Gestational Diabetes Reading 8.3

[mypurple]

Hi everyone,

I went for my glucose tolerance test yesterday and the hospital called me saying my result came back as 8.3 (good range is up to 7.3). I'm so shocked because my BMI is healthy (mid range) and I'm quite active (45+ minutes exercise everyday). I have 0 weight gain on my body so far, only my stomach getting bigger. But I guess those things don't have an effect on your diagnosis 🤔

Anyway I was calm about my pregnancy and birth, up until now! Eating healthy is fine, I can manage that but I can't stress enough how much I really do not want a induced birth or c section. But I've heard and read so many stories of women with GD who have to get them 😣

Is it possible for me to control my GD and have a natural vaginal birth? And is it really difficult to control GD? My anxiety is through the roof!!!

I know women that have had GD and have controlled through diet and also had a natural birth.
I was not one of them. I couldn’t control mine through diet - I tried but the only way to control my sugar levels was to barely eat which was not great for the baby. So for my first pregnancy I was insulin controlled and the second insulin and metformin controlled. I’m not gonna say it was great but equally it was not horrendous. I tried to look at it from a positive perspective.
Birth wise. The first was an induction. The second my placenta stopped working effectively which is a risk in GD and so I had an emergency c section. Neither of these deliveries were what I wanted but the care I received was excellent Ann both my children were healthy which I am grateful for.
My recommendation would be to join the gestational diabetes uk Facebook group - there is so much support and advice on there.
One thing though although weight is a contributor to GD it is not the only factor. Sometimes you just get it. It took me a while to accept that and not blame myself for it.

I was in a similar position with DD2. I weighed 57kg, very active lifestyle - had gestational diabetes. I didn't gain too much weight but moved from tablets to injections very quickly. It didn't matter how well I ate, I wasn't in control of the diabetes.

That said, DD2 was vaginal delivery but I opted to be induced 3 weeks early as she was getting large. Had an unassisted delivery and was generally quite pleasant, not the sit show DD1 was.

The condition vanished within 24 hrs and DD2 was perfectly healthy.

I remember getting the GD phone call very well. It was such a shock and I was so upset.

Try not to panic. I found it not too bad to control through diet, and from the sound of it I was less healthy than you in the first place. It was tough to cut out the sweet treats and cut down on carbs, but you have the baby and birth to motivate you, and the fact that hopefully it will only be temporary. Oh and I had the added benefit of being lighter post pregnancy than I had been pre pregnancy- that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been forced to eat healthily!

In terms of the birth, I got the impression that they usually induce at 39 weeks for GD, but if your case does end up being well managed and the growth scans are normal I think you could have that discussion with them. I avoided induction by having 2 sweeps in the week before (midwife said one didn't always help but she'd never not has someone give birth within 48 hours of a second sweep and I didn't break her run!). Bare in mind as well that being induced doesn't automatically preclude a natural vaginal birth, although I know it does make it less likely.

I did still end up with an assisted birth by forceps under spinal anaesthetic, despite avoiding the induction, but I don't think that was related to the GD - I'd had ventouse with my first as well. I've come to the conclusion I'm not very good at pushing and I make big headed babies . I think they mentioned an awkward position too - it's all a bit of a blur 6 years later!

I would say, so many people have to have inductions or c sections for so many reasons, so I'm not sure GD makes it that much more likely than it would be anyway- i have no numbers to back that up though. Try not to get too fixated on what kind of birth you will have though- it's hard to control and it really doesn't seem like the most important thing once the baby is here!

One bit of advice i would give is take seriously the advice to get yearly diabetes checks afterwards and watch your weight / diet etc. I didn't and have recently found out I now have Type 2 diabetes after a few years of being OK since the GD. Doesn't happen to everyone but you are higher risk and i regret going back to my old ways and worse once the baby was here!

Take some time to get you head round things and hopefully you'll get a clinic appointment to explain more and give you a plan.

I had gestational diabetes in my first pregnancy. Surprisingly, I did not have it again in my second and third pregnancies.
I was ever so slightly underweight at my first check up, and was very into athletics at the time. I was shocked at the diagnosis.
I did, however, find it very easy to control my blood sugar levels with diet only. I'd have things like eggs and seeds for breakfast, nuts midmorning, veg and some sort of protein for lunch, more nuts midafternoon. Dinner was more relaxed, as my readings were always low in the evening. I also had dark chocolate after dinner every evening.
So the diet wasn't too bad, if a bit repetitive. I preferred to be on the safe side.
I had a midwife Led delivery with gas and air. If the consultant is happy with your readings and the measurements, they will be happy with whatever birth you choose.
My baby was 3.3kg, spot on the average weight. They monitored her blood sugar for 48h, it was completely normal.
So there are cases when, despite the diagnosis, all goes well.
I really hope you are able to have a relaxed pregnancy despite the shock of diagnosis. It is so frightening when you first learn you have it, but whatever happens you will be closely monitored to keep baby and you well.

@mypurple I was totally where you are 3-4 weeks ago, anxiety through the roof about the impact on birth.
But now I'm getting used to the idea that things may not go as I want, but I think anything could change a birth plan so it has taught me to be much more flexible.
It is possible to control with diet and have a natural vaginal birth, but from what I've read on the GD Facebook group (highly recommend), most can't control it right to the end without Metformin or insulin. But that doesn't mean you can't have a natural vaginal birth. It all depends on your baby's expected weight and your GD control at your 36week scan. So until then, just focus on the diet and exercise.
Just be careful about reducing carbs too much. My obstetrician told me if you reduce too much it can impact on the baby's brain and so although you might think just stop the carbs and you won't need to go on meds, this is actually very dangerous.