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?

Hi Oblomov thanks for your understanding re us newbies of GD!

Evening all, me and misdee could be twins - my embarrassing score at my 20 week GTT was 4.5!!!! Even the lab lady looked surprised
However, I had a cheese and apple sandwich at lunch today (nothing else), felt shite, and when I tested I had 7.7 so what's that about?? Perhaps the consultant was right when she said she didn't think the standard GTT was a reliable way to pick up everyone with GD
Anyway next GTT at 24 weeks....

yes pepperrabbit, i know when i have eaten soemthing wrong as i 'crash' and feel very very ill. i was borderline in last pregnancy and wheni was tested 1year post birth with just a fasting test, apparently that also came back borderline. i have lost almost 2 stone since then, but am still 4stone overweight, so i am not planning to pig out this pregnancy and to carry one with slimming world ASAP. i would go back now but am still suffering morning sickness, so tend to eat what doesnt make me feel sick.

Wow, I don't feel ill at all, even when I 'score' over 10 In fact, if I didn't test myself, I wouldn't see any symptoms at all.

just thought id pop in an say hi you guys

just wanted to ask a pro something here

ok im on 42 units a day have been for a while
my after scores are between 10 to 14+
always have been usually lunchtime

my question is for the last week or 2 im really not hungry
i have to force myself to eat,ive simply no appetite
the hospital sais if i cant eat still take my insulin and drink lucozade or milk ?????

im still very breathless and even drinkin is hard the baby is breech maybe hes restrcting my breathing i dont know

i could go all day and not eat literally
my DH works away and always asks have you eaten?

is this normal please

Disneystar - I would say that your lunchtime scores are far too high - they should be less than 7.

If you are not eating much, then I would think that you would need to adjust your insulin to suit - and I think that maybe these high scores are because you are having too much insulin to match the food intake.

Try it for one meal - will do you no harm I am sure - if you only feel like a slice of toast, then take half the amount of usual insulin. Are you on the fast acting one? if so, then if your score is too low after your lunch then you could take another few units to balance it out. You really should eat as this will keep your blood sugar levels on an even keel, but maybe you should test before lunch to see what your level is before you eat, then do it two hours later.

Maybe the diabetic team dont really think that you are eating so little food - it can be very hard in the last few months when the baby is getting bigger, and you just dont feel like eating - I am not sure why they should tell you to drink lucozade or milk - that just sounds odd! Take x units of insulin, oh you dont feel like eating much, so then drink a sugary product to give the insulin something to do - well I would say stuff that, dont have so much insulin to start with!!

Hopefully someone else will come along who has had a similar problem and advise you better!

disney - you still need some insulin but probably not as much per meal if you do not want to eat.

Drinking lucozade etc will make your bs peak just as you are doing the test - bloody stupid advice.

If I am not hungry, I reduce my insulin but eat a little - raisins are my faovurite at the moment to counteract the insulin. Slowly absorbed and not likely to make you peak.

Johnworf - i do understand, just got sick of the woe is me in the clinic and you do not understand wailings! Oblomov is right we understand better than anyone!

Gosh, everyone's gone all quiet!

Oblomov and Fatback - obviously have your own thread too if you like, but don't desert us totally - your advice is invaluable!

I don't feel ill at all either, regardless of my readings. How odd that it's those who don't have GD (yet ) that are feeling funny from sugar, and not those of us who do.

disney - it all sounds very odd to me. I would suggest to the clinic that what fatback says makes more sense, and see what they say to that. You really should try and eat something though, as the baby will be taking what tiny amounts you do have, leaving you rather lacking.

yeah i will talk to the clinic monday
i have 6 weeks tomorrow till i have him i guess im just getting tired hes gettin big thats why im just not hungry just need to sleep
i keep reminding myself i probably have more time and peace now than i will have in a few weeks
but i seriously need my body back now wanna walk not waddle

HI all hope your having a good weekend.

disneystar - Might be worth asking the clinic if you would benefit from a change to novorapid as you only take this with meals & one shot of levemir each night. I changed to this combination last week and although it means 4 injections a day It seems to be working a little better and I have more of an appetite.

good point lilolilly il mention that one they did say they were thinking of changing me last time
going to bed now try to sleep im so restless tonight

ive missed a few posts but has anyone heard from otter?

