Gestational Diabetes - anyone else?

[DollyParton2]

Hi ladies
At 31 weeks baby is measuring pretty big and as a result I’m home testing for diabetes. Only on Day2 but it’s clear by my results (in the red) I must have developed it!
I had a BMI of just under 22 before pregnancy so pretty healthy. I exercise a lot and have done throughout this pregnancy. Nothing like this with previous 2 DC. But it must be my overindulgence of beige foods that’s lead to this...!
I’m feeling pretty frustrated with myself as now for the remainder of this pregnancy have to be super good with foods and not really indulge! I feel bad I may have caused my baby to be unnaturally big/ maybe complications in birth etc.

Hoping others who’ve been through this or going through it this pregnancy fancy joining and keeping spirits up!

You absolutely cannot cause GD with your diet. It’s a common misconception but this is 100% not your fault, it’s hormonal. Your placenta has made you insulin resistant and your weight and diet have nothing to do with it ❤️ It’s hard and scary at first but you can do this. Come join the Gestational Diabetes Uk Facebook group. It’s amazing with recipes and suggestions and treats and support. Also checkout the website x

Can I ask who told you to home test? Are you doing that out of concern for measuring big or have you been advised to do so?

Have you not been tested for GD via a hospital at around 28 weeks or so?

I'm just asking for myself as I had a routine test at hospital last week and have heard nothing back. My belly is also measuring big.

Hi Allicit I’ve already been reading through your website- are you the founder? It’s great- will join up. Btw the “best yogurts” section link doesn’t work was just trying to read it!

HumunaHey I don’t think I was tested prior to this no? Baby is just pretty big so as a precaution / link to this they sent me off with the test kit thing to see if diabetes could be reason why. I’ve felt since 28-30 weeks baby/ bump seems really big and heavy so guess this all does explain it.

HumunaHey- to add baby measuring big at midwife/ tape measure of bump, so she sent me to be scanned the next day. Baby is big -3-4 weeks ahead and top percentile so they then themselves wanted me checked for diabetes. TBH me knowledge about diabetes in general and link to big babies before this all was pretty non existent so had no idea about any of it!!

Hey DollyParton,
I got my diagnosis yesterday. So spending the day seeing how I can adjust my diet. I also don’t over indulge but did see from my weeks testing that my spikes were after take aways 🙈 so they’re obviously off the cards.

As the other poster said join the facebook group theres lots of information over there

X

@DollyParton2 noo nothing to do with me! The diet advice is amazing and really helpful. The group has to be taken with a pinch of salt I think (can get a little intense) but the diet advice is a total life saver!

Thanks both- have joined the group! Just done an Ocado shop with my new “diet” ready to start next week.

You can't cause gestational diabetes, so stop the mum guilt :) Join the Gestational Diabetes UK Facebook page (they also have a website) - the diet tips are fab. They're a little different from the NHS dietary advice but they work. Good luck!

@DollyParton2

HumunaHey- to add baby measuring big at midwife/ tape measure of bump, so she sent me to be scanned the next day. Baby is big -3-4 weeks ahead and top percentile so they then themselves wanted me checked for diabetes. TBH me knowledge about diabetes in general and link to big babies before this all was pretty non existent so had no idea about any of it!!

Oh right, ok. Thanks for replying. It's quite frustrating how treatment/advice can differ from Trust to Trust. Where I am, you get a routine GD check at around 28 weeks (used to be a Glucose test, now taken as part of blood test due to Covid).

I'd expressed concern about measuring big (97th centile fundal measurement) but midwife said there's no cause for concern, only if baby is measuring small . I'm going to pull her up on this.

Thanks again. Hopefully your GD is isolated (doesn't cause any issues for you) and goes away when baby is born, as I've heard it often does.

Hi, OP. I was diagnosed with GD 4 weeks ago at 28 weeks and I've managed to stay diet controlled so far with a few wobbles. Team at the hospital are quite relaxed about the occasional high reading if you can explain it (eg I wasn't well that day, or I was unexpectedly out so I had to eat X).

The hardest thing for me is breakfast. I can't eat bread or cereal in the morning. I have the same thing every day - full fat unsweetened Greek yogurt, nuts, blueberries and strawberries. I have second breakfast later - half a muffin with egg and cheese or a Nature Valley Protein bar if I'm out.

I don't really eat much carbohydrate at all. Tonight, I'm having a huge salad and a fresh hunter's chicken dish from the Coop. Because the sauce is quite sugary, I'm not having any carbs with it, but I might eat both chicken breasts if I feel like it! I did have one tortilla yesterday with loads of chicken, cheese, veggies, sour cream and guacamole. Basically, the more protein/fat you eat, the more carbs you can get away with (although only to a point - I think my maximum for pasta is about 3 tablespoons! ).

Hope it all goes ok for you x

Hi I got diagnosed 3 weeks ago and I've tried diet and metaformin and they haven't helped enough so I am starting insulin Monday I'm so fed up.I have a scan to check baby Tuesday it's just so difficult I'm really struggling with foods as I'm a grazer rather than a full meal person so having to learn new eatting patterns. Im 32 weeks today.