Support and help with Gestational Diabetes?

[Crapweasel]

Failed the "Lucozade test" last week, I've now been told that my GTT has also come back high and have therefore been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.

Having failed the Lucozade test but passed GTT during my last pregancy I was really hoping to dodge that particular bullet again. Oh well....

Did some searching in the archives and found this fab old thread with lots of support and tips on diet etc. Any current sufferers (or experienced old timers) fancy joining a similar thread for 2010?

I have a diabetic clinic appt on Tues (where I understand I'll get a finger prick testing kit and see a dietician) so I'll report back then.

I'm 29 weeks by the way.

[RubyReins]

Oh I've got a bit of a mantra going now - "I don't need your permission, you need mine". I will listen to the docs but I know that their word is not law and if I'm not happy with a course of action then it ain't happening. I know I sound like a right wet blanket atm but that's very out of character; I wouldn't cross me! DH is well aware that any uninvited doctors may well be kicked in the face

[Crapweasel]

Ruby, so glad that you are feeling more positive today. Sounds like it went well and their approach re insulin sounds much more reasonable.

Northern, totally agree about informed choice. Your post makes perfect sense. The problem is that when their trump card is a totally unforeseable stillbirth you do feel that you can only fight it so far. Believe me, I will be challenging any attempts to push me down any certain path, and all the info on threads like these is majorly helpful in doing so.

[Crapweasel]

x-posted with you there Ruby. I agree. In the long nights of pregnancy insomnia I do occasionally just think things like "well if the monitor is restricting me too much I can just take the damn thing off". The idea kicking overly intrusive doctors will keep me amused in the small hours tonight

[ChocolateCalculator]

Crapweasel, I went into labour naturally, I think it was because DS wasn't growing properly, he was 4lbs 6oz which is teeny even at 37 weeks and I think he realised he was better out than in! I would dearly love a similar experience this time, but already this baby seems in better shape, moving loads more than DS ever did and my bump at 20 weeks is more or less the same as it was at term before, although the diabetic diet means I have only put on 2 lbs so far.

Ruby glad you found the dietician useful and you're feeling more positive. I must admit I didn't find the dietician that useful as she just seemed to feel that maintaining diet control wasn't going to happen and insulin was inevitable. I didn't feel I got any useful suggestions on what to substitute for the carbs in
my diet or suggest what a sensible carbs limit would be. I was in a group though and she was more focussed on the people thee who needed to cut a lot of refined sugar out. I had to figure that out for myself which was a pain, but got there in the end. When you say your readings are a bit high, what kind of levels are you talking about? If you're only a bit over you might find some small tweaks would take you below in future.

[RubyReins]

Hi there. Well, the dietician was nice and she was very positive but she wasn't particularly useful. She had no suggestions at all as she said my diet was good and shouldn't be changed. So, in her view I can't manage it with changes to diet alone. I'm easily pleased; I like any medical professional that doesn't weigh me... I should be pickier!

My readings have been a bit erratic thus far. Lowest has been a rather splendid 4.7 and highest has been 11.8. My fasting levels in the morning have been hovering around the 6 mark. Which reminds me; time to stab myself again!

We'll see what the docs say on Monday. I am channeling my inner three year old and will ask "why?" to every statement they make. I have heard tell of a great consultant at the hospital so fingers crossed I draw her name out of the lot!

[ChocolateCalculator]

My readings are always erratic too, which makes it harder to plan what to eat. I have the same breakfast every morning (one slice of vogel soya and linseed toast plus Greek yoghurt sprinkled with low gi granola) and my readings after that can range from 4.5 to 6.5 from the same base. I've never been into double figures though so it does sound like insulin might be helpful for you.

The kind of tweaks which do help me (although I really do try and limit my carbs, which is more than just a tweak!) is eating low gi bread, like the vogel one I mentioned and having boiled new potatoes, which are also low gi rather than mashed or roasted or baked.

Hope it goes well on Monday. Let us know what the consultant says.