No, she hasn't posted since last Tues disney.

Scan for me today .

good luck for today CSWS
how many weeks are you now i have a mind like a sieve cant remember when we are all due

22 weeks today .

It's a boy . Although it wasn't a specific growth scan, I've checked the sheet where they plot the 4 standard measurements, and they are all on or just below the average line, so that sounds good to me!

The next scan is supposed to be in 4 weeks, but to get it to coincide with the diabetic clinic and not with my holiday, it will be in 6 weeks instead.

Have also booked my 36 week scan already, as placenta is low, and they want to check that it has risen ok.

congrats on your little boy
yes sounds good he is on the right lines for growth
i have my next scan 16th june they tell me my c-section date that day to
are you happy its a boy
im hoping mine isnt still breech mine is a boy to
do you have other DC? sorry for asking but i have missed quite a few posts recently and cant remember what we all have if any yet

How did you get on with the clinic disneystar? Did they change your insulin?
CSWS - have posted congrats on other thread re boy - mine generate lots of washing and snails mainly I find. V fond of sticks and stones, and genetic disposal towrads taking things apart - my things mainly!

Well given a choice disney I'd have picked a girl, but only really because that's what I know (I have one 2.3 yr old dd), and she has so many pretty clothes that I wanted to use again! And of course we had lots of lovely girls' names lined up. But I'm sure that once I'm used to the idea a bit more I'll decide that a boy is great! And we will get a chance to use the name that dd would have had if she'd been a boy.

Dd was/is fond of stones too pepper, but thankfully we are having the drive resurfaced this year (is loose stones at mo) so he won't be able to bring handfuls of stones in and suck on them all the time like dd did!

pepperrabbit i havnt rang clinic yet been very tired today will do it tomorrow

CSWS im sure you will come round to the idea its a boy
this is my 6th boy and i thought i would have liked another girl i only have the 1
but when i found out it was a he i was thrilled i guess i know boys best im used to them more than girls
end of the day we all want our baby healthy dont we mother nature doesnt give us a choice she chooses it for us
how come ive ended up the only female in the house with males all around,im so glad i have my own bathroom though boys are so so messy i think

Where's johnworf got to? Is she on hols for half term?

Hello all

I've just been for my 24 week check up with the mw and she tells me that I have glucose in my urine. I have to go back next week for another test and she says if that one is positive I will be referred to a consultant. I am 40 and my BMI is 33. (I was on a diet for a few months but fell pg on my fist atttempt so hadn't lost much weight.)

Anyway I have had no symptoms at all but on Saturday I did have some chocolate cake for breakfast (yes I know) and afterwards I felt sick and very very tired all day. I could hardly get off the sofa. I wonder now if that was the start of something.

I have just come on here to see what I should do for the best now - small portions of Atkins type food, less carbs and ban all rubbish - would that be about right? Whether I have GD or not I guess this wouldn't be a bad thing.

Welcome mrsboogie. Lovely to see you, but hoping for your sake that you don't need to stay with us for long!

Yes, Atkins style to an extent, but go easy on the excessive fat that is allowed with it. Cut out all sugary stuff, including things that you don't necessarily think of as sugary (eg ketchup, lots of yoghurts, baked beans), and make sure that carbs come from good (low GI) sources like wholewheat bread/pasta, brown or basmati rice, new potatoes in skins.

You don't need to feel any symptoms to have GD. Neither johnworf or I have any!

that's very helpful , thanks - might as well make a start on it. Yoghurts..hmmm. dang!

Hi all

CWCS - Glad your scan went well.

disneystar - Hope you feel better soon

mrsboogie - Good luck for your test next week. Irish diet yoghurts which my midwife recommended less than 5g of sugar and quite nice.

Had my 36 week scan today and my little girl is just under average size so they have booked me in for a further scan at 38 weeks but hopefully consultant will give me a date to induce next tuesday. Getting a bit worried now as I also tested positive for group b strep as well so yet another thing to lose sleep over.