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?

well i didnt get a phone call yesterday with any blood results, so am gouing to assume that i am free of GD!!

yipppeee!!! no induction here i come!

mind you my SPD is killing me, so no idea on what will happen next.

Good news misdee re the induction, but sorry re the SPD! Not much longer now anyway surely?
I seem to be going for tests weekly at the mo which is very tedious (arranging childcare for the DSs in particular) as they just can't decide wether I have GD or not. Random tests are kicking out anything from 7.8 to 6 ish, but my last GTT was 6.7 which in the black and white world of GD is a "pass".
So tomorrow, they have decided that I must go to the hosp, do a wee test and if there's ANY glucose, I'm off to the GD clinic.
I'm quite tempted to eat Cheerios for breakfast, just to get the diagnosis for once and all! (Does that make me awful?).
As I've only ever been induced, I'm a bit scared of being left to my own devices and getting to the hospital in labour - how ridiculous is that!

Hello

Just had a pregnancy with gestational diabetes. The 7 for breakfast should be 2 hours after eating.

Breakfasts were the hardest for me too, and found even porriage raised it too high. What did work was one/two pots (depending on fast reading) of weight watchers fromage frais - this is a good filler and has no added sugar.

Also another tip is the pots of soup you can buy from the chiller cabinet.

Also try wholemeal muffins instead of bread as they give a lower result.

Another filler is plain yoghurt but add seeds and nuts as an alternaltive to fruit (watch the nut amount).

The diet control is harsh but worth it.

I was overweight to start with but lost 4 stone between prepregnancy and post pregnancy as a result.

Does that mean that you won't be there on Monday then Misdee?

Pepper - cheerios would be a fairly normal breakfast for someone who wasn't watching what they were eating, so if they give you a positive result then I think that's fair enough, as it means that the chances are that you do have GD.

Helen - the 7 should most certainly not be 2 hours after for most hospitals criteria.
You were lucky to get away with soup - I've bought the lowest ones from the selection in 4 supermarkets, and still gone over my target every time, so I don't bother now!
I can't seem to do yoghurt either (any dairy is too much for me in the mornings), but I'm not a big fan of it, so can live with that.
Congratulations on getting through your pregnancy with GD. How was the birth?
Yay for your weightloss too - that's quite impressive! I haven't gained anything, but am not expecting to drop 4 stone just from the birth. Would be very happy if I did though!

Hello CantSleepWontSleep.

How much longer do you have to go? Found I could eat more in the last month of pregnancy, don't know why, but the readings stayed the same.

Yes well, birth was a little hair raising. Got intensive pain on my right hand ribs, which left me screaming whenever I moved three weeks before the due date and one week before induciton was to be carried out. Had emergency c next morning. Turned out to be pre-eclampsia/hellp syndrome. Left me with a low platelet and liver enzymes in the blood. Had two units of blood a couple of days later. Baby was 8lb 11oz but is absolutely thriving. Fully recovered and now 4 months on. Larger baby was not put down to my diabetes, but due to genetics, as I was able to keep all the readings at about 4.5/5. Baby was very long which accounted for the extra weight.

At the end of the day I have a wonderful baby so it was all worth it.

Ah, birth not quite to plan then! 5 weeks to go here. Have heard that levels should stabilise after 36 weeks, but doula said that they shouldn't actually improve, though I forget what reason she gave.
DD was 9lbs with no GD, so not expecting a small one this time, but growth scans have all been fine so far. Last one scheduled for Monday.
Still hoping to avoid induction, but only time will tell!
Glad to hear that motherhood has made it all worth it for you .

I'm officially joining you now, no need for cheerios, the optivita did it .
Your comment did make me think CSWS - after all, I know I could control it - but then I wouldn't be diagnosed and suppose something went wrong giving birth IYSWIM, so thank you for that.
Had one of the appts at the hospital, where if you weren't expecting it, would leave you confused and overwhelmed.
A growth scan - immediately (like the GD was a surprise!) showed baby at c 5lbs 9oz now, with 6 weeks to go, so slightly above average but still normal. Bloods etc and regular finger prick testing till GD clinic Monday.
They did want me to go tomorrow, but I said I simply couldn't as it's my last day at work, so cos I'm an old hand at this they let me go.
Trouble was I immediately forgot to do my lunchtime test ! So much for knowing what I'm doing.......
Helen that sound like a pretty hair raising experience, glad you and baby are fine now.

