Gestational diabetes support thread Sept 2023

[Fairylight102]

I was recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes and wondered if there are any others out there in a similar position and would like chat about it.

@HoneyBunnii spoke to you on another thread and @TTCX2 I noticed your post about GD in august if you’re still here?

A bit about me, I’m 33 and just over 30 weeks pregnant with my first baby. My risk factor for GD was family history.

Started finger prick testing this week and it’s been quite stressful but I’m starting to get the hand of it now. I’ve had one spike of 9.3 but other readings have been ok so far.

Best wishes to anyone else out there experience this ❤️

I had gestational diabetes with both of mine (2019 and 2021). Same as you, I had family history of GD. They told me to expect big babies, 10lb or over and told me at my 38 week scan that my little girl was measuring 8 and a half lb. They wanted to induce me there and then but I insisted that I go to full term. I ended up going into labour on my due date both times and first DD was 6lb 13oz and second DD was 6lb 11oz. Just make sure you control your diet well and find something that works for you in terms of keeping your sugars lower. (Loads of the girls I knew were snacking on cereal but that was making my sugars spike really high!) Good luck with it all ❤️

@Jb2182 thank you for sharing that! I’ve heard that the estimations of weight can be hard to get right so sometimes the babies are smaller than expected. Glad both of yours went ok 🙂

Me please!! Just diagnosed 35+2!!
Can't collect testing kit until Monday but making some changes over the weekend

Blood result was 7.9 and cut off was 7.8!!

Just trying my best to make some changes and then can actually see next week!!

Considering they are talking about getting him out at 37-38 weeks due to other problems it's a difficult one. Will be 36 weeks Wednesday!

I just had to double check that I hadn't totally lost my mind and forgotten that I'd started a thread as I could have written yours!

I've signed up for a freestyle libre free trial and it's been great to not have to fingerprick. Also really useful to see patterns in my blood sugars. I can't tolerate any white bread for example but rice and pasta is okay.

I had GD many years ago. They predicted that my dd would be 10lb+ but she was only 7lb!

Had a c-section as she was breech.

@katherine123x Ah you were just borderline then! Hope your diet adaptations are helpful over the next few weeks and fingers crossed for planning your delivery.

@fluffytail haha very similar experiences! That’s amazing you don’t have to fingerprick.

Hi all! Yes I’m still around thanks for adding me! 🙂I was diagnosed around 28 weeks (32+2 now), so have started to get the hang of it. I managed it through diet for a little and then as I got more pregnant the more insulin resistant I got so I’ve started metformin and it’s been so good and keeping my levels stable! I’m on the slow release tablet so it hasn’t upset my stomach much. Baby is measuring average at the moment. I’m considering having an elective section due to this and a few other risk factors. I don’t want induced and obviously they won’t let you go over with GD so I’m hoping I either go myself or have a section at 39/40 weeks. Hope you’re all ok ☺️

@TTCX2 That’s good that the tablets are helping you keep it under control.

I’m also wondering about an elective c-section since the GD diagnosis. I know lots of people do still give birth vaginally with GD, but I worry about the shoulder dystocia think. I feel like if there’s an increased chance of ending up with a c-section anyway, maybe it’s worth considering that route from the outset rather than getting into an emergency situation.

Hi! I started another thread with this but I’ve had no comments.

I had my second GTT testing during this pregnancy. First was normal but I have a big baby so I had to do a second one yesterday.

It’s my understanding the second blood test should be 2 hours after you finish the glucose drink. However, they took the second sample only 1h40mins after. I raised it and the phlebotomist said it’s only 5 minutes early and it’s fine, but even then, the 5 mins early would have been from when I checked in.

I’m now worried the result won’t be accurate as they won’t have waited the full two hours for my system to process the sugar.

Has this happened to anyone?

@PeakedTooSooon both of mine have been two hours exactly. Could argue that too soon would definitely make a difference!

That’s what I’m worried about! If I do have it, then obviously I want to know. But I don’t want to be diagnosed following a bad test!

This baby is big, but then again DS was 8lbs 6oz when he was born at exactly 38 weeks so maybe I just have bigger babies!

@Fairylight102 thanks for mentioning me in your thread, i have put this threa don my watch list so i can keep an eye on it :)

So yeah just a quick summary about me for those of you here, i was told i have GD a couple of weeks ago after a glucose test and things have been okay, just one high reading from a cup of coffee with dark cocoa powder which i am still trying to get my head around lol

I have my scan etc. On the 27th to see how things are with the baby but looking at my bump it looks just right for someone at 27 weeks :D

My last one was born weighing just over 8lbs but at that time i was not offered a GD test (which is wierd because my dad has type 2 diabetes)

If any of you guys have some useful meal ideas that involve chicken and veggies (as i dont eat any other meat or sea food) that has helped you during GD i would really appreciate them being posted here it would help me ALOT since i am struggling with lunch and dinner ideas 😫xx

