How early can you get gestational diabetes?

[Moominmiss]

I’m currently 21 weeks and due to have a Glucose tolerance test at 28 weeks.

This is due to the fact my bmi was 32 at booking, my age is 38, and my dad is diabetic.

I’ve been consciously trying to watch what I eat and not over indulge is sweet treats etc. I’m walking every day and just generally trying to be as healthy as I can.

But I’ve noticed this past week that I always feel thirsty, and I’ve been getting a numb, tingly feeling in my feet when I’m sat down at work. I wee a lot too but had put that down to just general pregnancy.

But someone in work has just mentioned that all those things can point to GD.

I wasn’t sure you could even get GD this early. My next midwife appointment isn’t until June when I’ll be 25 weeks and I don’t know whether it can wait until I see her then, or whether it’s worth a message to her.

I had my GD test at 18 weeks due to ethnicity so it must be possible to get it early x

I'd contact someone now if you're having symptoms, especially given your age and weight. GP if midwife can't speak to you yet.

Thank you both. I think I will contact my midwife then. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

Well I spoke to my midwife who completely dismissed it.

She said all those symptoms, including my high blood pressure (135/95) are totally normal pregnancy symptoms and absolutely nothing to be worried about.

She said the bloods I had taken at booking at 9 weeks would have tested for GD and all those bloods were normal so it’s fine.

I’d been asked a while ago by my doctor to do blood pressure monitoring at home as it had seemed to be creeping up and was told if it gets to 140/90 I will need to go in to be monitored, but my reading from today she’s saying is fine.

I guess I’ll just wait for my next appointment with her in June and hope she’s right in that it’s nothing to be worried about.

I hope this helps reassure you a bit, I had GD in my first pregnancy which was detected at 28 wks. Was tested due to Bmi and dad having diabetes. I was diet controlled from this point and baby was completely unaffected and both a healthy 7lb 3oz. I got checked during this pregnancy at 16 weeks and so far all clear, I am being tested again at 26 weeks. I am assuming I will have it again at this point because my lifestyle hasn't really changed since the first time (silly I know). If you want to ask anything just shout

Thing is, it really could be general pregnancy symptoms. I had a definite increase in thirst, and I had hand tingles as well, but no GDM. I put it down to carpal tunnel and that needing to pee so much meant the fluid had to come from somewhere. If it gets worsens or you develop new symptoms, I'd think about going to your MAU rather than your community midwife. Could you pick up some urine dip sticks online? Keep an eye on any sugar in your urine.

I'd definitely keep an eye on that BP. Your reading of 135/95 means it isn't technically high yet, but mine also gradually crept up over the course of pregnancy. It was never high until 36 weeks, when pre-eclampsia was picked up. Urine sticks would help you monitor for proteinuria too.

Thank you so much @Crazylemon86 and @Dyra.
You’ve both reassured me a lot. Hopefully I’m just being overly paranoid.

During my previous pregnancies I wasn’t overweight and was much younger so in all honesty GD never even crossed my mind. I think this time I’m feeling super paranoid that because it’s been mentioned, I will definitely end up getting it.

I will definitely keep an eye on my blood pressure though. I think if it does end up creeping up to the 140/90 the doctor told me to watch out for, I will contact the MAU directly. My midwife is lovely but to me seems overly dismissive of everything.

Perhaps it is just me being too paranoid though.

I had thought about getting some itinerary dipsticks so actually might get some. I think I’d feel happier knowing I’m keeping an eye on things. There’s been trace protein in my sample at both the 9 week booking appointment and 16 week appointment, but again the midwife wasn’t concerned.

No idea how urine changed to itinerary 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

@Moominmiss if it helps I had no protein in my urine and no high blood pressure. It was literally my blood sugar after the sugary drink from the GTT. I had no symptoms just risk factors.
If you wanted you could get a kit which monitors your blood sugar. You can find the levels you should be at online, from what I remember it shouldn't be above 7.8 but I might be wrong.

Whilst being overweight is a risk factor for GD isn't not a cause, so if you are diabetic don't feel awful about it because of your weight. I say it a lot on here but Cheryl Cole had GD when she had Bear, it's a complication of pregnancy same as any. Have a look at the gestational diabetes UK website for all up-to-date advice about everything GD. It's a super website and helped me all the way through my GD pregnancy.

I had no symptoms, no proteins in my wee, just very slight elevation on my GTT test at 24 weeks I think was. Just to add, I remained diet controlled and my baby was fine! He's currently sat eating his tea...

Hi, I was worried that I had developed GD in this pregnancy, my BMI was high and my mum was diabetic. I would feel really sick and nauseas after eating a carby breakfast.

I got a glucose meter to test at home. You can buy them relatively cheaply from Amazon. If you’re worried and cannot wait for appointment, test yourself at home and Google the healthy limits. It’s best to take it fasting, first thing in the morning, and 1h after a meal.

I hope that will give you some reassurance, and tbh GD is relatively rare, so you have a good chance of not developing it.