Well, I'm now even more of a pin cushion than before. In addition to the slow reacting insulin at bed time, I'm now on 4 units of Novorapide at lunchtime and dinnertime in addition to all the fingertip testing. Thank goodness I only have about 9 weeks max left and I'm just praying that I get shot of it after baby arrives. Hats off to all diabetics who have to put up with this hassle as a matter of course.

Have had one growth scan so far and baby looks to be coming in on the 9lb mark so we'll see what the consultant recommends as previously she said if baby was any bigger than DS (8.5lbs) then they'd recommend a c-section.

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's take on whether baby will be forced out around the 38 week mark? Of my straw poll of prior sufferers of GDM, one was left to go naturally into labour but her GDM was well controlled by diet alone, whereas the other was induced at 38 weeks but her GDM was quite severe and she has been left with Type 2 now. Any thoughts? I'm assuming this baby will be out at 38 weeks but haven't grilled the consultant yet.

Also, I'm curious as to how accurate growth scans turn out to be. One of my friends at work (with GDM) was told her baby would be huge and ended up 6lb something or other (different hospital though) so I'm curious as to people's experiences of this as well.

I'm just quite paranoid about them underestimating the baby's size and then having a hellish time trying to get a whopper out and ending up with a section anyway. I told everyone till I was blue in the face last time that baby was going to be big but they didn't listen. In the end DD was 10lb 5 though 'luckily' she was undiagnosed breech so ended in an emergency section anyway. Afterwards they all said there was no way she'd have come out naturally... I just think the outcome could have been tragic so I'm really quite paranoid about making sure this baby gets into the world as safely as possible.

Fairybasslet Poor you with all those injections. When I had a growth scan I asked the sonographer how accurate the estimated weight was and she told me they only go on measurements of head etc but the actual weights are inaccurate as they can't tell if a baby has particularly chubby thighs for instance. I've heard of so many women having the opposite weights to what they were told to expect so I was interested to hear the answer.

In your position is it possible for you to ask for a elective caesarean? (if that's what you want) I would have thought you would have a very good case for one.

Fairy, can't help with the growth estimates but have had GD twice before and with DS1 they let me go to 40 + 6 and induced but I wasn't on insulin. With DS2 they wanted 38 weeks but I refused till 39 weeks (as he was fine), I still wasn't on insulin, but was caught earlier with him.
DS2 was only 8lb 2oz after all the dire threats that he'd be bigger than DS1 (8lb 13oz) tho they did say that the cord was very fragile by the time I had him so that's another consideration for me this time.
Took them a week to get me into labour but that's a different story. HTH.

Thanks 07 and Pepperrabbit. I was talking to a woman at a kiddie birthday party today who was told her baby would be a whopper (no GDM) and she ended up 4lb something or other so I now have absolutely no confidence in estimates of baby size.

I'll chat with the consultants on Wednesday when I go to my antenatal/diabetic clinic to get more of an idea.

I'm kind of torn between wanting to have a section and having a natural birth. I hate the thought of the recovery time with a section (although to be honest I recovered very quickly last time) but it's more important that the baby is safe, and the obstetric consultant rather ominously said last time I saw her that 'the risk factors are mounting' so I suspect they'll recommend a caesarian in any case.

Will just need to wait and see.

Sympathies for being such a pin-cushion FB. My brother is type 1 diabetic, but only does 2 injections a day (would be better controlled on 4, but he's always refused as he doesn't like needles ) and rarely does a blood test, so in fact we are testing far more than many long-termers!

I was adamant that I didn't want to be induced at 38 weeks, but have managed to control mine through diet alone, so will be 'allowed' to go to 40 weeks before they want to induce. I plan on fighting them for a few days' grace if needs be, and as long as the size doesn't seem to be a problem, but am hoping that he comes on time to avoid any need.

Agree that weight estimates always seem to be notoriously wrong, but would also disagree with the need for a c-sec for any baby over 8.5lbs. DD was a 9 pounder and came naturally with just gas and air and a couple of stitches for a very superficial tear.

