gestational diabetes anyone care to enlighten me please?

[dizzydixies]

am 35wks pg with dc3 and have just been diagnosed as having gestational diabetes

am trying to read up on it but am getting lots of mixed ideas about it all

anyone a MN expert on such things?

nobody?

Sorry, can't really help. I was sent to the diabetic clinic at 38 weeks (feckin' Christmas Eve!). Was told to monitor blood sugar levels but they didn't tell me to do anything else. Evenutally they decided that as my levels were occasionally on the higher side of normal they would induce me at 40 weeks, which they did as they didn't want DD to get too big (she was 8lb 10z).

I felt like they treated me as diabetic without actually diagnosing me, if you see what I mean.

Are you controlling with diet?

thanks Eyeballs

I have no idea what am meant to be doing, the test was only yesterday and got a phone call this morning to say I've to go to the clinic on tues

apparently my results showed as significantly abnormal and seeing as
dd1 was 10lb4 and dd2 was 11lb1 am not sure what to expect now

I don't think they'll induce as dd2 was eventually an emcs but I suppose I'll find all this out on Tues

you too jules? am actually quite embarassed as I was adament I didn't need the test this time as with my previous dc they were a waste of time

thirst definately is, not sure about being hungry sorry

both of mine have been big though and that was without GD

am 35weeks too - I think!

Thirst is a sign of GD.
I had OGTT at 28 weeks, fasting blood sugar was 5.4 (fine) but 2 hrs after the glucose my BS was 8.4 (and 8 is considered high in pg women).
I had to monitor my bs 4 times a day, and inform the diabetes clinic if it went over 8 more than twice in one week. If it did they would put me on insulin. Thankfully my levels have never been over 8 since (I've been following a low GI diet).
You'll have to see diabetic & obstetric consultants, and will be offered growth scans too. It sounds as though your larger babies mean you will be more likely offered induction or elective CS.
Hope this helps. there are lots of us GD ladies on mn, search for a GD thread for a bit more info & support.

thanks Jacob I've jumped on the GD support thread too

I had GD but this was expected as I have diabetes in the family. Had to go for a GTT (drink lucozade after a blood test and then another blood test 2 hours later) Was told I was borderline and therefore had to watch what I ate and monitor sugar level (like JacobsPrincess) then was put on Insulin - Its not too bad really - Was initially shocked then just got on with it - I had a growth scan at approx 36 weeks and was decided to induce at 38 weeks - worse part of that was being on an insulin drip so not as mobile as wanted to be - Baby was born 8Ib8 - she was checked (had to have foot pricked blod test when born and next day) and then I had to go back to hospital a few weeks later for another test but didn't have to have any more insulin / monitor levels after given birth.

Its a shock at first but does mean that you get monitored closly - I had a consultant when diagnosed but only met him when went for the growth scan and even for the birth was midwife led.

lucky you with the lucozade - its now some really thick glucose thing that mildly resembles lactalouse bleurgh!! its not a lot though so its easy to get down

Basically -- eat a low-GI diet (you can google that, or there are lots of books). Take exercise if you can. There's a good chance that will control your blood sugar (they'll get you to check it several times a day).

If you manage to control it with diest and exercise there's a good chance you'll have a normal labour (they may want to induce at 38 weeks, but they don't routinely do that at my hospital). If you need insulin they probably will induce at 38 weeks, and you'll need to be on an insulin drip during labour.

I would advise against induction if you are thinking of a VBAC. Depending on your consultant's preferred approach that may or may not result in some lively discussions.

they've already indicated they won't induce after a C/S which is fine with me as dd1 was an induction and it was hellish

the consultant who's care I WAS under was fabulous but I don't know this new one and to top it all I have to go on Tues when dh absolutely positively CANNOT be there so I'll have to be brave all on my own [meep]