[Crapweasel]

Tell me about erratic reading! So fed up today. Upped my insulin and today's lunch took me to 8.9. Had a reading of 7.1 with exactly the same meal and less insulin the other day . My AM readings are doing the same thing. If I could give up bread then I may stand more chance but whilst I'm at work it's so hard to manage to avoid the sandwich at lunchtime routine. And the point of the insulin was so that I didn't have to radically restrict the carbs.

Sorry for the moany post, I'm tired and would love to just reach for a sugar boost but can't!

Chocolate, thanks for answering my question re your DS. I'm a bit obsessed about induction at the moment!

Ruby, how are you doing?

[RubyReins]

Hi there.

Oh I'm fine thanks. The baby has had hiccups all day today so that's been entertaining.

This blood sugar monitoring thing seems to be some sort of dark art; I eat pretty much the same thing every day (pretty low on the carb front) yet my readings are up and down. A sinful (!) apple took me to 7.3 today... You'd think I was necking pints of Tizer and scoffing Mars bars.

I got a bit irate when I was dutifully noting my reading at lunchtime; the booklet has a printed message: "please aim for a reading of less than 5.5". Doing my best on that front!

DH tested his blood sugar last night, seemed only fair but after a sugary tea and a jug of Angel Delight his was 4.7

I'm 31 weeks now and I am equally concerned about being induced. Not what I want at all but we'll see. The baby is measuring "big" but hopefully s/he will put the brakes on a little!

I agree that lunch is a minefield. I take my own to work but in the event that I haven't got my act together the options are pretty much bread and baked potato based.

I remember reading about India Knight's diet plan and the cookbook she and a few others published. It's all low GI and apparently tackled the lunchtime problems really well. Maybe worth a look!

Hope you're all well! x

[LauraKB]

Hey Ladies

I'm sorry to hear you're all having such a rough time with your GD.

I just thought I would post because everyone's previous experiences of GD seem to be very negative, but I just wanted you to know its not always that bad, although maybe I was just lucky.

I was diagnosed at 31 weeks after I was admitted following a small bleed, and they scanned for placenta previa and discovered the baby was 4lb 4oz already.

I was lucky in that I managed to control mine with careful diet, and consultant said he would basically treat me like a 'normal person' because the baby's size was back at 50th centile by 37ish weeks.

I didn't have any problems with nurses or the consultant and as others have said it was good to get to see the consultant more often.

In the end I was induced at 39 weeks 5 days and I'm not entirely sure why that was, although they had found protein in my urine at my previous consultant appointment.

Crapweasel, try not to worry about induction. I can't comment on prostin as I never had to have that but they broke my waters and put me on a sintosinon drip (excuse spelling). It wasn't as bad as I had feared and I was in established labour at 11.30am (according the midwife) and DD was born at 21.53. I had 2 lots of diamorphine for pain relief, and although she ended up having a forceps delivery all was fine. She had to have her bloods monitored for 24 hours, and getting a midwife to come and do that before I could feed her was sometimes a challenge but apart from that all was fine.

She is 22 weeks now and has just been sick on her Dad. That will teach him to put her on her tummy so soon after dinner!

Hope you all get on ok and any questions feel free to ask.

L.

[RubyReins]

Hi Laura,

That's really reassuring to hear thanks. I only had the GTT last Wednesday so it's all a bit new still. I am feeling a lot more positive about things and more empowered too.

I'm very glad to hear that your induction was fine. I've only heard horror stories but that's generally the sort of tale that people like telling. Lots of "oh that happened to a friend of a friend, she was in hell yadda yadda". Not helpful!

I've advised DH on post dinner etiquette, I think he's resigned to being covered in various excretions in the near future!

[mathanxiety]

I had this condition with DC 5. I was diagnosed at about 24 weeks, after the glucose challenge test, which was ordered after a dodgy urine test.

I also took a little walk every day, after each meal, nothing strenuous.

I was induced on the dot of 40 weeks. DD was 9 lbs 1 oz as it turned out, but still not my biggest baby. I had been induced before, so had got over my fears and disappointment on that score. Monitoring was minimal, just bands tied around me with the monitors attached, no fetal scalp monitors, and although I was confined to bed for about 48 hours while gel didn't take, then put on pitocin, I didn't feel I was too hooked up to machines or dehumanised.

