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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Undiagnosed gestational diabetes?

14 replies

chequersandchess · 12/11/2008 16:52

Hi,

Does anyone know how reliable dipstick tests are for diagnosing GD?

I'm wondering if I may have had it during pregnancy - DD was 9 pounds 11 and apparently the placenta was very large. Just wondred if this is just the way it was or if any other factor could have been at play.

Thanks.

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Original poster

chequersandchess · 12/11/2008 18:12

OP posts:

HeathersMummy · 12/11/2008 19:28

Hi Chequers,
I've just been diagnosed with GD, so I've been doing loads of internet research. Apparently the dipstick urine tests are almost entirely useless at picking up GD. Not sure about the large placenta right enough, not seen anything mentioned about it. Hopefully someone else is a bit of an expert and will be able to help you out more

Original poster

chequersandchess · 12/11/2008 19:29

Thanks HM, how did they diagnose you if you don't mind me asking?

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cthea · 12/11/2008 19:31

It's usually with the glucose tolerance test (GTT). Dipsticks are, indeed, not reliable for this in pregnancy. My first DC was v large but I didn't have GD, I had GD with subsequent pregnancies (but resulting in smaller babies each time).

HeathersMummy · 12/11/2008 19:54

I was sent for a Glucose Tolerance Test because my BMI was 1 over the allowable threshold. At the time I was quite angry with my consultant and thought it was unnecessary, but now I'm just glad it's been caught and can be treated. DD was a big baby 8lb 13oz, but I was lighter in weight then so I wasn't sent for any testing. From what I've read though, babies born from mothers with GD will likely have blood sugar issues and be jaundiced - if your DD was healthy when she was born, it doesn't sound like GD (I don't think). cthea - were your babies affected?

girlandboy · 12/11/2008 20:02

I had endless Glucose Tolerance Tests because I had ever increasing amounts of sugar in my urine.

There was never any glucose in my blood tests.

Baby was 9lb 13oz with (apparently) one of the biggest placenta's they'd seen.

But it was decided that because there was no glucose in my blood (only in the urine) it was a kidney problem. Basically it was described as "leaky kidneys"!!!

Original poster

chequersandchess · 12/11/2008 20:08

Hmmm...DD was jaundiced but no blood sugar issues as far as I know. She had a lot of blood tests at 6 days old due to rapid weight loss so I think if there had have been issues there they may have been picked up?

OP posts:

katch · 12/11/2008 20:28

I wondered if I might have been undiagnosed GD - DS1 was 10lb 5oz, and was taken to SCU with low blood sugar (tube-fed, hourly heel-pricks, etc).
DD1 was 11lb 10oz, but I had her at home as the NCT had by then done some research into this subject; they found that the criteria for what constituted low blood sugar varied enormously between hospitals, and each hospital had its own protocol to follow.
Also, the risks of jaundice and fitting apply to prem babies - full-termers have the faculty to cope with a dip in blood sugar.
Btw, DS3 was an 8lb 10oz tiddler, and I'm convinced this was due to my healthier diet - I'd given up sugar and 'fast' carbs, and was eating protein, greens and 'brown' carbs to stabilise blood sugar levels.

katch · 12/11/2008 20:31

You might find some info. on an NCT archive website - it's all in the distant past for me, but they definitely looked into the accuracy of testing large babies for low B /S.

katch · 12/11/2008 20:31

You might find some info. on an NCT archive website - it's all in the distant past for me, but they definitely looked into the accuracy of testing large babies for low B /S.

cthea · 12/11/2008 22:43

HeathersMummy - yes and no. DD1 had respiratory distress syndrome (2 weeks in SCBU) and a possible mechanism is insulin interfering with pulmonary surfactants that keep the alveolae open. DD2 was absolutely fine but she'd had the corticosteroid injections to help mature the lungs (uncertain need for it when the baby is close to term but I had it anyway, didn't want to take chances). I'd also had a stillborn baby, borderline GD during that pregnancy.

katch · 12/11/2008 23:33

Sorry I seem to be talking about something completely different here.

FairyBasslet · 16/11/2008 10:44

I was diagnosed with GD in my last pregnancy. I was tested due to DD1 weighing 10lbs 5 and also as my dad has Type 2. I strongly suspect I had GD with DD1 but it was never spotted due to the urine tests being useless.

I ended up on insulin but controlled it well so that DD2 was only 7lb 2. I go for a test in a couple of weeks to see if Ive got rid of it. Fingers crossed...

Firsttimemum455 · 10/06/2021 22:35

@chequersandchess sorry to reply to such an old post, but I just wondered if you were able to determine if you did have GD with your daughter?
My son was born in 2019. I had the blood glucose test but the nurse ended up taking my blood 45 mins later than she should have so I don’t think it was accurate. My son was off the charts in terms of weight and was jaundiced when born and with breathing difficulties but when I asked they refused to do a heel prick test to check his blood sugar levels (as a FTM I was made to feel mad for asking for it). He isn’t hitting quite a few milestones (still no words yet and he’s 19 months) so I’m worried this could be the cause. A family member has recently been diagnosed with diabetes so I’m concerned.

It’d be great to hear your experience and if you were able to get any answers. I hope all is okay with you and your daughter!

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