Gestational Diabetes??

[emily97Xx]

I went for my GTT and a FBC on 8/12/20 and I was told I would be informed by phone call if I had GD later on in the week but never heard anything. Although Christmas Eve I received a letter from the hospital to say my platelets were slightly raised and I would need to go back to get them retested.

While I was there today I asked the phlebotomist out of curiosity what my blood sugars were as id not heard anything and my HbA1c was in normal range but my fasting blood sugars were 5.3. After Googling it says these levels are normal but I just received a phone call from the phlebotomist asking me to go back in next Tuesday to get my fasting blood sugars tested again.

Any one else been in a similar situation? Kind of worrying now that I’m going to be Diagnosed with GD. I’m confused why the hospital never got in touch with me if these levels were concerning enough for me to get tested again. And If they’re the same next week what will happen? TIA

A fasting level of under 5.6 is considered normal so I'm not sure why they're getting you in again.

The only thing that I can think of is that they put a note on your record saying you were concerned about your level because you asked but I'm pretty sure that wouldn't warrant another test!

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along to tell you if it could be related to your platelets.

How many weeks along are you? Try not to worry! In the unlikely event that you do have GD, it's normally very easily managed with diet and exercise. I was diagnosed at 9w and the most annoying thing for me was not being able to indulge in my pregnancy chocolate cravings and sore fingers from all that pricking!

I’m 33 weeks! That’s why I’m really confused to why if they are concerned why did it take me to ask them what my levels were. Just hoping when I go back on Tuesday someone gives me a bit more info because I feel in the dark at the moment :(

I had the same thing at 33 weeks- are you measuring big?

I was (am) measuring huge for gestation dates / scan dates. So they brought me in for loads of GD tests because it's apparently easy for GD to 'hide' at the end of pregnancy.

I don't have GD was the conclusion, I'm just birthing a mammoth.

I wouldn't worry too much if I was you - maybe cut down on sugar and junk carbs if you overload on them to make yourself feel better until your test results come through.

@AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings I am measuring big but that’s due to me being plus size before I got pregnant. I have my first growth scan on Wednesday so I’m hoping she’s a normal size at my last scan she was measuring 2 days smaller.

Yeah I’m going to cut down on sugar over the next few days see what happens 🤞🏻

I've found with GD that a lot of midwives judge 'by eye' and use that to diagnose you. They tend to be prejudiced against overweight and black women (who certainly have higher risk factors, but anyone can get it), but refuse to believe that slimmer women might have it. Older mothers too are most at risk.

If your BMI was slightly high before pregnancy maybe this is their reasoning?

Regardless, all your tests are coming up negative so while GD may be 'hidden' in your case, it's probably likely that you don't have it.

@AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings thank you so much for the reassurance, you're right they do tend to judge “by eye” I’ve noticed that going along with my pregnancy. Just going to keep all my fingers and toes crossed that it comes back all clear on Tuesday. Thank you

5.3 is the cut off for fasting with GD so they are probably getting you in as a just in case measure given you are on the very borderline (not sure where PP’s 5.6 number came from but as somebody who was diagnosed due to being borderline a month ago, I can tell you that it is definitely 5.3 for fasting in England!)

@Thegirlhasnoname See below NICE guidelines. Unless the recommendations have changed, the cut-off is 5.6.

"Midwives should diagnose women with gestational diabetes if they either have a fasting plasma glucose level of 5.6 mmol/litre or above, or a 2-hour plasma glucose level of 7.8 mmol/litre or above, according to NICE."

www.nice.org.uk/news/article/new-thresholds-for-diagnosis-of-diabetes-in-pregnancy

BeesAnkles seems like a lot of trusts, mine including, are following their own rules then as the vast majority of people discussing it on the Gestational Diabetes support group on Facebook get diagnosed with a 5.3 fasting reading!

They definitely judge you on weight. I was very small when pregnant with DS1 and they actually laughed when I turned up.