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.

[allyfe]

MissJA I really know how you feel. I found it really hard to adjust, particularly when I just couldn't seem to get breakfast right.

I realised that in the morning I have to be insanely careful. I can't do cereal or normal bread, or even sausages with one slice of bread that works. Baked beans (low salt and low sugar) and eggs also pushed me over. And my usual eggs on toast with an additional low-sugar 0% fat yogart was enough to send me over!

Basically, granary, multigrain etc are all big no-nos for me. The only bread I seem to be able to tolerate is Soya and Linseed bread, which is made by Bergen (the brand I get) and Vogel. You can get them in Waitrose, and I think in other supermarkets. I can only have one piece of that in the morning, and so far I can have that with either scrambled eggs (with smoked salmon :), or with boiled eggs, or with bacon. With bacon I normally have about 5 slices of bacon heaped into my one slice sandwich.

If you are doing well for lunch and dinner, I'd say try those for breakfast and see what happens. The nurse I saw after my first week (where my breakfast readings were all between 8 and 10), said that the consultant would probably have put me on drugs, but she'd let me try the soya and linseed bread, and it worked. I had energy problems too (i.e. totally none) and so I don't really do much of the exercise after, but if you can then a short walk after breakfast might also help.

Saying that if you do need the medication lots of people do, so don't worry about it it is just your body needing a bit of extra assisance.

It is so so hard, but it does take a bit of time to sort. One thing I would say is cutting carbs completely for breakfast didn't work at all for me because it made me horribly emotional and upset.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[allyfe]

Hi Hanbee, I was wondering if this might be your first and then put two and two together and realised with a toddler it was highly unlikely . Did they have an particular reasons for not letting you go to 40 weeks? Anyway, aside from that, I wanted to say that although I don't know too much about inductions, but I believe that they can either try a slow induction to begin with (perhaps with less drugs?), or they can do a really heavy duty one (really not sure if this info is accurate). If it is true, perhaps you could see if they could try a gentle start first. It might make things a big longer, but at the same time, since you've been having such strong braxton hicks, it might be that your lo is keen to come out with a tiny bit of encouragement. And, the other thing is that a friend of mine was telling me today that she had a friend who was due to be induced at 35 weeks, and went for acupuncture, and it actually brought things on naturally that evening. I'm not sure what I think of acupuncture, but it might be worth giving it a go before your induction date just in case :). I'm thinking I might try it if nothing has happened for me by 40 weeks.

The other thing I think works (although it could totally be coincidence) is the birthing/yoga balls! My friend bounced on hers all day and went into labour that evening. I borrowed it (partly for a laugh), did some good bouncing and my waters broke one day, bounced some more and labour started the next. Could be total coincidence, but hey!

And, what my rational mind knows is that LOADS of women have inductions and give birth smoothly and naturally, so it can't be so bad at all.

I'm a little behind you. I'm due 6th November. It is exciting and scary to think we'll have a new baby and a toddler to manage!!!!!

[MissJA]

Thanks Hanbee and Allyfe. I really appreciate the supportive messages. I tried shredded wheat this morning and it pushed me to 8.4 and i even went for a walk in the pouring rain. Something is happening to me overnight as my bs levels were higher this morning than 1 hour after dinner last night. I just don't understand it and the diabetic nurse just seems so quick to put me on medication. I wish i was in your position and close to my due date (currently mid Dec) and i am even prepared for them to bring this baby out early! I was thinking of cutting carbs out completely in the morning and see if that works - as surely that will have to keep the levels low.

I would really like to see the dietician again and get some more advice before being put on medication.

I know several women who have been induced and although the labour was slightly longer all has gone well for them in the end. So i am sure it will be fine and don't worry. You are at the home stretch now!

[allyfe]

MissJA Go buy some of the soya and linseed bread!!!!!! It tastes pretty much like brown bread and has been my breakfast saviour!! I must be honest, cutting carbs out was a disaster for me (I tried it in the early stages). They cause the brain to release seritonin (sp) which is a mood leveller, and not eating them sent my moods haywire. I was utterly miserable some days. Now I have them safely back in, with a reasonable amount of rice or pasta in the evening, I'm feeling much much better.

Like I said, I just can't do cereal at in the morning.

Do try just one slice of my saviour bread with eggs or bacon or something (sausages have cereal so perhaps don't try those first).

