Anyone want to join in a support thread for those with gestational diabetes?

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Since it seems to be reasonably common, I thought maybe we could have an ongoing thread where we could discuss issues relating to it, and maybe share ideas of meals that work for us to keep blood sugars down.

I was just over the threshold on my GTT nearly 3 weeks ago, and have been monitoring my bloods 4 times a day since last Thursday. Had my first visit to joint diabetic/obstetric clinic this morning, which I found thoroughly impersonal and demoralising, so am feeling a bit low about it at the moment.

I am nearly 20 weeks, so still have a long way to go. Am hoping to control it just through diet, but consultant gave me a prescription for insulin 'just in case I need it'!

Am having the most problem with my after breakfast reading. Have been told to keep it below 7 one hour after eating, but even with the cereals they have recommended, I am getting around 8-9. Dietician has recommended trying baked beans on toast for breakfast instead. Is anyone else struggling with this one, as they said it is a common one to find raised due to steroids produced by the body in the mornings?

hello

i got caught up in traffic off the A1 turning, so didnt get chance to pop to sainsburys for lucozade as was running late for my appointment by then, so had the glucose drink.

fasting blood reading was 4.8, just below what they want, so am hoping that my two hour bloods werent too bad, but by then i had had a bit of a 'rush' then a crash and was so sleepy. almost passed out on second bloods, and had to sit with my head between my knees for a few minutes. they only managed to get less than half a vial, but midwife phoned up path lab and they said it should be enough to get the test done.
i stopped by the coffee shop and got a brown chicken + baconm sandwich which i ate in the car before coming home.

if any problems thn will know tomorrow afternoon.

am now enjoying a cup of tea.

solo - it was me! I had GD with both kiddies - diet controlled first time, and insulin second time - but now I am a type 2 diabetic - Ds is now 15 months old and it never really went away after his birth. I am on diet control at the moment - only finding it hard! I believe it is not usual for it to continue, more likely that GD is an indication that you will probably get diabetes in later life. I did read some statistics somewhere on the likelhood of getting it later in life, but cant remember hwere. All I know is that if you get down to a sensible weight after birth, then you may put it off for longer!

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

disneystar - I had a growth scan at 33 weeks & my baby was on the 50th centile so very happy with that. Next scan I will be 36 weeks and will see the consultant a few days later. She has already said they plan to induce by 38 weeks as despite constantly increasing my insulin I still have average readings of 9.8 one hour after eating.
My GTT fasting levels were 8.8 and 9.6 2 hours after the drink.

otter1980 - due 19th May, induction date 21st may - diet control
disneystar - elective c-section 7th july 42 units of insulin a day
Johnworf - due 14th September - 20 units insulin a day
CSWS - due 1st October - attempting to control through diet
pepperrabbit - due 10th October, complete fraud a the mo, 1st GTT Thurs (2 x previous GD)
lilolilly - due 26th June, induction date tbc - 70 units of insulin a day

Hi everyone hope things are going ok for u all- wonder if oter has her LO yet!

Re injecting I was told that if you pinch b4 you put the needle in but release b4 you press the button down it hurts less and wont bleed too much. Also I found trying to keep the needle at right angles to the skin and dont go in at a slant helped. I only ever injected in my legs as I was too scared of 'popping' my baby bubble if I did it in my tummy-lol

Having G does mean u r more likely to get type 2 later in life but thats bcos u r more predisposed to it anyway. Some people may b a borderline diabetic b4 becoming pregnant, but have never been tested until then IYKWIM. In these cases it may appear to never have gona away- but they would have likely got it anyway if never ben pregnant.

I had the opposite GD in 1st pregnancy, but fine afterwards and no GD in 2nd pregnancy despite numerous GTTs!!!

right ladies, start to prepare me on whats bad to eat and whats good.

IIRC one glass of fruit juice a day? or is that too much? or avoid altogether.

are white carbs good or bad, ie pasta, rice white bread?

what about dairy products?

have to be careful regarding fruit dont i?

am just preparing as pretty certain one of the GTT's at one point will come back badly.

No fruit juice at all.
Basmati or brown rice.
Wholemeal bread with the lowest sugar content you can find.
Wholewheat pasta.
You'll need to see how you go with milk - has too much sugar for me, but cheese/butter etc ok.
Lots of veg.
Fruit but not lots.

Gotta go - being dragged into garden!

And do NOT eat raw jelly cubes. Even if you are constantly craving them day and night and dreaming of them in your sleep. It will do very BAD things to your blood sugar.

Have you had your results yet misdee? You may not get GD you know

ewww@raw jelly cubes!

I can't do milk as it's too sugary for me. Same with fruit. I'm ok with a small apple/banana as a mid day snack and that's it.

Little pots of petite filous are good as the portion is small - nice for a dessert.

