28w just diagnosed with gestational diabetes

[Midsizegal29]

Hi all,

I’m 28 + 3 FTM and just had the call from my midwife to say I’ve failed the second blood draw from the GTT this morning and now have gestational diabetes. I knew I was high risk (BMI 31 at booking, PCOS, maternal family history of type 2 diabetes- my mums is so poorly controlled she’s been on insulin for years), but it’s just absolutely knocked me.

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 12 weeks (it’s always been high despite everything I’ve tried to bring it down and the GP was never interested) and put on medication straight away which has brought it down to normal levels, and then with anaemia at 17 weeks and been on iron ever since. This just feels like yet another way in which I’m letting my baby down. My DH just said he doesn’t understand why I’m upset, but I’ve spent so much time in this pregnancy feeling awful because my body seems to be doing its best to make this difficult.

I guess I’m just looking for some advice on how to manage it, some reassurance that if you’ve had similar complications things have been okay, and a bit of a safe space to rant about how crap it is.

Take a look at the gestational diabetes website. Then make yourself a cuppa and write a meal plan down. I found planning really helped me take control of it. I enjoyed crisps with sour cream dip. Crisps would be a spike, it slows it down so you dont get spike. M&s did a sugar free spray cream that did the same thing for hot choc!

I had GD with both my pregnancies and everything was fine and they were normal
weights.

its a lot to get your head around but there’s lots of info online and your midwife will be able to give you more info.

The action that had the biggest impact for me was being active straight after meals. A walk after dinner for example did wonders to lower my blood glucose levels. As it’s light in the evenings now it’s not such a struggle as during winter.

good luck!

3 weeks ago I was told I had GD at 27 weeks pregnant (this wasn’t a massive shock, my firstborn was born poorly with blood sugar level issues so it was believed I had undiagnosed GD)

At first it’s OVERWHELMING. There’s so much advice, it’s all so new to get your head around. The first 3 days of pricking my finger and writing down my meals were worrying as I wasn’t sure what I was doing.

3 weeks later, honestly it’s fine. Everyone is different and there may be a point that you’re put on medication… but as long as you’re doing the diet to the best you can you can’t feel bad. The finger pricking I’m so used to now, I don’t even worry about it now.

I’ve had a few high readings since being diagnosed but so far diet controlled.

I still enjoy a bit of chocolate in the evening as I pair with protein. I’m more careful with what I eat and I’ve switched to a lot of wholemeal and plain yogurts. I haven’t been too bad with it. I’m now 31 weeks and the end is near,

Im also part of gestational diabetes UK Facebook page x

Make sure your GP gives you a yearly HbA1c test post birth because you are now at a higher risk of developing type2 diabetes.

Thank you all for the advice so far. I’m trying to think rationally (in between bouts of crying) as I always knew I was high risk. I was told because of my PCOS I’d never be able to have kids, but fell pregnant naturally (and by surprise). It just feels like every increased risk factor that could develop has done and it’s a failing on my part for not being good enough or that my body is broken despite me trying to do my best.

I'm already so aware of what I eat and try so hard to have as healthy and balanced diet as I can because of the PCOS and being heavier. Pre-pregnancy I was going to the gym and had completed the couch to 5k programme, but the anaemia absolutely killed me and I still struggle to walk very far without getting exhausted now. I very rarely eat processed food and cook from scratch every day, plain yoghurt and granola for breakfast, lunches are usually leftovers from the night before, I always use wholewheat pasta, mostly brown rice etc. rarely have sweets, and only ever drink coke 0 if I have a fizzy drink. I try to keep my portion sizes small and not overeat.

I’ll be fine and get over the overwhelm. DH isn’t helping much and is just being annoyingly practical and can’t understand why i’m upset 🙈

It'll be fine. I never had gestational diabetes (mostly because of the PCOS, I instead have adopted DC who are just as alternately infuriating and adorable as any birth DC would have been). I have type 2 diabetes, which runs in my family on my Dad's side.

Try not to get too stressed out, because cortisol can raise your glucose. You just need to run your glucose a bit lower on average, one bad meal or one bad day isn't the end of the world. Perfection is not your goal.

Everyone is different in their food response, so I used to do a finger prick before a meal, then at one hour and at two hours. If I had a good response then that was a meal to have again, if it was a bad response but I really liked the food then I would try to modify it and test again the next time I had it. I would recommend halving your carb portion and making up the difference in leafy veg. I cook a large amount of pasta (a whole bag usually) and freeze it in portions to be reheated with a meal. Chilling/freezing pasta turns some of the carb molecules into non-soluble fibre molecules so reduces the glycemic index. I have had to give up sandwiches which was my go to lunch, I struggled a bit with missing bread but now I don't really miss it much at all. I have things like soup, sausages or salad with a protein like tuna or chicken.

I know that you're tired but 10 minutes of seated heel lifts or seated marching after a meal would reduce a spike a bit and might be more achievable than a walk.