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.

Hey ladies, baby constance born Sunday 6th after 14 hours labour - arm only, no pain relief gels or drips, didn't miss the birth pool at home, bath and shower in the hospital did the trick. She is a whooper, long, not fat, 9.5 pounds and I am 5'2" and a size 8 so not only were all the scans wrong, she showed no signs of gd affect, tummy not fat and blood sugars fine, she must get the height from her grandad, as the rest of us are short. Placenta was still very healthy despite being two weeks overdue. Discharged following morning as mum and baby in good health with no blood sugar problems.

Good luck with everything ladies!

Hurrah Burmese!!!! What a wait you've had. That's wonderful news. I was just thinking about you which is why I came online.

Congratulations. And that's great news about the induction; I'm so pleased for you! Great weight and beautiful name. I do hope you have a post GD dinner planned laden with previously banned substances.

Does that mean that I'm next?!

I was at my usual consultant appointment yesterday. Same old 5 minute effort but they are still happy with how the baby is and my sugar levels are all fine so I'm still on track. I was a bit puzzled by the ultrasound this time. The midwife (not a sonographer) performing the scan said she was "just having a look" and that she was not "trained to measure the baby or the amount of liquor". God knows what she was doing but it was lovely to see the baby again. No idea what size baby is but no one seems particularly worried so I'm just letting it wash over me now.

Hope the rest of you are faring well!

Ooh ruby, when are you due? I will be watching out for your news!

Two weeks on Saturday! I think I'm in denial... Started on the RLT and will shortly unleash the birthing ball and clary sage oil to try and get things going although I do think it's more me feeling like I'm doing something rather than it having any real effect! Placebotastic.

I hope wee Constance is doing well!

Congratulations Burmese, that's great news! Really pleased it all went well: Was wondering how you were. Hope Constance settles well to life on the outside!

Congratulations Burmese, so glad that things went so well in the end. What a lovely name. Have been looking out for news.

Ruby - did you buy your clary sage yet? I'd be happy to send you mine if not. It's not cheap and I don't think I'll be going for another baby weasel (though post partum hormones say never say never ) Something definitely worked for me (though I agree it was more likely the sweep)

Things are good with us. George is thriving and physically I feel far better than I did after having DD. Thanks to GD pregancy diet I'm already back in many of my clothes and only about 4/5lbs off my pre-pregnancy weight.

I'm trying to stick with many of the eating habits I've picked up over the last few weeks as my diet was definitely carb heavy before. I haven't done any official blood sugars recently but I did do some readings in the first couple of days (it's a hard habit to break!) and did have a couple of unexpectedly high readings. Whether I have an underlying impaired glucose tolerance of if it is a side effect of the steroids I don't know but until the the GTT in July I'm not going to worry about it.

Good luck to all and welcome to the new ladies on this thread. Wishing you all the best with your pregnancies.

Congratulations Burmese 9.5 lbs what a corker.

Had my 2nd clinic today and they have doubled my tablets, 1mg twice a day. Did anyone else get a dodgy tummy on metformin? The doc mentioned it today but it didn't click that I was a bit 'looser' until later on.

Having my growth scan next week, how often do you have to have them?

On the subject of metaformin I have only been on it since Saturday and since Monday I have noticed that just before 12 I am getting shivery, sweaty and tired to the point of exhaustion. Am not sure if it could be not having a mid-morning snack but I did today and the same happened.

Hi ladies.

Debs I've had this too. I found that eating a couple of dried apricots helped. Have you checked your sugars - you could be verging on a hypo. My sugar levels have been as low as 2.2 at that time of day. I get a bit shivery and feel very weak when it happens. Maybe speak to your consultant? It does take a few days to settle down with metformin - it can give you a dicky belly and make you feel pretty sorry for yourself but I found it calmed down after a week or so.

I hope it settles but if not I would speak to your consultant. It might be that you are on too high a dose?

With respect to the scans - I've had two scans now (one a week) and I am to have at least one a week for the foreseeable but I have no idea what they're scanning for! They don't mention the size of the baby and the last one I had was "just to have a look" [hmmm] The midwife said she wasn't trained to measure the baby or liquor so god only knows why she was doing it! I didn't have the energy to query it

Hi Crapweasel - hope you're well! I've got a treasure chest of oils so I'm all set thanks! Need to get brewing soon. I got mine online for a couple of quid so I think I lucked out.

Burmese congratulations, and thanks for the advice, we had a lovely dinner and a walk (back to the far carpark) afterwards and my after dinner value was 5.1 which I was very pleased about.

Debs: My consultant said that if I have to go on metformin (currently diet controlled, but I have the filled prescription) that it upsets the tummy and to take 1 tablet at night for a few days before taking 2 a day.

I'm beginning to get used to the idea of all this, but am still rather concerned about the thought of insulin injections. How far along are you all? The consultant said that it's only going to get worse, and I'm only 29 weeks. DS (19 months, this is my second pregnancy) was born naturally - labour started at 38+1 - and was small (6lb1oz) so the obstetrician isn't too worried about macrosomia, so don't get a scan till 34 weeks. On the other hand, DS had a couple of problems which in hindsight might have been due to undiagnosed GD.

Ruby when I get faint my bloods are still at 4+, they have never been lower then 4.
My friends dad is diabetic and the feelings I get are scarily similar to when he has a hypo.

I had a couple of late scans last time to check for weight and the scan nurse said both times she wasn't qualigied to check weight?? at least io got a few more looks at baby

The consultant is optimistic about babys weight as my other babies were not huge and have all got smaller each time. of course they might scan me and find out this one is huge but i feel a bit better

Hi all. Firstly congratulations to Burmese and Crapweasel.

