gestational diabetes???

[chloemegjess]

Hello. It was suggested to me today by a friend that I may have gestational diabetes and should ask to be tested. But to be honest, I have no idea about it and a bit worried now.

My main concerns are:

• Tiredness (yes I know I am up at midnight but I am talking on a general basis). There are days I really struggle to get up in the morning, then fall asleep everytime I get 5 mins and then still go to bed at 9pm.
• I am putting on loads of weight everywhere. I know pregnancy involves weight gain but I have put on loads and have gained loads of extra stretch marks already . And I eat an OK diet. I do have some junk/treats but also eat a lot of healthy stuff and feel I don't have an awful diet.
• I walk most days (if it is not raining) so get some excerise. I am also always running after my DD (11 months), so should help to burn some of it of? But no, I am gaining weight like nobody's business!!

I am worried as I am needle phobic and guessing there will be blood tests involved, and if I do have it then loads of needles all the time?

Also, will this mean I can't go to the birth centre? If I do have it?

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. [[https://www.mumsnet.com/pregnancy/gestational-diabetes
If you want to read more about gestational diabetes, we’ve got some information here]]. MNHQ

You should get tested if you're worried because not knowing you have it doesn't mean you don't have it.

I was diagnosed with it a couple of weeks ago. It's a pain in the arse but it could be worse and, to be honest, I feel so much better now I'm eating properly and obviously have it under control it's worth knowing.

I was (and still am... kind of) planning a home birth and the midwife has not ruled it out, though it's looking less likely.

as for the needles, the test is a blood test but the pinprick blood sugar tests you do yourself are really nothing - you can't even see the needle as it's tidgy and hidden inside a plastic stick thing so I think you would be fine (only you know this of course).

What is the test like, the first one to see if you have it? I heard you have to have blood tests every few hours?

Also, how do I request a test? Can I ask you what made you get tested? Only if you don'tmind me being nosey!

Chloe as well as weight gain - which is one of the less common symptoms, the main sysmptoms are excessive thirt - like drinking 5 liters a day of fruit juice for me, and weeing lot on top of the tiredness, but if you are concerned speak to your MW if you do have it badly you will have sugar in your urine too. She may do a finger prick test.

Depending on what your blood sugar test shows (the finger tip pin prick) they may do a glucose tollerance test, which is where they give you a sweet drink then take blood from your arm an hour later - if that is high they make you sit another hour and test you again

They routinely test you if you're overweight where I am, and I'm overweight. They go straight to the long test here where you fast for 12 hours, have a blood test, hang around the hospital for 2 hours and then have another blood test. When I had mine they took the 28 week bloods at the same time, which you would have to do anyway, so only 2 blood tests in total. It seems to vary from area to area.

I didn't think I had any symptoms but now I realise I was thirsty like squidgybrain and v v tired.

How pregnant are you though? If you're tired it might just be the pregnant/11 month old combo! It's fairly unusual to have GD I think. But it is definitely worth talking to the midwife about as it can cause probs if it's untreated.

Yes I am very very thirsy as well. Constantly drinking which I never used to do.

I am 21 weeks.

I know it is normal to be tired but like today, I slept till midday (DH had DD) and still feel shattered, Often sleep when DD sleeps and often in bed by 9pm.

The MW did find sugar in my urine when I was pregnant with DD but she didn't test any further, just told me to stop eating anything with sugar in.

There have been days where I am really struggling to stay awake, despite having slept all night

would defo get it checked then. Easy for me to say but I think the number of needles you'll have to encounter is less than you think (maybe only one more than you would have to anyway).

I was recently tested for it because they found protein and glucose in urine.
If your urine is ok, then you should be fine.
Other symptoms include being thirsty more often and peeing more often.

I googled it last night and I didn't find any symptoms that I don't have. I don't have any MW appointments till feb so will have to give the hospital a ring on monday to see if I can see a MW

Hi there, I have GD, discovered at a routine scan. There are some higher risk factors (age, weight, I think even ethnic background) but I dont have any of them!

My symptoms were:
After a big meal, Id feel very groggy
If I left it too long between meals, Id feel a bit clammy / sweaty
Id be bloated after carbs

I am controlling by diet (low GI basically and it is all fine. A very minor complication.

But yes, here it means no going in the birth centre as the baby needs to be more carefully monitored.

Good luck x