GD at 33 weeks - anyone?

[PurplePansy05]

Hi All

I've just been diagnosed with GD at 33 weeks.

Bit of a surprise, as I had GTT done at 28 weeks and the results were normal. My son was also measuring normal at 50th centile at thr growth scan at 28+5. Then this week, at 33 weeks, he is measuring at 95th centile and they sent me for OGTT. The hospital called this morning to confirm I have GD, fasting glucose level is 7.5 and they told me it should be 5.6 max. I've had no symptoms and put on just over a stone in weight having eaten mostly healthy throughout the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, so I guess I've been unlucky!

My question is has anyone developed it so late in the final stages of pregnancy? If so, what was your management? Are you & LOs ok, do you do anything particular post-birth too to make sure you minimise the risk of type 2 diabetes?

In terms of birth options, I don't want to be induced for a number of reasons linked to my previous obstetric history, so it's looking like a planned section is on the cards. Did you manage to get to 39 weeks with GD?

All answers much appreciated! I have an appointment with a diabetes specialist next week, just wanted to find out how everyone got on so I roughly know what's to come. TIA xx

Hopeful bump?

Hi @PurplePansy05 I was with my daughter who is now 3. Like you at 28 weeks I passed the GTT and it was diagnosed around 32 or 33? It was diet controlled luckily, and I was induced at 39 weeks. Had to test fasting bloods and after each meal (cant remember exactly) and go onto a low carb diet. Three years on I don't have diabetes (and I've just eaten normally since she was born) but am likely together GD again with subsequent pregnancies. There is a gestational diabetes facebook group which is extremely supportive and informative. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Hey @Greymalkin12 that's really helpful, thanks! Did they give you a diet plan to follow till birth or just recommendations? I don't know if this would succeed with me, I have been eating well most of the time anyway. But I'd prefer a strict diet over meds.

What sort of test was it after each meal? Does the NHS provide them and did you need to record the results?

Any extra antenatal appointments?

Sorry, so many questions now! xx

No not at all it's a huge amount to take in isn't it? I think they told me on the Friday evening before a bank holiday and I spent the whole weekend panicking.

I think every trust will manage it differently, however I was referred to a diabetes midwife who told me about the testing routine (I can't remember the details but I think it was one fasting in the morning, and around an hour after each meal). I think different trusts ask you to do different tests. They gave me a finger prick monitoring device and you got the lancets and testing strips on prescription. I kept my results in a book and emailed them once a week to her so she could check if diet controlled was working. I think now it would be recorded on an app. She recommended the gestationaldiabetes.co.uk website which recommends a diet (cant remember the details but it is low carb, and have to pair carbs with protein and fat I think). I do remember I lost some weight on it.

I think there might have been a couple of extra growth scans - cant remember exactly. In the end she was 7lbs and fine so not huge! Good luck - it's a horrible shock and I found it very stressful at the time (especially as love bread and potatoes) but worth it xx

I was diagnosed at 32 weeks. I had to do a finger prick blood test an hour after every meal and record it to show to the diabetes midwife at an appointment at 36 weeks.

You should be contacted to have an appointment with the diabetes midwife team within the week to go over requirements for diet and testing.

Low carb (but not zero carbs). Only had one "bad" reading after I tested my tolerance to bread.

Didn't actually make it to my 36 week appointment as I had PPROM but that was the plan for me.

Thank you both!

I will look up that website you've recommended @Greymalkin12 and start now, I feel at 33 weeks it's just best to get on with it. I have another growth scan at 36 weeks due to history of recurrent pregnancy loss, but I think they might arrange more scans.

@stackhead Thank you for this. Sorry to hear about your PPROM. Was it linked to GD? I read it can be a cause of preterm birth which is worrying me now xx

I was never given a reason for the PPROM but my risk factors were high BMI and the GD so who knows.

It was probably unlikely though as I had PPROM at 34 weeks so only 2 weeks after being diagnosed.

Try not to stress, you're far enough along that the GD shouldn't cause any issues if you can keep your sugars in check. They will check your sugar levels in labour's though! Mine dropped too low so we had to desperately try and find something sugary for me to drink - being GD I'd only took in sugar free stuff!

I will be having a C-section, I personally would choose this over induction any day because of previous experiences following recurrent miscarriages. Just hoping to get to 39 weeks for the section, exactly as you say - 5 weeks left of keeping glucose levels in check, I can do this and will start asap! Hope he doesn't come too soon either, like before 37 weeks 🙏xx