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?

Officially that's it. Unofficially I'll have a bowl of cereal around 7.30pm ready for my last prick of the night - oooh errrr.

Have tea early as DSS is ready to eat as soon as he comes home from school. I can only hold him off for so long........

The result was 5.8 so Ben & Jerry can visit again

Oh bravo jw - that's amazing! Dietician told me to try cereal as an evening snack, as I can't tolerate it in the mornings.

otter - bravo! I like to have stuff like that to hand in case I need it, as I sense I may have a few battles on my hands over the next 20 weeks!

otter1980 the 7.1 is despite taking 10 units of insulin in the morning. And another 8 units at night. That's why it's only at 7.1!!! If I wasn't on the insulin I shudder to think what it would be.

4.9 after dinner. Yeah yeah yeah - go girl!

showoff!

Hello all - thought I would dip me head in here as I saw it on the homepage! I had gestational diabetes with both my babies - DD is now 6 and Ds is 15 months. First time ound I managed on diet alone, second time - ewent on insulin at 25 weeks pg - managed ok - was on fast acting insulin before meals, coped ok and levels were around the 6-7 ater meals. Baby had sugar problems when born - elective section at 38 weeks - he was 8 8 but ouldnt regulate his temp, sugars low, wouldnt feed, so he went to SCBU or 26 hours - the long worst 26 hours in my life (pg hormones!!).

Well now I am a Type 2 diabetic - not sure it went away after birth, but, there you go.

I am on diet control - I cannot eat cereal for breakfast as my levels are too high when testing at 2 hours later - so I have a protein based meal or a yoghurt / milk fruit smoothie (home made). I also find that I have to reduce my carbs as I cannot tolerate them sugar level wise. I can have a roast dinner with two small potatoes, and 2 hrs later - sugar levels are 5.4. If I have - say Spag Bol, then my level would be 8 or 9 when testing two hours later.

It is a controversial thing to reduce carbs if you listen to the health care professionals as they all state that you should fill up on complex carbs - but I go by the diabetes.co.uk website which has a forum on and alot of people there find that low carbs are the way to go. Insulin is great as you can eat what you like as long as you balance it out with the right dose of insulin. It can be difficult when pg as you have to take the word of the dietician, diabetic nurses, etc and you have another little life to think of, but I would say to all those struggling with getting levels low enough - look at what you are eating - dont lower portion sizes, but maybe reduce slightly your carb instake, and up your veg intake. I am sure it wouldnt do any harm to try it for a few meals as the effect is instant! ANother good tip I got was to have a protein based snack as supper - say 9pm - as this gives your body something to work on while you are sleeping (!) - I do this and have lowered morning levels from high 7 levels to 5-6 levels. It is a simple as a piece of meat, handful of nuts and seeds, etc. It is due to sommething called the Dawn Effect - see i you can find it on the web.

Hope any of the above helps you!

Hi - hope I haven't joined this too late!

I had GD with DD, diagnosed last summer. Mornings were the most difficult. My blood sugars were hitting 13+ with porridge, or unsweetened muesli, so I had to experiment. I found that soya and linseed bread was the least bad (wholemeal sent me way over, even in the evening), and I could have that with eggs and some protein, which was often fish (smoked salmon or mackerel - but the dietician at my diabetes clinic asked me to cut back on that to 2 portions a week) or ham, rather than bacon. Because I wasn't eating fruit or veg for breakfast, I had to have a huge salad or stir-fry later in the day to get my veg in, and bulked these out with lentils and beans (not baked beans though, have always hated the sauce). I snacked on dried apricots or prunes and nuts. I found the numerous GI books / sites really helpful - for instance I learned that sweet potatoes were fine but squashes were not. So I'd have sweet potato, ricotta, parmesan, sage and hazelnut lasagne; or puy lentil, tomato, feta, red onion and herb salad. In the evenings I could usually manage a square or two of 70% chocolate.

I lost weight while pregnant because of this diet, although it has gone back on again despite breast-feeding. So I am following it again now, more or less, and hoping for similar results.

Hope that helps? Good luck with managing your GD. It all feels like a really long time ago now for me.

PS - re the horror stories about formula etc, I was induced and ended up with a c-section, and my baby was taken out of theatre while they stitched me up, which took an hour because of some complications. But my husband was allowed to go with her, and as soon as I was taken through she was given to me to feed, which I did for two hours through such a fug that it's amazing I remember any of it. The (specialist) team of midwives I had couldn't have been more supportive and encouraging of breast-feeding. They were completely brilliant.

Sorry to go on!

Hi andyrobo237 Some interesting tips on lowering BS there.

Sorry that your LO had to go into SCBU...is that a normal occurence? Why couldn't he regulate his temperature? Was this related to your diabetes?