The other thing I've found is that if I wash my hands, I have to dry them on totally clean kitchen towel to be sure I don't end up getting something unwanted which pushes the reading up.

Also, you may know this already but you really can't smudge the blood AT ALL when you test. It sends my readings insanely high if I ever do that.

Really have my fingers crossed that the soya and linseed works. xx

[hels1316]

Hi all, just wanted to add my little bit of GD wisdom. MissJA, I had terrible problems with breakfast, so have had to stick to 3/4 pot of Greek yoghurt (Total 0%) with a handful of nuts and often berries mixed in with it. Even linseed bread made my readings pretty high at breakfast time. Might be worth giving the yoghurt a go. The full fat one was also ok, if you are worried about not eating enough calories - its also tastier!

I am 39+1 at mo, and booked in for induction on my due date next Tuesday. I managed on just diet alone so they are happy for me to wait till then, but have convinced us it is best to get induced at 40 weeks. Not sure what is best, but want to make sure baby is ok. The whole thing is a bit of a nightmare, as the decision rests on your shoulders!

I will be soooooo excited if I go into labour naturally! My last one was 10 days over, so I dont really expect to be early with this one. Had a sweep on Monday which didnt really do much, had a bit of a 'show'though. Got another sweep booked for Monday, and then the dreaded induction on Tuesday. I was 2cm dilated, soft and favourable and about 50% effaced. Not sure if that means anything, but the MW thought I could start naturally before next week.

Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone!

[MissJA]

Thanks Allyfe - The burgen bread works for me for lunch but not for breakfast. Looking on the net i think my blood sugars are being pushed high in the night and perhaps i need to snack before bed and see how that goes. I am doing my own research now as the diabetic nurse told me "just eat don't worry" which would have been great in most other circumstances but not this one! At least not where she is trying to push me on medication.

Thanks Hels. I have bought some of the Total yohurt and will give it a go tomo.

i had similar issues with DD1 and they were going to induce me but was lucky as labour started naturally. My mother convinced me to eat some spicy lentils which did the trick. I hope all goes well and i am sure it will.

I am truly amazed by the women on here and how you've all dealt with this so well. I just feel right now that everytime i manage to get something under control emotionally something else comes up. I've been admitted to hospital twice with high bp and possible preeclampsia and the thought of more medication makes me feel so angry and upset.

Anyway i think i need to control stress first and foremost and just hope everything goes ok.

[allyfe]

Darn. I was hoping the Bergen bread would solve all your problems! I have my fingers crossed for the total yoghurt. Someone told me (or I read somewhere) that fatty things can slow down the release of blood sugars, so I tend to have full fat with my strawberries.

You could perhaps try bacon and eggs too? I don't know if you are vegi.

It is so depressing when trying so hard and those bloody readings just won't go down! It is stressful and depressing.

Fingers crossed. x

[MissJA]

Thanks Allyfe. I will let you know how i get on tomorrow. I think bacon and eggs may be the answer which wouldn't be the end of the world as i love fry ups!

x

[hanbee]

hels1316 - we're booked for induction on the same day! Hopefully both of us will have our little ones beforehand. Your cervix sounds really positive, from my limited knowledge I would be surprised if you end up being induced as 3cm dilation plus regular contractions is considered established labour. Once you reach that point they would struggle to justify doing anything unless you failed to progress.

Basically they don't let anyone go to 40 weeks in my area, I tried pressing my case and told them the nightmare that I'd had with the synto. drip last time and that I really wanted to avoid it. To be fair the consultant was really supportive and I've got the sweep, 2 pessaries/tablets, ARM and a two hour wait before they will use the drip - its agreed and written in my notes so I feel OKish about it. Just wish I had a couple of sweeps and a wait like hels1316! My situation is slightly complicated because baby has a problem with one of his kidneys called hydronephrosis. This is quite common and can be mild and resolve after birth but unfortunately in baby's case its quite bad and so what with the risks of the diabetes as well they want a delivery sooner rather than later.

My DS1 was born 1 day early and so I was hoping that this one would be a bit earlier especially as he's a little bigger. DS1 is 2 on Sunday so DH is convinced that I will go into labour on Saturday night. Allyfe the consulatant actually told me that the braxton hicks should be preparing the cervix so you could well be right. I'm actually booked for acupuncture tonight, tomorrow night and saturday night so I'll let you know how I get on!