Cheese is ok for me - thank god! I'd die without it

I can have a very small glass of fruit juice in the morning with breakfast - i'm talking 2 mouthfuls here and no more.

Eggs seem ok.

Anything in a packet/jar avoid as it's usually loaded with sugar - but check if you like first.

Almost anything that is sugar free or diet e.g. drinks is ok I'm told.

And yes! it was andyrobo237. It's all coming back to me now

Be wary of things that say 'low fat' as they often contain extra sugar instead.

Half a vial is loads misdee. They only managed about 2 finger pricks worth for my GTT (and also made me feel faint with their poking around trying), but still got a result.

solo - if your friend has type 1 then I'm not sure that it is related to her having GD. It does increase the chances of getting type 2 in future, but pretty sure that type 1 has different causes. Fatback might be able to advise better, as she's type 1.

No relationship between Type 1 and gestational diabetes. Different autoimmune process.

Having gestational diabetes does predispose you to be type 2 later in life though..

Think Atkins diet and you will be along the right lines. This was how they used to treat diabetics before insulin came along.

Low fat means extra sugar to give it more flavour.

Try plain yoghurt with a squirt of Ellas kitchen fruit smoothie for flavour - much lower sugar content and slower absorbed. I like the black current one - raisins also a good one for slow absorbed sugars but will give you the sweetness some of you crave.

Sugar craving not my problem but I would love some fresh warm bread - does dances with my BS so banned for the duration.

MY post preg meal -will be fresh crusty bread, prawn cocktail,pate and a bloody large gin.

Small portions frequently not big meals your body can not cope.

Thanks andy, I know it's fairly rare and my friend is very upset by the whole thing. Incidentally, she is very slim and healthy otherwise, though I'm not sure she eats particularly healthily.

Got a nice 6.6 post b/fast today. I'm hoping that the 12 units I take before bedtime are holding up for a bit now, at least until I get back from holiday but we'll have to see.

I'm phoning mid week results in tomorrow to my diabetic MW and see what she thinks.

Not worried about holiday eating at all now. Think I've got most of the foods I can have in check now and I'm taking a lot with me. Hardest part will be not being tempted by the yummy holiday treats. I'm taking lots of reading materials to keep busy

Hello all, can I join? I had GD in my previous pregnancy, and I'm now 13 weeks pregnant with DC#2. Obviously I'm at risk of getting it again - and I'm quite worried.

Does anyone know when I should have the GTT this time around?

Welcome dez. I went for my first GTT at 14 weeks, but passed out and threw up so it was abandoned, and was retested at 17 weeks, when it looks like GD was just starting for me. When did it start in your last pregnancy? It's better for baby if you pick up on it early, so I'd push for a test around 16-18 weeks if I were you.

Good results with eating little and often yesterday (even with a fairly generous tea), but fasting results are creeping up - 5.9 today. Just snuck in with 6.9 after breakfast.

CSWS interesting that you do your BS before and after your meals. Myself and disneystar have a 'before' day followed by an 'after' day.

I wonder why this varies?

CSWS, last time due to administrative cock up I didn't get the GTT until 29 weeks. It should have been at 26 weeks.

I knew they generally test earlier than 26 weeks second time around, but I didn't realise as early as 14 or 16 weeks. My midwife hasn't said anything to me about it at all (have seen her only once so far though).

dez - I think they generally only test that early (in my area anyway) if you have 2 (or more) risk factors, in the main (according to one midwife I saw) to catch people who have type 2 already without realising it.

jw - I don't test before every meal - just a fasting one first thing and then an hour after each meal, so 4 times a day in total.

my results are in

[drumroll]

5 and 2hour ones 4.8

i'm off to drink full fat cola and have some candyfloss. [joking!]

14 weeks

then have to do it all again.

i still feel like shite if i have anything too sugary though so will be avoiding sweet treats.

ack@misdee and I thought you were one of us

Still, you'll be here...mark my words...another 10-12 weeks or so

CSWS so you do your BS only after meals and once first thing in the morning?? I've not heard of that one before...

Thanks for the recommendation Cantsleepwontsleep and hello and waves to you.
Fatback, I don't think this is the thread for you. Start another in 'health' or 'pregnnacy'. And then I will come and have a good moan and winge - believe me, this is my FORTE
I am 15 weeks pregnant, one ds, diabetic on a pump, have been since my pregnancy with ds. Before that I was a diabetic for 29 years on ordinary injections.
Give the gestational'ies a break - it is a big shock to them , esp if you develop it badly.
Come and be a , " what are you moaning about, I have had it all my life", with me, on a different thread.
{grin]

Misdee, I was just about to post on Nov thread.
So you are not a 'gestational'ies' , as yet ?
THIS IS GOOOD