS concern. I was taken off the metformin at 12 weeks so they could do the test for GD and so far I'm 34+6 and baby is growing well - slightly big at 20 weeks (86th) but has come down to 72nd by their 30 weeks scan (scanned due to placenta placement).

I wouldn't say it's uncommon, but there doesn't seem to be a real criteria for it, you could be a size 8 or a size 18, but most people who do end up with it can control it with diet/minimal intervention.

It is not particularly common, I have read figures all around the 4-8%. The NHS page gives the main risk factors a healthy or even semi healthy diet including cake, snacks and chocolate isn't going to change the risk factors and others have said it can occur with healthy diet and none of the risk factors. Pregnancy can do weird things to the body.
Do you have a midwife appointment booked? They might be able to put your mind at ease knowing your own situation better than we can. I keep a page of my diary for midwife questions that come up between appointments that I might not remember on the day otherwise.

I wouldn't say it's uncommon, but there doesn't seem to be a real criteria for it, you could be a size 8 or a size 18, but most people who do end up with it can control it with diet/minimal intervention.

I think this is pretty accurate. I had it and ticked none of the 'criteria' yet know people who matched almost all of them and didn't have it.

Unfortunately its often one of those things that just happens, no one is to blame. Most people do control it with diet but if you do get it and it can't be controlled with diet please remember that's not you fault either.

I was sure I'd have it, I had an elevated BMI and I ate rubbish the first trimester (and half of the second) as I was so sick.
I didn't - apparently my results were really good. DD was predicted to be 10 pounds and I had lots of growth scans at the end where the sonographer was convinced I must have GD because DD had such a big tummy and she could see the fat pads

DD was a respectable 8.5 pounds and had a very average sized tummy really. She is a very chunky baby and feeds very well (almost seven months) but nothing out of the ordinary (although who knows now because she can't be weighed!)

I don’t think you can predict who will get it and diet during pregnancy Doesn’t causes it.

I tick all the boxes for being a risk (have had the test in all my pregnancies) never had it but 3 of my wonderfully healthy slim great diet friends have 🤷🏻‍♀️ Seems to be no rhyme it reason to it

I had it, I was healthy weight, no risk factors at all and had to be controlled with drugs as while I could have some control with diet , my morning readings were always very high. I wasn’t diagnosed until very late because I had no risk factors. Talking to people I have met several people exactly the same.
I was well looked after though and it went away as soon as I had the baby.

I don't think diet causes it. I've a much sweeter tooth than my friend and was overweight when I conceived the second time while she is very fit and healthy and ticks none of the risk factors. She had it, I didn't. So if you do get it then don't blame yourself!

I was checked and checked and checked again. High BMI and big baby. I didn't have it. I ate reasonably well but I was not adverse to cake.

My first child was born and weighed in the 97th percentile so I got tested for it this time and I have it, my readings are mostly low and I'm diet controlled, albeit I haven't really changed my diet, the hospital are happy with my readings and this baby is looking average sized. No rhyme nor reason for having it it appears.