gestational diabetes help!

[stephFBC1993]

Does anyone have any experience with gestational diabetes? - a recent growth scan showed my baby measuring above average so have been asked by my midwife to do some home glucose prick tests to monitor my bloods over the course of a few days. I have had a couple of high readings (one at 12.5) would this immediately indicate that I have gestational diabetes?? And if so would they do anything this close to my due date?? Thanks in advance!!

Sounds as though you do have GD. How far along are you?

The following website is absolutely fantastic for advice & the Facebook group is also great for support:

www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/gestational-diabetes-diagnosis/

www.facebook.com/groups/GestationalDiabetesUKMums/?ref=share

I'm 37 weeks along. I did have a routine OGTT at 28 weeks which was normal, they've only began to be concerned again as baby is measuring rather large!
I'm not getting high reading every day but have had probably 3 over the course of the last few days sporadically. Would that be indicatory of GD?
Thanks very much for your response and advise! I've been extremely anxious and can't see my midwife until Thursday! Steph X

I was told 3 high readings - anything above cut off point and not necessarily in a row, over a week indicate GD. Most likely you'll see them within a few days though. So yes if you've already had a couple you've probably got it. Once you get to three you need to call up to get the ball rolling ASAP.

Good luck. Many, many ladies have been there! X

Thankyou very much for your replies :) I havnt been armed with much knowledge about GD from my midwife so it's great to hear everyone's views! X

Are you keeping a food diary alongside the testing?

If hint it's worth doing so you can identify what is spiking your sugars.

Are you leaving at least an hour between eating and testing?

Yes I Do a fasting test in the morning and then an hour following every meal!

And Yeah I'm keeping a diary also, noticed the high spike I had of 12.5 was after eating pasta for lunch. And had a couple other readings of 8.2 and then 7.9 so not massively over but still higher than what I was told is 'acceptable'

Steph x

Did they tell you about switching to whole grains, ideally no more than the size of your palm of carbohydrates with each meal, and food combining?

Food combining has been the most useful for me - I can have two slices of wholemeal toast for breakfast as long as I have it with plenty of peanut butter. Apples and berries, as long as I have it with plain high protein yoghurt and a handful of walnuts and seeds etc. And for pasta, have a half portion of wholemeal pasta, but add beans or lentils in and cheese.

Also a tip I was given when my levels have been high, after a meal try dancing or walking for 15 mins - sometimes I just do it on the spot at home but it reduces blood sugar spike right down. Eg I can eat pasta and fruit and still get a reading of around 6 - without the dancing or walking it can be above 7

Agree with above advice to join the Facebook group and look at the GD UK website. There's a great page for newly diagnosed people to help you take stock. Also the "golden rules" of the GD diet helps make sense of it all. It has amazing diet guidelines to really help you along. It's not just sugar you need to worry about but total carbs.
Make sure you eat little and often, high fat, high protein, low carbs.
How many weeks are you? Once you things under control, you may not need to be induced or have an early birth. You'll get lots of extra monitoring. Don't be scared: a diagnosed and well managed diabetic pregnancy is just as safe as a regular pregnancy.
Do come back here to ask any questions. I've had 2 GD pregnancies and the first was such a shock. I was over 35 but otherwise had no risk factors - no family history, never weighed more than 9 stone, good diet, did exercise etc. I did manage to be diet controlled both times

Oh just seen you're 37 weeks. You'll be very closely monitored in that case. They will want you to get your bloods under control before birth as it's safer for the baby. Birth is the trickiest time as they go from your insulin production to their own.

I had GD and was induced at 37.5 due to size of baby.

You are very close to due date now, so be aware that if you are diagnosed they do not like to let Gd patients go overdue as there is more risk of placenta insufficiency/failure so it's possible you'll be booked for induction on or just before due date.

Try to stick to a Low GI diet, reduce simple carbs, increase fat and protein, pair proteins with any carbs that you eat (toast with peanut butter or egg, apple with cheese or peanut butter etc), swap fruit for veg as snacks.

After birth they like to get 3 x sugar readings from baby to make sure they do not have high blood sugar, that generally means you may need to stay 24 hrs instead of being able to leave as soon as you're up and about.

You should book for a diabetes test in the 6 months after giving birth. For most people GD is it and as soon as there's no placenta you're not diabetic, however if you do have GD you re t higher risk of being or getting type 2 diabetes so need to be checked.

I've had very little advise so far just because I've not had an official diagnoses as of yet- only been home testing since last week and my midwife has said she'll review these results with me on Thursday. At 36 weeks exactly they said baby was estimated at 8lbs already. (I know to take these with a pinch of salt but obviously you can't help but panic slightly!) this is what's led to me to home testing.
I only panicked when I saw the 12.5 reading as I'm no expert but I was sure that was significantly high! But midwife doesn't seem to be in any sort of rush to see me sooner!

I'll do some research in the meantime, and thankyou very much for all the advise and sources to read it's extremely helpful!
It's very much appreciated as I've been trailing Google trying to find relatable stories and this has been the most helpful so far! Steph X

You'll find the advice on diet etc on the GDUK Website will be very different from the NHS advice so don't be surprised. The NHS diet was useless for me but the GDUK has been a lifesaver.

I started a GD support thread for anyone to ask questions, please feel free to ask anything you're unsure of there as well:

Gestational Diabetes Support Thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4387035-gestational-diabetes-support-thread?msgid=112014905#112014905

Good luck!