@HoneyBunnii I’ve been marinading chicken drumsticks and eating with salad and some brown rice. Slow cooker beef stews with sweet potato as well is yummy

@TTCX2 sounds nice :) what marinade do you use if you dont mind me asking? I used to use the ready made ones like the nandos ones but because the flavours i liked had sugar in them so i am having to give them up for the next 3 months :(

@HoneyBunnii I was using up some stuff in the fridge the other day and I roasted up some chicken breasts with chopped pieces of chorizo in the tin as well. Had it with cauliflower cheese - all in all it felt like quite a rich dinner and was worried I was going to have a high reading but came out perfectly fine at 5.9. I guess it was higher in fats but not in sugar/carbs which is the key point for GD.

Another meal that has been working well for me for lunches at work is salad made with a pre-pack of lentils/quinoa (I use the merchant gourmet ones which are a bit pricey admittedly but do save time) mixed with lettuce, cucumber, beetroot etc and some cubes of feta. Readings always seem fine after that.

It’s so hard having to suddenly start planning your diet differently. Especially with COL price increases at the moment. It’s made me realise that even though I had a fairly decent diet before in terms of veg/fresh meals, I’ve been very reliant on bulking out meals with carbs like pasta/rice because they’re quite cheap ingredients.

At least with GD there’s a known end-point for us!

@Fairylight102 i have been too scared to use any tinned stuff lol i know it sounds ridiculous.. but i guess i am just being alittle too hard on myself.. so far i have been having shredded wheat with chopped blueberry and strawberry topping and then for lunch its been wholemeal pasta mixed with green pesto and pine nuts and fresh baby spinach leaves (i sometimes top it with fresh mozzerella) and then for dinner its been soup with whole meal bread..
Im really missing moroccan food though but sadly most of it goes with either couscous or bread! 😭my husband has been very understanding though and has been eating the same stuff as me to make me feel better but what would make me feel better right now is a takeaway which i used to get every weekend 😞

And yes the COL makes it even more difficult .. i was thinking i could just use Quorn as a quick substitute in many of my evening meals but just one bag of their nuggests cost almost £4 and their quorn chicken sandwich slices are like almost £3 per pack? Crazy.. and then i have a toddler who is a picky eater so im having to do two lots of different shoppings for both of us

@fluffytail just noticed ur post :D whats this libre trial? How did you manage to sign up? Would i need to ask my midwife to be considered? The idea of not having to prick fingers for the next three months sounds very appealling

@HoneyBunnii
It's this www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/getting-started/sampling.html

My husband has type 1 and has had a libre for almost 3 years. It continuously monitors your blood glucose but there is a slight delay as it's not straight from the blood. I much prefer it to finger pricks and it's helped me identify foods that give me really high readings.

Hi 31+1 and diet controlled here.

Currently in hospital and sometimes find it difficult with the meals on offer here. It hasn’t been too bad so far (been here for a week) but twice I’ve been given sugar in my cereal 😞.

If you ladies are on medication, why and when did they decide to do that? Was it when you were continuously spiking?

To add, I was really getting into the swing of things at home, with meal planning. This almost week stint in hospital has been challenging!

I was diagnosed with GD a week and a half ago, my 2hr reading was .2 over. Most of my readings (4 times a day) have been spot in, but this weekend, I just can't get them under control and I can't work out why! I have a feeling they are going to prescribe me metformin next week.

@Farcry66 i was recently told it gets more difficult to control when you reach around 31 weeks so that could be the reason if you are nearing 31 weeks?

@GreenAventurinee i havent been prescribed medication but i did ask the doctor regarding them and she said they would only prescribe them if i was having difficulty controlling my blood sugar levels with diet alone so i am guessing they would prescribe them if there are multiple spikes and they felt a diet on its own is not working to keep your levels in control

Hi everyone not pregnant but I had GD in my previous two pregnancies and this website really helped with the Facebook group, it’s all evidence based stuff and really supportive with making informed choice whether to remain diet controlled or go on meds as sometimes the professionals don’t always follow NICE guidance etc.

https://www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/

@WomanHereHear Thanks for sharing. I found that site the other day and it is really helpful, also interesting how it points out how treatments can vary across different regions/hospitals so good to be aware of that.

@HoneyBunnii That sounds so tough managing with a toddler as well, you’re doing amazingly!

I found this page which recommends best options for eating out/takeaways for different types of food. I had an Indian takeaway the other day and followed their advice to get chapati rather than naan bread or rice, managed to avoid a spike 🙂

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/out-and-about/eating-out-with-diabetes

Interesting what people are saying that it gets harder to control the further you get in pregnancy. Both my breakfast and lunch readings today have been 7.1, which is still in range, but higher than I’ve had for similar foods previously. I’m 31 weeks in a few days.