Not put on medication for gestational diabetes with high readings?

[dreamerkr]

Hey guys, I’m 31+2 and I have gestational diabetes. I’ve been monitoring my blood glucose levels since mid august, they were fine to begin with and now too most of the time, but there have definitely been days when I have high readings (especially for dinner). I had a growth scan, and a dietician and diabetic midwife appointment 3 days back and they said I seem to be doing well at controlling my levels. However, I don’t agree. For the last 3 days I’ve had at least one high reading throughout the day and today, for the first time my fasting level was 5.8 and my level an hour after dinner was 8.2. I think I do need medication, as much as I don’t want it. What do you guys think? And do you think these high readings are harming baby? I’m so worried 🥺 I’m trying my best to eat healthy, reduce carbs and I’ve cut out sugar but still I’m getting high readings although most are within the normal range. What should I do? I can only call the diabetic midwife on Monday now as it’s the weekend. Do you think I should ask for medication?

I would. At my third borderline high reading I asked to go on medication if I had a fourth and they agreed - I didn’t get a fourth so it didn’t happen but I would have. As I understand it, it is likely to get worse until around 36 or 37 weeks and you don’t want to sit on your hands until then.

I’m surprised they haven’t advised it themselves, though I know different doctors have different views on things.

I was so surprised too that they didn’t think I should be on medication. I’m scared of the medication but more than that I’m afraid of what harm may be happening to baby because of my sugar levels. Were you on metformin or insulin? When they checked my readings, I had at least 6-7 high readings and these days have been worse after the appointment.

Also, baby boy is already measuring large (over the 95th centile) at over 4lb at 31 weeks

I didn’t get another high reading so avoided it. Are you on the GD UK Facebook group? Highly recommend it. On there, most start on metformin.

On a slightly cheering note, my scientist friend told me that metformin use has been correlated with living longer! Whichever medication you had to take, it would be for 8 weeks max. I know it’s upsetting but it sounds like a good thing overall.

They're not massively high to be honest... Just over the limit. If you'd feel more confident with some meds then ask for them.

My numbers were twice that when diagnosed and baby is safe and healthy xx

Sorry to hear you have the worry of GD.

Perhaps ask them what are the pros and cons of the different options e.g. continuing as you are until your next appointment or taking meds.

when they see you they will be weighing this up and you need them to explain the decisions they might be making.

i found GD very confusing. In my first pregnancy I was diagnosed with GD after they found trace sugar in my urine and I gave them some blood sugar readings - however I couldn't do the glucose tolerance test as I was too far in my pregnancy. In my second pregnancy despite the same blood sugar readings and trace sugar in urine I wasn't diagnosed as I passed all the glucose intolerance tests. It's not an exact science and I never understood what happens if you go a bit over the target sugar levels occasionally - what is bad? Etc. I don't think anyone really knows. However, all the advice re diet is good so worth trying as much as possible with this. I can understand your heighten concern if you're baby is large - perhaps discuss this with the midwives as a concern given the GD.

congratulations on your baby and good luck

Thank you so much guys. My readings aren’t too too high (the highest has been 8.7 I guess), but it’s worrying that I’m getting a high reading almost everyday now, even after walking after meals. I have my next appointment with the diabetic midwife on the 22nd but that’s a while away. Let’s see how it goes this weekend, then I’ll call the midwife on Monday.

@pjani i am in the group, yes, and it’s quite helpful. However, I’ve read some negative things about metformin which is scary. I have no idea though

I had GD and my diabetic name wouldn't have been happy with those readings unless as a one off. I ate a low carbohydrate, extremely healthy diet as didn't want medication but my readings still increased through my pregnancies, so I ended up needing Metformin and then at the end insulin. I would definitely ask!

*diabetic mw

Thank you so much. I will definitely give them a call on Monday and see what they say

I'm 31 weeks and my readings are through the roof highest was 21 post meal. I'm sticking to the diet and am in the maximum dose of metformin. They seem reluctant to give me insulin, I don't understand why. I'm terrified that high levels like that are harming the baby. 1st baby, I'm 43 was told we were infertile 25 years ago so this really is the the baby I thought I'd never have. I'm ringing tomorrow to demand the insulin. Can't understand how they can just seem to ignore high readings when it's clearly dangerous!

And also baby is measuring on 98th centil

What are you eating - you’ve said you try to reduce carbs but I found I had to pretty much cut carbs out entirely to be diet controlled with GD. (Not veg but anything starchy like rice potatoes pasta etc had to go). I lived off veg, protein and fat! It wasn’t low calorie but it was low GI.

It was a while back but when I had GD the rules said if you were medicated they would induce at 38 weeks - early induction has other risks so they may be trying to avoid medication for that reason?

Okay so here are my readings. I sent them to the diabetic midwife yesterday and she doesn’t think I need medication yet. 😑

How stressful. Did the nurse say in her view what would trigger medication? Were you able to express your concerns and how did she allay them? I was at a hospital that had higher thresholds for medication than others and I was able to make the case for the usual thresholds to stand and they agreed to that.

I had GD, my readings were not as high as yours and I was put on insulin injections which definitely helped.

Please don’t fall into the trap of blaming yourself for the readings being high. Although diet can help, it’s all down to your hormones.