Can I just clarify...you are still type 2 diabetic even though you're not pregnant? Is this normal too? I've been told that I may be prone to it in later life but been led to believe by hospital that it'll disappear once baby is delivered.

Thanks.

johnworf - with both kiddies I went back for a repeat GTT test several months after the birth - with DD it came back as 9.something, which is in a band now catagorised as insulin resistant or something like that (it was just plain 'not diabetic' 6 years ago!). After DS I went back the the preg assess unit for a GTT but my fasting level was too high or them to do the test - base level was 6 and mine was 7 so they wouldnt do the test - in a normal diabetic clinic they do the test regardless. My Gp did blood tests at 6 months and then another 6 months, and these two raised fasting levels of over 6 led me to the hosp for another GTT test, which led to this diagnosis - 6 weeks ago!!

I was told that I was at a higher risk of getting diabetes in the next 5 to 10 years, but chating with the diabetic nurse, it would seem that it never went away. This is not usual though!

My GP practice are quite proactive in tresting ladies with GD when they have had the baby - they sent you for blood tests every year jsut to keep an eye on your levels - as the sooner it is detected the better it is for your care. So my advice would be to get your GP to test you every year 0 simple fasting test is all it needs - and preg women are well used to that!

Hope all your pgs go ok - I do think that sometimes the healthcare team seem a bit uninterested in it all - they see it all the time and tend to forget that as a preg lady you are sensitive to attention - if it has never happened to you before, then it is all scarey and new - but I kept reminding myself when injecting insulin - at least Iknow that this will end at 40 weeks or when I give birth, and that some people have been doing this since they were kids and will have to all their lifes - it kind of puts into sonme perspective.

jw - was just reading the NICE guidelines that otter linked to earlier, and it says there that it 'may or may not' go after the birth. Bloody well better had!

Thanks for your inputs ladies. Very helpful that the homepage link is getting us some extra input from people who have already been through this.

Yellowmama - I didn't know that about squashes - bugger! I thought they would have been really good. Could you please bake me one of those lasagnes and have it delivered pronto?

I took a look at the diabetes.co.uk forum the other day andyrobo, and was actually a little surprised that there wasn't a section specifically covering gestational diabetes. That's kind of why I started this thread, as I felt we needed somewhere to share info and our warped wry senses of humour!

Sorry - forgot to say - buba going into SCBU was something that my midwife kept saying at every appt was likely to happen - Consultant said it was unlikely! Well who was right!!! As my body had been on insulin any sugar was getting passed through the placenta to hom - they feed off it and get big in size - the insulin does not go to them though. So when the cord is cut, this sugar source is stopped and their levels drop - the poor man had his heel pricked every half hour, and after one and a half hours of being born he was put in a hot cot to try to warm him - I think the low body temp was due to the sugar drop, and he didnt have the energy to feed - so when the hot cot didnt work he was whisked away.

With DD she was ok but still had to go to SCBU for an hour to have levels tested. I think it is normal procedure, and may be worth asking about at your later appointments to see what your hospital protocol is.

It is not nice having them taken away but when you go to visit them and see the little dinky ones up there who are 2 and 3lbs and born 8 weeks early, then again you can count your blessings!

Both kids are fit and healthy now!!!

Thanks both andyrobo237 and yellowmama for your great advice and posts on your experiences.

I've already asked what the procedure is for baby after birth and they told me along the lines of this:

Baby will be tested up to 1 hour after birth to check bs levels.

If baby is over 10lbs then will go to SCBU to be checked over.

Otherwise will remain with me as normal.

I've already had my two sons whisked off to SCBU after they were born for phototherapy - they were ABO incompatible - so I know the wrench of the seperation, especially when I think you are at your most vulnerable, hormomes flying everywhere.

I totally agree yellowmama that healthcare teams can see ambivalent towards us 'special ladies' After all they see it everyday whilst us, just sit here worrying about every little thing that has gone wrong and could go wrong. So, you store it all up for a few weeks, take it to clinic, and don't get your moment for questions as they're rushed, behind schedule and you're in and out within the blink of an eye!

I need to get the low down on what exactly happens about my testing after delivery and the months after that. I really have no idea. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that I don't have to inject anymore. Honestly, it's been one of the only things keeping me going thinking this won't be for much longer. I know if it is there is nothing I can do and there are people far worse off than myself but I hate doing it

just to mention this is my 3rd pregnancy with GD but after the 2nd one i had type 2 diabetes then so i was diet controlled before pregnant this time
thats the risk i guess they say it can happen
with the 2nd one he was quite ill at birth and low temp and low BS and was taken away briefly but all test were done at my bedside he also had crouzons syndrome and we were given a private room so no other mums could comment i guess (crouzons is similar in looking at a baby with DS)
i would rather been on ward with other mums not isolated
i find out the grisly details of there precedure or rather what they plan to do monday
JW thats is exactly i have a list of questions in my mind but when i get to clinic something goes wrong and im in an out
i have my growth scan first
then his head test for bone fusion
then diabetic consultant
i have a list yes an actual list of questions this time plus my DH and my doula

jw - did you query the testing 'up to one hour after birth' bit? My mw was quite clear that I shouldn't let them test until 3 hours after birth, as the blood sugars are likely to be all over the place until then regardless of whether there's a problem or not. She put a leaflet in my green folder about this I think, but the hospital keep my folder until after my scan .