[hels1316]

Hanbee - good luck! I have printed off a birth plan about not wanting the drip at all, but I havent really discussed it with anyone. How many weeks will you be on Tuesday? and where are you based?

Do you know how they decide between pessaries and tablet? Obviously I like the sound of tablet better, but I wondered if the gel is any better at getting things going? I think in the guidelines it says that you can hold out for 3 pessaries in a row, 6 hours apart - is there a reason why you have 2 agreed?

Thanks for the info, and I hope all goes ok for you and your bubs.

[hanbee]

Thanks. I think the thing with the drip is that is they have used the pessaries/tablets and nothing has happened they have to have a conversation with you about what happens next but if you're cervix is open and they've broken the membranes (ARM) but you're not contracting regularly/strongly there is no real other option but to use the drip to get things moving. The only other option would be a C-section. I guess this is what is known as a cascade of intervention!

I have 2 agreed simply for personal reasons, a friend who had quite serious problems after hyperstimulation. Also they have to be careful with the pessaries if you are asthmatic, which I am. I don't know if there are any differences in how effective they are. They're both prostaglandin so I guess they must be pretty similar.

I'm booked in at Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Bucks. Anywhere near you?

Nothing from the acupuncture yet, expect stronger braxton hicks. Baby is now 3/5 engaged though so maybe all the "move down" signals are having some effect.

[hels1316]

hanbee - Im Orpington, Bromley, so nowhere near you! How is it going, have you had any signs of labour yet?

I am having another sweep tomorrow, and have had a bit of a show, so I am hoping things might either start on their own, or very quickly with induction on Tuesday. I am really terrified that we have made the wrong decision in letting them induce me though :(

[hanbee]

Good luck tomorrow hels1316, I'm also booked for a sweep. So cross your fingers we'll both go into labour tomorrow night and avoid induction.

My consultant said that before they do the pessary/tablet they should do another internal an compare the results to those of the day before and if there have been significant changes in the cervix they should consider leaving it a while to see if labour starts spontaneously so you must ask what changes have happened if you're still waiting on Tuesday.

No signs of labour here but still braxton hicks and a feel baby is getting more engaged so, like you, hoping whatever happens things are already heading in the right direction.

Try not to be terrified, I was really upset at thought of being induced but now I've thought about it I've just decided to have a what will be will be attitude, embrace it and try to go with the flow. I hope this will make me more relaxed which should make labour a bit easier. Just think about what you'll have at the end of the process.

Take care and hopefully catch up with you all in a while once the little one is here.

[hels1316]

Hi Hanbee

I think I may have started naturally!! :)

I have had more bloody show coming out all day, and now I have sore back pain every 10mins or so. This is how it started last time. Fingers crossed it will progress! I am going to go to bed and get some sleep, in the hope that I am woken up with some stronger contractions. I would love for it to start on its own!

Good luck tomorrow, hopefully the sweep will work.

[allyfe]

Just a quick note to say GOODLUCK to Hels and Hanbee :) It is a beautiful day to be born on. Hope everything goes as well as is possible, and the babies arrive quickly, smoothly, and with hardly any pain (okay, so the last one is a bit unrealistic, but lets start postive).

Thinking of you all xx

[hels1316]

Hi All

Just an update to say I went into labour this morning at 2.30am and had beautiful little Jake (7lb11) at 7.40am.

He is gorgeous and the birth was great!! A bit intense, but I feel ok now, just waiting to be discharge from hospital. Jakes bloods have been fine.

Mine however, are testing in 7's :( I had hoped the diabetes would disappear straight away, but maybe it needs a while to get out of my system?

Good luck everyone.

[allyfe]

Ah - huge congratulations hels1316. Sounds like it all went well, and really quickly! Glad you both are doing well. Your body has just done been through a bit of an upheaval, so hopefully everything has settled down by now, and you are enjoying cake and chocolate!!! xx

[slimyak]

Nice to join this thread after some good news. Congrats to Hels on the birth of your gorgeous Jake. Also good to see the you went into labour naturally and had a perfectly proportioned newbie.

So, setting the clock back a bit from imminent birth, I'm 25 weeks and know my GD is back. I had GD in my last preg so have been home testing since 16 weeks and now I'm having to be really strict to keep within levels.

I'm seeing the midwife today so it's time for the GTT, which I know I won't pass.