OK, I found the booklet the dietitian gave me. Here are some recommended lunch examples:
1 hamburger bun
1 v. small hamburger (no dressings, ketchup)
Green salad
1 apple
1 cup reduced fat or skim milk
There's a picture of a plate with the burger bun occupying one half, the burger one quarter and the salad one quarter. The apple and milk are off to the side.

2 slices wheat bread
1 slice low fat cheese (boak)
1 slice turkey
julienned carrots
15 grapes
1 cup light yogurt
sugar free drink
Again, the bread occupies half of the plate in the diagram, while the carrots have a quarter and the cheese and turkey have another quarter. The grapes, yogurt and drink are off to one side. I remember counting 15 grapes and eating them...

2 cups chicken and rice soup with veggies
1/3 cantaloupe melon
tea
Here the soup occupies the whole plate area while the melon is off to the side with the tea.

[ChocolateCalculator]

I was at a clients today so had to pick from the offered buffet rather than my usual lunch options (salad, cheese, chicken bits, avocado, nuts etc.). Had 3/4 of a round of cheese sandwiches on wholemeal bread and was 7.7 after 2 hours- I just can't do normal bread at all, very annoying. Lunch is definitely my most difficult meal. I'm sorted now on breakfast, and at dinner it's fairly easy just to have tiny helpings of whatever carb we're having (and I have special low carb pasta) and extra veg instead, but lunch is such a pain. Although I'm finding it easier this time round as it's spring so there are more salad bits around, DS is a January baby and winter food is so carb heavy.

An apple would have taken me over too I'm afraid, I avoid fruit completely and just have lots more veg instead. Crapweasel, it's annoying that you're still all over the place even with insulin. I frequently think I should just relax the diet (go mad with a sandwich perhaps!) and just get on the insulin, particularly as I still have so much of this pregnancy left that it seems inevitable that's where it will end up. It does seem like it isn't exactly a magic answer though...

[Crapweasel]

Hi Chocolate, no unfortunately insulin isn't the magic bullet to allow you to "go mad" with a wholemeal sandwich . At least not for me! I still think that to keep my levels stable I'd have to cut out at least bread and cereals completely. I guess it must be helping though.

I agree, I only have fruit as a snack - just one piece mid morning or mid PM. Couldn't have it with any other type of carb or meal.

My breakfast has gone haywire again, even with the insulin and reduced carbs. Can you tell me more about your low-GI granola?

Hello to all the new ladies on this thread. It's great to have some more company and to hear that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[ChocolateCalculator]

I use Lizi's granola, found out about it on the diabetes uk website, I get mine from Ocado, but think they do it in Tescos too. Toffee and pecan flavour is yummy and a sprinking on my yoghurt doesn't seem to cause me a problem, which is amazing for something described as toffee flavour!

I've found it easier this time round having found some low carb alternatives to the things I enjoy eating, rather than just cutting them out altogether. I've managed to develop a taste for 90% cocoa chocolate, and I've found a couple of squares of that gives me the chocolate hit without hitting my blood sugars. I also found a recipe for low carb chocolate brownies- just had one after lunch in fact, warmed up with raspberries and cream- yummy!

[LauraKB]

It does take a while to get your head around Ruby, I defo found that. How many weeks are you? By the end you'll be and old hand!, x.

[RubyReins]

Hi Laura.

I'm 31 weeks so on the home straight now. I have a massive bump and I never tire of hearing about the fact from random punters The baby's bum is now sticking out at the front (I think that's what it is!) and s/he is enjoying shaking it about. Makes for me having a rather odd profile though - a bit camel-esque!

Levels have all been below 5 today with the exception of my first one. Pretty happy with that.

Off to the hospital on Monday for a review so we'll see.