Bacon, mushrooms, scrambled eggs, few beans and a slice of burgen bread and butter this morning. Scored 6.6. Result!

yellowmama - was there a particular reason for your 'ham not bacon' comment?

Occurred to me (inspired by your post ym) that I could try a kipper sandwich for breakfast as well (although limited to once or twice a week). Will get some and give it a go.

I just had my bacon and eggs today - huzzah! It was nectar On a 'before' day today so will see if it's worked when I test again before lunch.

Off to ring the clinic now to find out what's going on with the insulin.

Clinic say to increase bedtime insulin. Now on 10 units AM - 10 units PM.

JW - poor you! can sort of help on the what happens after birth though. I have to stay in hospital for minimum 48 hours so that my blood sugars can be monitored to see if I have any glaringly obvious problems, if nothing I just have to have fasting test 6 weeks later.

CSWS - hurrah! cracking score - what did you have to eat? also have been told that baby test shouldnt be done until at least 2 hours after baby born...

andyrobo/ yellowmama - thanks for your tips! its nice to know that someone else has got through it!

I obviously have to question this 1 hour thing. Maybe it's just my baby brain getting it wrong. It doesn't seem right does it? Status quo says not.

Oh otter1980 I'm ok, it really doesn't make that much difference. Although this morning after breakfast I went dizzy and suddenly tired. Not sure if this was to do with the insulin or I was just tired so ate a petite filous to make sure I had some sugar in my system.

Feel slightly better now

How's everyone else today? Got that Friday feeling yet?

yeah i kinda got friday feeling
my DH comes home on a friday and hes bringing home a new cooker now only someone like me could get excited about that
cept my old one dont work and takes ages to do nothin
of course it helps he works for a white good company so we get it trade price
for those who dont know he works away mon-fri im alone with the children
fridays i can go have a long bath he sees to the kids all night its so bliss
just rang my clinic im to stay on the
20 units morning and 20 units evening will review monday
and hes actually having monday of to come to the scan and see consultant with me
now thats a rarity usually he says we cant afford the time off

awww disneystar that is really sweet he's going with you Is this a sizing scan? If it is, you'll have to let me know what goes on at these sessions as I've got my first one at the end of June and I'm totally ignorant of what happens.

So you're on 40 units a day now? Is that the long or the fast acting? I'm a 20 a day girl myself. But still on the long acting only.

OOOOh are you excited about your new cooker? I would be. I get excited about virtually nothing as my life is so mundane.

I've just bought a taggie blanket from ebay for LO as it was on offer. The spare room/nursery is now bulging with stuff for her so I think I had better stop myself from buying anything else.

I bet Fridays are lovely and happy for you too when your DP gets back home - with or without a cooker

otter - you need to lie down and take a rest. I said exactly what I had to eat just before the score!

Dd is not going to be happy if I have to stay in hospital for long after the birth. She is still breastfed and will want her 'boo -boo'! I won't be happy either, as the beds are uncomfortable and I didn't get a wink of sleep in the 24 hours I was in for last time.

disneystar - my dh works abroad in the week too, but he usually returns on a Thursday night just as dd is going to bed.

I get excited about new kitchen appliances too. What riveting lives we all lead!

jw - I am biting my lip to prevent me making a bad joke about Status Quo's opinion on glucose testing.

CSWS I'm humming the tune now rock along with me ...

"whatever ya want, whatever ya like.....YOU can't bloody well have so put it back in the cupboard".

It's the alternative Quo song

i didnt sleep well last night i have had a nap now though so am more human...

I got excited when we got our new washer

CSWS/JW - liking the alt quo tunes!

yep a sizing scan and a final head scan to see if the bones are any more fused
im on novomix 30 fast acting and slow acting its a mix supposed to last all day
not sure if there is but shall we have a list of when all us mums are due
as we are giving out some good advise and support here b nice to see how far along we all are and how early this affected us
i know its crazy im excited over a new cooker he has bought me every new kitchen appliance in the last year from dishwasher to washer dryer so the cookers the last to get
hes been naggin me to back to Florida in october but i dont want to go as baby wont be very old and i will be kinda babysittin while they get to do the fun stuff
he says hes share and have him but i always possesive in the early months i dont like to share
does anyone else get that im always watching like no not like that like this i have to bite my tongue
he wants florida i want centerparcs in october hmmm whos gonna win
easy me!!!!