Worried about gestational diabetes :( just had blood test

[Sarahjsxx]

Hello,
So I had a scan 3 weeks ago showing baby is on 97th percentile , my last 2 were large and both sides of our family have large babies. I just had a blood test for gestational diabetes, panicking that I have it 😩 I can't stand needles. I asked the midwife what will happen if the results show that I do have it , she didn't really answer and just told me to eat less sugar in the meantime?!
Any reassurance please that having a larger baby doesn't mean I do have it and if I do, how does that affect the rest of my pregnancy? I'm due to have a c section at 39 weeks

If large babies run in your family it could just be that.

Most likely if you do have it they will manage through diet initially anyway although you will have to test your blood sugar regularly.

The most common issue it would cause if you do have it would be larger baby and they would monitor baby’s blood sugar after birth to make sure it doesn’t drop too much.

I had gestational diabetes with my second baby, and I think I had it (undiagnosed) with my first, as she was huge (4.5kg). It was a shock at first, but actually turned out fine. There's a really good GD Facebook group which is massively supportive and helped me through the initial panic and the 'what do I eat' moments, so I'd really recommend that.

The risks to your baby are small, particularly if you're having an elective section anyway. You'll be given a glucose monitoring kit and advice on what range to keep your blood sugar in, and some advice on how to adapt your diet. I cut sugar down as much as possible, and ate a low-carb diet with lots of vegetables, I found I tolerated some carbs better than others so that helped me plan meals around it. If you do have it, please remember that it's not because you're doing anything wrong - think of it more like your body has developed an insulin intolerance (like some people are gluten intolerant) because of the pregnancy hormones, and you'll just need to adapt your diet a bit.

Large babies don't automatically mean GD, especially if they are long rather than chubby. I grow ridiculously large babies for my size (DD1 was down as '100th centile' on my personalised growth chart for DD2, and DD2 was largely only smaller because she came earlier). I was tested for GD with DD2, and didn't have it.

My first baby was a big'un so they tested me for GD. I had to fast for 12 hours I think, then go to a clinic where they took a small amount of blood. Then I drank a pint of Lucozade as quickly as I could and sat still for a couple of hours before they took another small amount of blood.

I didn't have it, and the test wasn't too bad at all. I quite enjoyed getting to sit, quietly reading.

I think they called me with the result a couple of days later, so I didn't have to wait long.

I have gestational diabetes and it isn't that bad, I've had to cut out sugar and reduce carbs which at first feels difficult but I'm used to it now, I had a scan at 28 weeks which showed baby was growing normally, I have another on Friday this week at 32 weeks, I've been put on metformin which is helping and my blood sugar is under control you just have to be careful and eat lots of protein and reduce carbs and cut out processed sugar I also test my blood 4 times a day which sounds daunting but it is just part of my routine now and it doesn't hurt at all

I had GD with my 1st so was tested early this time (16 weeks) and I have it again.

It's not terrible. It can be annoying but really it isn't awful. Depending on how 'bad' you have it will depend on if you need insulin. I have to do finger prick tests and inject myself with insulin. But honestly the needle is tiny and so so fine.

Did you have a section with your first? The blood thinner injections are worse. Diabetic needles are nothing at all like that

Hey OP. Im currently 31+6 with my first baby and was diagnosed with GD at around 26 weeks although I knew slightly before that I had it. I found out 4 weeks ago I have severe Polyhydramnios which they put down to the GD. I was prescribed with metaformin and 2 weeks later my amniotic fluid went down by 15cm and back within normal range. However, my little madam is measuring on 98th percentile at 30+5. I’m back in next week for a scan to see how she’s progressing. It could mean me going in at 37 weeks but the growth might also slow down now.
GD isn’t as bad as people make out or scare you. I think my metaformin is massively helping though. I can still eat sugar within reason and yummy foods.
Try not to worry too much, as long as us and our baby is healthy x