Thanks for letting me know of this thread csws. Still a bit worried about what can happen does GD mean you can have a bigger or smaller baby dd was 8 8 and ds 8 3. Will changing my diet help much I don't like sugary drinks or food, the glucose drink at GTT nearly made me pass out and they wouldn't let me drink water which i have been downing by the bucket. I've lost weight during this pregnancy which the midwifesaid was bad for baby but if i hadn't of been healthy eating then i would be huge by now.

A bigger baby usually Debs. Excess sugar that your body can't deal with passes to the baby, and it basically gets fat in the womb! Have you been given/offered a growth scan?

Changing your diet can certainly help a lot of people, but some will need insulin regardless. I'm not sure if they tend to give insulin for such a late diagnosis or not. Has your consultant spoken to you about this, or about being induced, possibly a little early? It's usual to be induced somewhere between 38 and 40 weeks with GD, depending on the severity of it and how it is being managed.

What made them test you this time round? Excess thirst can be a symptom, so you may have had it a while I guess.

You need to avoid refined carbs (white bread, white pasta, white rice etc) as well as obvious sugars, and even fruit has to be eaten very much in moderation.

Remind me (and others on the thread who won't have seen your other post) what your due date is?

hi all, just checking in

how are you CSWS not long now, ooohhhh too exciting!

welcome Debs75 0 just for your info, I had two massive babies without GD and my third was my smallest with GD so don't be letting them scare the pants off you with it

have my glucose test next week which I really can't be arsed with but hey ho, I suppose needs must!

I had a routine check and my glucose was up 1 but cleared uop then got really thirsty, drinking 4 pints of water a day and i was finding any exercise shattering. Had another check up at 35 weeks and was +++ so they booked me in for gtt. When i had the glucose I felt really bad, a bit like i had been doing for the past few weeks. Am at the clinic tomorrow so should find out what they want to do. Hope baby is not too big other 2 were over 8 pounds

My due date is 23 Sept so only 3 weeks left. Yippeee

Hey dizzy - how are you and your lovely brood?
Yes, only a month to go for me now. Had final growth scan today, and they reckon he weighs about 5lb 6oz at the moment, but wouldn't project a birth weight from that. All measurements very average though, so hopeful that he might actually turn out to be a bit smaller than dd was .
Good news is that because my blood results are still fairly good and consistent, they have said that I only need to do blood tests for 2 days each week . I know that I'll still find myself doing extras though, when I want to know whether I can get away with a snack or not!

Cross posted Debs. Good luck at clinic tomorrow. Let us know what they say.

hi all

Debs, thats my dh's birthday and he's an absolute star so hope you go on your due date

CSWS glad to hear you're doing so well, can't believe its all this close - is the name settled on yet? am still rooting for Elliot as a first name btw!

Name is settled dizzy. We've decided to go for Duncan Elliot, and have told dd now, so had better not change it!

lovely choice, a good strong name well done

Hi all went for my check up today at the diabetes clinic, feel a bit overwhelmed as we saw loads of different people and they told me everything. Basically I have to check my blood sugar 4 times a day before meals and bed, they want it between 4 and 6, if it goes over 7 for a day then to ring in. I had a scan to check for fluid and she said there was loads, she couldn't tell how big baby was but she looked huge. The two drs I saw said i go back next week have my pinprick tests checked and have a measuring scan, then they will decide wether or not to induce me, will be 38 weeks then so it's not like i have a lot of time left although i still have loads to do.
Anyway that was my day i am absolutely shattered now and probably won't sleep tonight for worrying.

Debs75 - don't worry please, its exactly the same as I was doing and my bloods were mainly between 4 and 6

I sometimes hit 7 and rarely 8 but they weren't bothered about that as long as it didn't become regular

they also told me dd3 was going to be huge, she was 9lb14, the smallest of my 3 and I hadn't had GD with the other two

it will become second nature to you I promise, I wasn't diagnosed until 35wks so was in a similar position - you don't have to be induced if you don't want to, remember no decisions have to be made instantly and don't feel pressurised into anything

hope you manage to sleep tonight

Hope that you managed some sleep Debs, and weren't awake all night worrying.

Glad to hear that have explained lots of stuff to you. Sounds odd that they did a scan but didn't check for size, but do you mean that baby looked huge to you or to them? They can seem big now, but they are real people almost ready to come out!

I would certainly make sure that you have everything packed and ready before your next appointment, just in case they want an imminent induction, though as dizzy says, don't forget that you can refuse it if you want to.