I'm certainly getting used to the finger pricking.

x

[negrilbaby]

Can I join?
Am currently 29 weeks and met with midwife on Friday.
Had GD with DS 2 years ago and so this time round had GTT at 16 and 28 weeks (urine tests have all been ok). Following the GTT the GP called and asked me to come in and discuss my blood test results. She wanted futher tests done for increased MCV but said the GTT was fine. The midwife now tells me that I'm just over the border line (fasting was ok but the two hour thingy came back at 7.9 and cut off is 7.8)
My midwife has suggested I just use the machine I had last time and monitor levels closely - rather than refer me to the hospital. I did managed it well last pregnancy through diet. I was induced on my due date and DS was 9lbs.
My only concern now is that I can't remember what sort of levels I should be aiming for. I've only been testing for a day and the results are higher than they were last time round. When should I get concerned?

[ChocolateCalculator]

Hi negrilbaby, sorry the GTT didn't go well. Seems to be almost inevitable second time round though. In my area once you've had it once they don't bother doing GTTs in subsequent pregnancies. You're treated as a diabetic and have to start testing from day 1.

My targets are 4.0-5.6 before breakfast. 4.0-8.0 one hour after food or 4.0-7.0 two hours after food. I'm not sure how many high readings are worrying. Last check up I had 3 over target and the diabetic midwife wanted to understand how it had happened. I explained that they were all as a result of trying a new food and I hadn't then had the same food again and she was happy enough. I got the impression that she was looking to see whether I was likely to be able to control my sugars going forwards, rather than the odd high reading being a problem in itself. I probably had about one reading over target every ten days.

[negrilbaby]

Thanks for this ChocolateCalculator.
I now know what to look out for.
In one way, I'm quite glad that I don't have all the extra hospital appointments but part of me is a little concerned that my midwife (although absolutely great) can be a bit laid back. Very little fazes her.
One good thing about it all is I now know my weight will be moderated - which up to now I have been very lax about!
Have a good day.

[ChocolateCalculator]

It really depends on how good your midwife is I suppose. At the moment I'm only seeing the midwife, although she is a diabetes specialist and it's much better than seeing the doctors like I did last time. I found last time the doctors didn't seem that interested as I was managing with diet and nobody seemed to spot that still being in non maternity jeans at 36 weeks probably wasn't a good thing, they just seemed pleased I wasn't overweight. DS was born at 37 weeks weighing 4lbs 6ozs and speaking to the midwife this time she was horrified that the growth issue hadn't been picked up. In hindsight the doctors (and I deliberately use the plural as bizarrely every time I saw them there were at least 8 people in the room with me, sitting on the bed and in every available space!) just weren't interested in anything other than the more medicalised aspects of GD. I'd take midwife care (with well controlled sugars) every single time.

[Crapweasel]

Hi negrilbaby. Welcome to the club

Current NICE guidelines are 3.5-5.9 fasting and below 7.8 1 hour after a meal

Given your history I do find it surprising that you weren't referred but, like Chocolate, I agree that it's not necessarily a bad thing. Nearer your due date you can certainly push for an additional scans etc but for now I'd make the most of the freedom to experiment a little with your diet without the pressure of the diabetic team who can be very numbers driven and insulin focussed.

I have the opposite experience to Chocolate in that DD was 9lb 2oz without GD (I was tested) and we had a relatively easy VB at 40+5 (I'll never go on a trampoline again but that's a different story ) however nobody seems remotely interested in my history when considering if this baby is growing "big".

[Crapweasel]

PS Chocolate, I got that granola you mentioned, thanks. I got the regular one as it has a slightly lower GL and it certainly worked for lunchtime with greek yoghurt (had eggs for breakfast as it's the weekend). Let's hope it might do the trick for breakfast too,

As my GD will almost certainly get worse maybe I should splash out on the treacle one now

[ChocolateCalculator]

Crapweasal you're making me feel guilty now... I also looked at the plain one, saw it was lower GI, but then thought, but that one will taste of treacle and I miss sugar!

[Crapweasel]

LOL, I was just in Waitrose and came
--->this close

[Louindevon]

Do you think I would be any more disposed to getting GD if my Aunt has type 2 diabetes? I have always had a tendancy to a fluctuating blood sugar level (can't skip breakfast or meals as get shakey etc).

I'm just a little worried as I think I have begun to pee more in the last 6 months and have to get up at night to wee. I found out I was pregnant on Saturday...

Any thoughts?