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?

If you have GD, but your GTT was ok at 28 weeks, then it has probably only recently come on (the likelihood increases as pregnancy progresses), so it's unlikely that you'll have done much if any 'damage'. If you do have it, you will probably be offered an extra growth scan to check the size of the baby (they can essentially get 'fat' in the womb because the glucose that you can't deal with passes to them).

You should be offered the chance to control it through diet (hard but often possible if you are strict), but you will have to do blood tests at home about 4 times a day (a finger prick - they really don't hurt and you soon get used to them) and have the results monitored to see if you are controlling it well enough. If you are, then you should be allowed to go to full term, but your hospital may not let you go over, so you will be induced if it hasn't happened naturally by then.

If you cannot control it through diet, then you will need insulin injections. Policies vary slightly from hospital to hospital, but most will want to induce you at 38 weeks if you are on insulin.

The procedure for the birth will also depend on whether you need insulin or not. If you do then I think it will mean a lot more monitoring (I'm not on insulin yet, and only 23 weeks, so still have a lot to find out about the birth myself), if you don't then whilst you will probably get some additional monitoring, it hopefully won't be too intrusive. You will be discouraged from home birth though I'm afraid, and IMO it would be unwise to argue against this.

After the birth, the baby's blood glucose levels may drop too low. It will need a blood test around 3-4 hours after birth (don't let them do it earlier, as it takes a while to stabilise after birth anyway), and another one I think about 3 hours after that. It must achieve 2 successive satisfactory results before being allowed home iirc.

Are you planning to bf or ff, as that may make some difference to the actions taken if its sugars are too low?

Thank you so much for your reply. I am totally gutted about this! I have just emailed my midwife to see whether or not I should just do the GTT asap and be done with it (logistically very annoying) or whether another 'random' blood test next week will be sufficient.

Either way - I am cutting out the fruit juice that I've been drinking loads of!

By the way - what sort of meals are good if you do have GD? e.g. breakfasts?

Breakfast is usually the hardest meal, as the pregnancy hormones peak in the mornings and send your blood sugars high regardless of what you've eaten.

The only breakfast that I can have and still get an acceptable reading is an egg on toast, but only 1 slice, and only from one of 3 loaves that I've found ok so far (needs to be low in carbs and in partic the amount of the carbs that come from sugar). Generally plain porridge (with sweetener if you prefer) is recommended as the best thing (made with water if necessary), but it sends me sky high, as does all cereal.

Lunch is a little easier, and dinner easier still. Will make some more suggestions later when I have more time.

What symptoms if any do you have when your sugar levels are high? I always feel a bit lousy in the mornings - heart rate up a bit etc

And what blood glucose levels do you personally get when high and controlled??

I've never had any symptoms at all from it as far as I'm aware.
Blood sugars have to be below 7 one hour after eating. Think the highest I've had was nearly 9, which is still low compared to most on this thread, but I still have a long way to go!

The 'perfect' non-diabetic hovers around 5 all the time apparently.

quick post my readings can be up to 14+ after a meal and i do eat what i am supposed to
very uncomfortable today had a scare yesterday thought baby had decided it was his time but luckily all settled down i have 4 weeks till my c-section yet
trouble with diabetes though ive had 2 at 35 wks
hope you are all well and having a good day
JW how is everyone doing ? thinking of you all x

ok well mine was 6.3 (or 6.9 ) within one hour of eating....

TYAGN, just to add, I was caught as GD with DS2 after a "random" blood test at the midwife - they have to do a blood test if you have 3 consecutive results of glucose in your urine sample here, so I was on my third visit after a very borderline GTT with +++ as a sugar/urine score. (personally I blame a ill advised slice of yoghurt coated flapjack... but it was my own fault!)
With DS1 I developed GD at pretty much the stage you are now, 35 weeks, and diet controlled it OK, they induced me at 40+6 after a satisfactory growth scan - you can be quite firm if there is no immediate risk to the baby if you want to want a little longer.
Hope that helps.

Well no-one has mentioned anything about glucose in my urine......and I forgot to ask.