Is everyone else working on these levels?
Pre breakfast < 5.5
1 hour after lunch and dinner

[allyfe]

Hello Slimyak, I hope all goes well with the GTT test, but it sounds like you are familiar enough with GD to know what's going on.

Your levels sound really strict. I've been told:

Pre breakfast

[hanbee]

Hi Everyone,

Firstly, congrats Hels glad everything worked out well for you.

Sorry for the delay in posting news. I ended up being induced on Tuesday 12th. Tablet in at 1pm, 3pm started pre-labour manageable contractions, by 9pm still only 2cm dilated and got a bit teary. However it all started getting a bit more intense and at 11.30 they examined me I was 4cm and my waters broke during the examination. Whizzed down from antenatal to labour ward and Harry Dylan born at 1.30am on the 13th. 3.5 - 4 hours in established labour, 20 mins second stage (pushing), no drugs only gas and air and TENS - dead chuffed with the experience. The staff at the hospital were ace.

Harry's blood sugars were fine, they monitored pre and post feed for 24 hours, and mine too were normal so I was told I could go home and eat what I like!!

Hope you all have as positive an experience

x

[hanbee]

Oh and forgot to mention - Harry weighed 7lb 8oz (3.4kg) so Mr average size wise and only 3oz heavier than my non-GD DS1!

[allyfe]

Huge congrats Hanbee and welcome to Harry! Your induction sounded like it couldn't have gone better! It was so quick! And just with gas and air. I'll be really pleased if my induction goes like that.

I hope that you have had a fabulous weekend eating banned substances. I'm so looking forward to all the things I will hopefully be able to eat!

I'm guessing you won't have much time to post so don't worry if you can't reply - but I was wondering how this labour compared to number 1. Was it much quicker or was the first also relatively straight forward?

Hope you are all doing well.

Alison xx

[hanbee]

Hi Ally,

I was dreading the induction but apart from the "prostin Pains" I had in early labour it was really straightforward. It was a massive difference from my first labour. Frst time round my waters broke and although I started contracting I wasn't in established labour after 24 hours so I had the synto drip. It was not a good experience, established labour was 13.5 hours and I had an epidural after 7. DS1 was born by forceps with the cord round his neck.

When I got really disheartened during this labour when I was still only 2 cm dilated after a few hours of early labour contractions the midwife I had was really supportive and said the same thing happened to her SiL second time and once she got into labour it was really quick. So apparently this sort of pattern is quite common, your uterus just works better once its done it one!

I won't say it wasn't painful, but it was an incredibly intense experience and I'm so glad I did it without pain relief and experience the whole thing. Harry was really alert for hours after birth which got breastfeeding off to a good start and I'm sure the lack of drugs helped with this.

Just hope everyone else has as positive an experience.

[allyfe]

Oh hanbee thanks so much for replying! My first labour sounds very much like yours! My waters broke early, I did go into labour in 24 hours, but I stalled at about 6cm (for about 3-4 hours). The pain was awful, ended up having an epidural, the cord was round the babies neck and she was forceped.

That is partly why I've been so worried about the induction etc. I know things are often different with the second, and I'm so pleased to hear that things went so well for you.

Fingers crossed all goes well. I managed to switch to Kings and they won't let me go over 40 weeks, so I'll be giving birth in less than 3 now.

Thanks again, you made my day with your ds's lovely birth :)

xx

[michelletrudgeon]

Hi Everyone,

Congratulations on the new arrival!!! I hope that it is okay to join the thread. Two weeks ago I had a high reading after my GTT. I've been testing 5 times a day and all my readings have been good except the first one of the day before breakfast.

I was lost until I found this thread. It took me several days to get through all the comments but I need to say a huge Thank You :) as it has made me feel more confortable about what is happening to me and our cheeky monkey. The dietician and the diabetes nurses were very nice but gave me no advice on how to lower this value.

Yesterday we had a scan as I had a low placenta at the 20 week scan but now at 32 weeks it is all okay. However, even though our munchkin is weighing in the 50 percentile along with the other dimensions her tummy is measuring in the 95 percentile so I have been put on metformin to control my liver overnight.

I had a really positive experience with the consultant and the obstetrician. I raised induction and they didn't want to make any decisions yet until they see if the tablets work,and they are letting me increase my dose over two weeks so I can avoid the usual side effects.

GD seems such a minefield but hopefully once our babies arrive we can all move on to much more exciting worries

Mx