Gestational diabetes diagnosis

[chocitychoc19]

Hi All

Just got that dreaded phone call from the hospital. I have diabetes. Just been told to wait for a call from the hospitals diabetic team over the next few days. These were my levels. Anyone any idea which one was abnormal? And also what should I expect to happen next? My first GTT came back normal at 28 wks.. i had to be restested again due to extra fluid round the baby.. I'm 32 weeks now. Also told baby is measuring a little smaller.. I'm just so confused.. always thought GD meant bigger babies🤔

I actually eat very little.. prob 2 meals a day if I'm lucky. So if its to be diet controlled, how will I manage this 😢

Any advice welcome please 🙏

GD can mean big baby or small baby. Mine was 2.92kg

They will advise on diet but it may be that it needs to be controlled with metformin. You will need try and eat how they advise. For baby.

when baby is born they will test their sugars. GD usually goes away after baby is born.

Not eating enough is actually worse your body will dump glucose because you aren't feeding it enough. I've jointed the gestational diabetes Uk Facebook group the advice and knowledge is amazing they have a website as well. But eat your 3 main meals and snack in between. Eating little and often and making sure you eat the right carbs. Can't recommend that Facebook group enough it's saved me. Good luck

I had gestational diabetes in my pregnancy (now have a healthy 6mo).

The diabetes team will teach you to monitor your blood sugar levels with a finger prick test 4x per day (before breakfast, then an hour each meal). They will also advise you on diet.

It may be possible to control just with diet, or you may need to take metformin. Mine was diet controlled initially but later needed metformin as I was having high readings despite following the diet advice.

You’ll probably be advised to give birth early (for me 39 weeks but I think different hospitals vary so might be 40). You won’t be allowed to go overdue basically.

When baby is born they will need their blood sugar monitoring a few times in the first 24 hours (can’t remember exactly). In my case baby was fine, and she wasn’t especially big either - 3.5kg or so.

A helpful website about it:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/gestational-diabetes/

I know it seems scary when you get the diagnosis but it is manageable. Good luck!!

I think it's your fasting one that's high, should be under 5.5 I believe.

I felt like the worst person in the world when I was diagnosed but it's hormone related.

My son was 7lb 5oz born at 39 +1 so not big at all. I also had a spontaneous water birth so it also didn't stop me from having the birth I wanted.

It's just boring and annoying but you can do it! Easier if you're not veggie. Protein veg and wholemeal brown carbs like brown rice and quinoa , sweet potatoes not white potatoes and no break or cakes type stuff. Be careful of sugar free sweets as they cause upset tummy!

I hated it but it actually made me look stunning I got rid of all my face bloat and rediscovered a jawline I hadn't seen in years on this low sugar diet and I've half kept it up.

Try to express breast milk for as long as you can if you can't breastfeed as this helps reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes later

Thanks all for your replies.
Think I'm still in shock having.. Its all I've thought about all morning. Just hoping baby will be ok 🙏 I have looked up that diabetic group on FB.. so I'm sure ill get good info on that when I'm accepted into the group.

Have to say: I'm not looking forward to the finger pricks everyday lol

I’ll be honest the finger pricks were really stressful at first. After a while though you do them so frequently it becomes second nature.

I’d recommend rotating and doing different fingers/places each time so you don’t end up with particular sore spots.

Your diabetes team will tell you what your target sugar levels are and when to call them if you get a number of high readings etc.