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?

Tis more like cat breath......ewwwww or mewwww if you like

Made a f'ing lovely veggie crumble for tea tonight, using a recipe from a low GI book that a friend brought round last week. DD wouldn't touch it, but dh and I thought it was gorgeous, and it scored 6.3 (5 mins late, as was putting dd to bed early). Apart from the high fasting result, I've had a good day today.

well done CSWS, makes al the difference to have a good day.
My GTTs tomorrow so making the most of tonight and having pasta, tbh I'm pretty sure I'll be OK having not developed it till 30 weeks last time - do I sound convincing? The instructions say I should be below 7 after 2 hours - I'm sure it was 7.5 last time as I remember scraping through at 28 weeks with 7.2

Normally 7.8 after 2 hours on the GTT, but I guess each hospital likes to set their own policy.

And good luck to both you and Misdee.

8.9 post dinner reading I'm destined to be cast into hell...

Nope - you're destined to increase your insulin!

CSWS thanks for the cheery thoughts! It'll be your turn soon enough

I'm sat here rethinking my diet (again) whilst DH is eating his way through his body weight in Monster Munch

And on that note, I'm off for a foot massage being offered by DH (post MM)....the mere thought is bliss! (I wonder if he'll wash his hands first or I'll have toes stinking of pickled onion? Will tell all tomorrow)

GTT tomoerrow.

wisah me low results luck lol. i think i will need them lol.

Hi everyone new to the site and wanted to share my experience so far with GD.
Diagnosed at 29 weeks and found myself on insulin within 4 days.
Was using novomix 36 units twice a day but have changed to Novorapid 14 units 3 times a day and Levermir 20 units at bedtime. All in all have not had a problem doing injections but have not been able to get my readings below 7.8 one hour after meals.
Got my 36 week scan next wednesday and will be given a date for induction on the 3rd June
Hope everyone is well. Looking forward to comparing notes.

good luck for tomorrow misdee

hello and welcome to lilolilly
your nearly there then
my reading are usualy high all the time especially after meals
im on novomix 30 at the moment
ive been on insulin since 18 weeks but i was a type 2 before so i guess they were looking
and baby was huge last time
have you had a growth scan at all?
i get my definate date for my elective c-section on 16th june but they are looking at 7th july for me
i cant wait for it to be over

JW for DH eatis monster munch and mine when hes home eats a whole tin of peaches with a huge pot of fresh cream
he wonders why hes gettin fat

Good luck for today misdee. Wonders to herself if misdee is going to join our club

Hi Lilolilly. We're all at various stages of our pregnancies/GD on this thread. We're a real mix!

I'm on 20 units of Levemir a day and am just coming up to 24 weeks pregnant. Have opted for an elective CS sometime in late August/early September. Growth scans at 28/32 weeks.

My readings after meals is still hit and miss even with the insulin so it really is quite frustrating sometimes. Still, I'm told that LO is doing ok which is the main thing.

Welcome lilolilly to MN and the thread that nobody wants to be on! Do add yourself to our little list, which was lost down the thread somewhere .

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)

disneystar they really are gits aren't they? And, he kept offering me a packet saying 'well they've hardly got any sugar in them, look!'

Anyway, BS reading much better this morning at 5.4 (before reading) as opposed to last nights 8.4 or something about there. Phew.

I wonder if otter1980 is screaming out in agony now or if she's holding her LO in her arms, and absolutely knackered? Anyone heard anything yet?

Is pepperrabbits GTT today or next Thursday? Won't be around from Sunday-ish as we're off on our jollydays but I expect a full briefing on my return! Might even take the laptop and hunt around for wi-fi while away but I just know if we find it, I'll spend the week working

I'm so not looking forward to having to pass on a cornish cream tea, I can tell you. I just know that DH will take himself and DSS for one and I'll be left to watch, in agony

pepperrabbit is today, same as misdee.

Your fasting reading was better than mine today jw. I got 5.8, but post breakfast still managed to scrape in at 6.9. Def doing better with a change of bread away from burgen.

CSWS what have you changed to? I'm still on the burgen stuff...the nearest Vogel loaf to me is 13.2 miles away (according to the Waitrose website).

pepperrabbit and misdee very good luck today with your lovely glucose drink (teehee, sorry)!

I think you usually get your results following day so let us all know if you've joined our 'sugar rush club' !!

Misdee is taking her own lucozade!

Waitrose stoneground wholemeal. 12. something carbs a slice, but only 1. something of sugars, compared to burgen's 2.2.

ooooh get the bread connoiseur

Was just laughing at this thread.

I wonder which one I am

Not pregnant but did have GD in both last two pregnancies - wanted to say what worked for me. First baby, dd, 9lbs 6oz, no gd picked up in that pregnancy. I'm only a size 10 normally and 5 ft 6 inches. DH is 5 ft 7 inches and very small boned so size of baby was a bit of a shocker.

I wasn't diagnosed with GD until 36 weeks into next pregnancy with ds1 (no sugar in urine - gd picked up by chance after scan for something unrelated), by which time he was already HUGE. Made small changes to diet, no insulin, baby born healthy at 41 weeks weighing 10lbs 12oz, at home with IM). By the way - I only scored a borderline result with the GTT.

3rd pregnancy with ds2 I was very keen to keep blood sugars under control as didn't want to end up with a 12 pounder (understandably!)

I started off following the GI diet from about 28 weeks as suggested by the nutritionist at the hospital, but soon realised that my blood sugars were still on the high side after meals. Started to eat a diet that consisted mostly of vegetables, pulses, nuts, meat and fish. Cut down on dairy, almost all carbs - only eating enough to stop myself going into ketosis. I also ate a lot of cinnamon, which reduces blood sugar (I've read that it's not recommended in large quantities during pregnancy for various reasons, but never seen any research to back this opinion up - I felt that it was ok in third trimester in reasonable amounts).

My third baby was only 9lbs 3oz at birth, which I'm convinced was down to my diet as he is by far the largest of the three children in terms of head circumference and length. Maybe it's just chance, but he's also the strongest, brightest and most energetic of the three too.....

DS2 is 3 this year and looking back on it I'm surprised that insulin therapy wasn't suggested to me during that pregnancy by the diabetic consultant. Women I meet locally who have GD now are being offered insulin therapy at the drop of a hat. My consultant said the issue of birthweight of babies born to gd mums isn't well understood. They don't know why some mums like me who have borderline results on GT tests can sometimes have huge babies, even though their blood sugars are not that badly controlled in pregnancy, while other mothers who have much higher bs levels have normal sized babies. I'd love to know why I have such big babies, although I do think there must be a genetic element as I was 9lbs at birth myself.

Just wondered if anyone could answer a question on gestational diabetes. Does anyone know of a woman with this who has not returned to normal after child birth? has continued to have diabetes. I know of someone and it has totally put her off having any more children, she has type 1 now. She was only 20 at the time and it's very uncommon I believe, so any other experiences of this?

solo there is someone on this thread (their ID escapes me though, sorry) who never lost their 'diabetic-ness'. So yes, I believe it is possible that you can carry on to be insulin resistent post delivery.

fabsmum interesting regarding your previous pregnancies and the weight of your children. I love the way you say ....'My third baby was only 9lbs 3oz at birth...' ONLY???! That's big! Obviously not as big as 10lb 12oz though .

My last baby was 8lb 2oz without any gestational diabetes so I'm not sure how this one is going to go.

Also, I tried the low GI diet when I was just diet controlled and it worked for a time but then you get to a point where your body just can't fight the placental hormones and you need help. Hence I'm now on insulin.

Thank you johnworf.