It should be in your notes in the column headed "urinalysis".
But don't worry! As CSWS said - everywhere is different.....
Just try to relax and move from fruit juice to water - or if that's a step too far, try Robinson reduced sugar lemon barley - it's the lowest non diabetic squash I've found..
PR steps back and waits for someone more knowledgable to correct her..

just did my before dinner BS and its 10.8 i havnt eaten yet
i need someone wise to answer a question for me please
the last 3 days ive felt very unwell i have a very swollen left leg and its very painful i can barely walk on it
i cannot lie in bed i have to sit up i cant lie on left or right side without extreme pain thats makes me sick
even sittin here my ankle is swelling up more i dont want to be a worrier and pop to the hospital for a check up but what can it be
baby still moving ok its just me that feels ill
do you get swelling or any other symptonms with GD
its not just my foot its my whole leg from groin downwards

I think you should go to A&E - it may be a blood clot (DVT - deep vein thrombosis).

You are not being stupid and they will absolutely expect you to be there.

Agree that you should go straight to A&E. Swelling can be a sign of something - not sure if it's pre-eclampsia or not, but definitely get it checked, as that amount isn't normal.

I'm thinking pre-eclampsia - but get yourself checked out - it's certainly enough to warrant urgent medical attention - at the very least phone NHS Direct.
Please!

just come back from A&E he says its something to do with my pelvis which has affected my leg and made it swell
says he can give me morphine based tablets but to have a think first as they will be passed on to baby
i guess he was thinking blood clot as i had one last august but hes just ruled that out
tbh i trust him its not another clot but he gave me no explanation of my huge swelling on my foot and ankle when you press it it it leaves big water marks now
i will be going to assesment centre first thing monday morning
he was foreign didnt check my blood pressure test rine nothing we couldnt understand each other so not very re assured
mondays not far away il feel better after getting baby checked out to

also top of my leg is very bruised due to injections there does anyone else suffer bruising its just its my best leg as im left handed

I'm not happy with that.
Can you get a second opinion?
Perhaps ring NHS direct / your out of hours doctor.

You're heavily PG and he didn't test your blood pressure!!
I'm sorry you're going through this dineystar - do you feel any better today?
good luck tomorrow at DAU.

sorry im a bit slow at posting here i have a pain in the neck 16 yr old son whos taking up a load of my time right now
sunday not to bad but by afternoon coudnt walk
today can barely walk so breathless again im going to see mw tomorrow instead
basically i cant drive to DAU legs to bad
baby moving ok hes a bit slow today so im going to have a feet up rest for half hour see what he does
how are you ladies faring in this heat?

also he told me to take ibobrufen?? i didnht think this was safe am i right here

im already on 30mg codiene from docs

Can you not see someone today disney? Sounds like you might need to be admitted tbh - could the rest of your family cope without you if necessary?

I had appt at joint clinic this morning. They are so pleased with the consistency of my results that they have said that I only need to do my blood tests every other day , although I'll do them a bit more whilst I'm on holiday, as will prob be eating a bit differently (off to France on Sunday).

There was apparently a trace of keytones in my urine though, which seems odd given that I had blood glucose of 5.4 first thing, which is when I took the urine sample too .

More bloods were taken for another hba1c, and I didn't have to see the horrid dietician - hurrah!

Another month til my next appt (unless I have any problems in the mean time), and I'll have a scan then too.

csws no way i could be admitted theres no one here to help me anyway
i have a disabled son whos nearly 8 i have to be here
im going to see mw tomorrow so i can speak to my DH on phone later to pre warn him what might happen
have a great time in france you lucky thing you i could do with going away maybe i could sneak in your case for a well earned break

doing your blood tests every other day well thats good news

im seeing diabetic team next monday and growth scan you know its amazing really they will induce me at 36 weeks but c-section at 38 really dont know what to do
im so much in pain now i think i can bear induction to get it all over
but then baby has serious medical problems i dont want to risk his health

oh disneystar you poor thing. can you not even ring mw for a chat today? see if she can offer any advice?

I feel silly posting my little worries after reading that!! but here goes - I was on here last week explaining that I had just had my first +ve urine/ glucose test. I have just been for my second this morning and mw said I am clear which is good but the thing is -I hadn't had time to eat since yesterday. I mentioned this and she looked puzzled and said it shouldn't make any difference. Does anyone know if this is true? Surely I would have had to have eaten for sugar to be present?

Do you mean that you ate yesterday, but not this morning mrsboogie? Was your urine from your first wee of this morning, or a later one? I would expect it to make a difference tbh, but I wouldn't really rely on urine tests either way.

disney - can you talk to your consultant about the additional risks of being induced at 36 over c-sec at 38? I'm not sure what they are, but they must be a key part of your decision.