Gestational diabetes.. tips please!

[Snoopy28x]

Morning ladies!

I'm 30+5 and last week got diagnosed with GD. I've been strictly following the diet in the Hope's I can avoid having tablets or injections. I got my testing kit a couple of days ago.

The more I have to jab myself in the finger the more it freaks me out! This morning it took 4 attempts to get enough blood out, as the machine kept getting jammed between number 2 and 3 so when I pressed the button nothing happened until I reset it. Then when I did get it to work I wasnt holding it on my finger enough so just made a little hole. The more I did it the more funny it made me feel. Now I think I've given myself needle fear lol dreading my next reading.

Any tips to help me through the next 9 weeks of this???

Also my morning reading has been 5.4 and needs to be 5.3. Not sure what I need to change to get that lower?? My daytime readings have all been fine and within the limits.

Thank you xx

Have you tried the gestational diabetes website / Facebook group, lots of tips there! My sympathies I was diagnosed at 32 weeks with my daughter and it's not a nice time t have to start adjusting your diet.

I also just wanted to recommend gestational diabetes UK Facebook group/website. There’s so much good advice.

With the finger pricking, you will get used to it. I find that if you press on one side of the finger and then prick the other side more blood comes out, also try and keep your monitor on the side of your finger not above. so the blood doesn’t have to travel up against gravity but goes side ways or down. If that makes sense?

Fasting levels are hard to control but water before bed apparently helps. Good luck

Thank you ladies! I will have a look at that website.

I'm aneamic, have pelvic girdle pain and 2 kids to contend with.. so feeling fed up lol I cant wait for this baby to make its arrival! X

I got 5.4 loads in the AM reading and was diet controlled throughout. Don't sweat it.

Hold you arm down by your side.
Do the edge of your finger not the middle. Squeeze your other hand down your finger to get the blood out. (Like milking a cow?)
Make sure the strip is fully in the machine before you put the blood on the strip.

Eat yoghurt Berry nuts for breakfast and omelettes are your friend.
Granny smith and peanut butter is a good snack. So is ham and cheese on an oatcake.

You get used to it.

I diet controlled my GB (baby now 7 weeks)

Where on your finger are you pricking? I had a needle fear and was terrified before being diagnosed. The instructions of my kit said to prick the side of my finger. I found that fine.

Haven't read previous posts so someone has probably already recommended the Gestational Diabetes UK website? It's really good for finding recipes!

For preventing a high morning reading I was advised to eat a high protein snack before bed. Try that to see if it lowers.

GD*

Thank you so much for all your replies this has helped me so much today! @Trinacham I tried the side of my finger and it was alot more bearable so that will be my new go to area.

@Totalwasteofpaper I'm allergic to nuts.. however the omlette idea is good!

I find it's been harder as I've had no info sent over from the midwife or nurse. Just posted me the blood testing kit and a huge manual for that. So had to you tube how to do it. Then luckily SIL has just been through the same and sent me a load of useful information about what things to est and what to avoid etc. Otherwise I'd be working blind which is awful.

So I really appreciate all your tips. I managed to pull myself together and get it done the rest of today.

I have to test 1 hour after meals and first thing in the morning. If I've over eaten on carbs would that then show up on the reading an hour later? X

I was diagnosed with GD AT 32w I unfortunately couldn't get it under control with diet alone, I started on metformin 2weeks after diagnosis and then on a very low dose of insulin another 2weeks later. My issue was mainly my fasting and after breakfast. I was told there was very little I could do about fasting number.

I found carbs would definitely show when taking my reading 1hour after and it was clear when I had eaten something/too much I shouldn't have

Checking your bloods will become
Second nature and by the end of my pregnancy I was doing it without even thinking.

I was induced at 38weeks due to the GD and all though by then it was well controlled I think that's common practice...at least in my trust.

It's a lot to take on at first along with alll the other pregnancy changes but it's early days, you will be just fine

Finger pricking definitely gets easier. Like the others have said have a look at the gestation diabetes page on Facebook.

Fasting blood sugars are a lot harder to control unfortunately. You are only slightly over so May be ok.
I was terrified of being medicated but I ended up on metformin and insulin. Honestly it's not as bad as you initially think.

When it comes to diet, I wouldn't follow the nhs advice as it sends blood sugars so high, the GD page had so many great ideas and recipes.

Once baby is in your arms, it's all worth it, pack some sweet treats in your hospital bag for after baby arrives.

@Snoopy28x just wondering how you're getting on. I was diagnosed myself on 14th of this month and have been finding it a struggle emotionally. They terrified me with basically saying I would get type 2 in the future then measured baby who is on 98th centile, which has me in trepidation about the birth. What a way to get carpet pulled from what I thought would be relaxing last few months!
Hope you're doing ok. It really is scary time.

@GestationalDiabetesSucks hey! I'm doing better, getting the hang of the testing now. I'm so far managing to control it with diet, I've had 2 high readings this past week but only by .1 so they dont seem concerned.

Yes it is a minefield isnt it? I feel like I will definitely be more conscious about what I'm eating after baby is born to.

How are you managing with the eating side of things? Is this your 1st?

I'm also a bit worried about the size of mine. I had a scan at 31 weeks and its measuring 4lbs 7oz. Estimated birth weight 10lbs. My previous ds was 10lb 3oz. My first dd was 7lbs 11oz. So he was a shock! However it is doable! Try to put that part out of your mind for now, also the scans arent always accurate so could be off on the size xx

Ah that's good you're managing ok with diet! How about the morning readings - are you able to keep them down? I'm finding the morning ones starting to creep up gradually rest of the day i'm managing fine - would love if I could keep the morning down without meds!

This is baby no 4 for me - first time with GD though - think if I had this with the first there wouldn't be another! Let me know how you're getting on. Good luck x

@GestationalDiabetesSucks my morning ones are usually around 5.1, but I did have one morning that was over. Todays was odd. Morning 5.1, had a protein yogurt for breakfast as had a busy morning. Checked an hour after and was 4.4.. which I was feeling a bit odd, light headed and just off. So had a snack, then lunch, I feel better after dinner now. Mostly I am around 6 during the day.

The morning one I've read is the hard one as its regulated by hormones and not by what we do, depending on how you slept, how much baby moved in the night, stress etc. So it's hard to do anything with that one.

I'm so missing chocolate... nice desserts lol I'm already planning the giant ice cream sundae I'm going to have all to myself once baby is here 🤣

Number 4! We are sticking with 3, this pregnancy has been rough so wouldbt go through it again. How is life with 3??? Bit scared 🤣

@GestationalDiabetesSucks hey, how are you doing? As time goes on I'm finding it harder. My morning readings have been high 3 mornings this week and had a high after dinner one to. I'm trying so hard to eat what I should, enough (but not to much) carbs. I never manage to fit snacks in as I dont really have an appetite. Trying to keep active, drink water etc.. I feel like I'm still failing! 34 weeks today and have my growth scan today.

Have they talked to you about induction? X