I stumbled across this post, and wish there had been a similar one for me when it was my turn

I had GD diagnosed two days before I went into labour 39+5. That said snr midwife saw that the blood results and urine results had been indicative for months although not acted upon.

The reason why I am posting is I am wonder what symptoms you all had - and how did they decided to do the GTT? In hindsight I did have symptoms - but said nothing about them, as being a first I assumed it was normal for pg - you expect to feel below par dont you?

I plan to have another and your posts have provided some very useful info for reference - thank you

Also crapweasel thank you for your fab labour story - it has given me faith that it can all be alright!

Sticky jam dognuts for all those on this post! Lol

Morning Debs

It does sound a bit "hypo-like" but those levels are GD holy grail... I really think you should speak to your doctor. I'm sorry that you're feeling lousy. I really hope it settles down or the doc can suggest another course of action for you.

Interesting that you've had similar scan experiences! At the last one the midwife was saying "that's the head, there's the legs...". Fair enough but I can see that for myself. Why are we lubing my belly up every week if not to measure the baby's size and the amount of liquor?! I thought that's what the doctors were all freaking out about hence their incessant induction chat?! She didn't know where the placenta was but I pointed it out to her Agreed that it is lovely to see the baby but it's a heck of a shlep to the hospital for not very much. I think my consultant(s) is happy with the baby's weight... They're "letting" me go to 40 weeks now so I guess they must be. I really need to ask more questions this coming Monday!

Only two more weeks to go I guess! They've made it clear that if I go past 40 weeks then I will be induced as it's "what they do." In the meantime I'll just try every trick in the book and hope that my (earlier) dates are the correct ones as opposed to the scan dates. Fingers crossed!

Sillysow I had a +3 for glucose in my urine last time which sent them into a huge panic and had the GTT the next week. I was about 36 weeks so didn't have a long time to go. Had the GTT this time due to last pregnancy. Some PCT's are different tho and it can depend on family history or a high BMI.

I had some symptoms last time, mainly being exhausted. It was the summer holidays and really warm so I figured it was normal.

Ruby will definitely see what the consultant says if the 'hypo's' continue. When I told them last pregnancy they were just pleased I could get them low. Strangely it is only before dinner I get these not before tea or bed.

Hi All
Congratulations Burmese - great news. Love the name - it's on my shortlist of about 4 names.
Had a growth scan today - 36 + 1. The weight is estimated at 7lbs 10oz at the moment so looking like she's going to be another big one. Most of the measurements were at the 50 centile mark but her abdominal circumference was off the scale! I have an appointment with the consultant next week to discuss birthing options - but the thought of an ecs is sounding more and more preferable.

Hi sillysow I had no symptoms at all. I wasn't tired, thirsty nor was I measuring big. There was some sugar in my urine at my 28 week appointment so I was scheduled for the GTT the next day. Just trooped along to my GP and a practice nurse took my blood, gave me a vile gooey drink and told me to go home and come back in two hours for the second blood test. Nothing like how some of the other ladies had theirs done e.g. at hospital etc. Tests came back "a bit high" (no idea what the levels were)and before I knew it I had diabetes nurses on the phone and appointments with consultants scheduled for the next week. They moved very quickly.

I am going to demand that someone tell me the size of my sprog next week! I know it's more art than science but it does all feel like a bit of a waste of time however nice it is to see the LO wiggling about. The baby looked like it had a wee fat tummy but what the hell do I know?!

Hey Ladies,

Thanks for all the kind messages!

SillySow, I had no symptoms at all, no sugar in urine or anything else. I was sent for GTT and an urgent growth scan at 36 weeks I was measuring full term on fundal height despite having measured small for dates up until that point. My midwife was worried as she said although I had consistently measured small on FH and scans, at 36 weeks she said as she laid her hands on my bump that the babies back was as long as her hand, which was defo not a small baby. Turns out she was right!

If it helps at all, pregnancy is an impaired glucose tolerance state, it's just it affects some women more than others, especially towards the end of the gestation.

Try googling Michel Odents article - 'Gestational Diabetes - a symtom looking for a disease'.

Ohh Ruby, meant to say I could have been induced at 40 weeks with just ARM as cervix was already 1-2cm at that point so they could have got in without me needing prostaglandins. Convinced it was pineapple and RLT that helped 'ripen' things, I know pineapple is sugar loaded, but if you buy fresh, firm ones (ie not quite ripe yet) and eat just a chunk an hour or so you might just get away with it on your readings) - worth starting the ripening process now (also DH can help out in this department!!!) so that you can try to avoid the prostaglandin start to the induction.

Sending you 'ripening vibes' and 'labour vibes' in abundance!

Good Luck!!!

I had no symptoms at all. I just had a high pre-pregnancy BMI and a family history of (one case of) type II diabetes. I probably wouldn't have had the GTT test except that my son skin-swabbed positive for Group B Strep after he was born, so I was under consultant care rather than midwife care anyway. (Have to have prophylactic antibiotics in labour - GBS can kill newborns.)

Just out of interest, pre-diagnosis did anyone get a kind of funny metallic taste in their mouth? I did, most nights since about 20 weeks or so, could only get rid of it with ice cream or cold milk. Now I'm eating for GD it's gone. I got the same last pregnancy, but not till around 28 weeks.

Thanks very much for all your replies - greatly appreciated. I had visual disturbances (floaters), excess thirst and exhaustion. Admittedly being my first I just assumed that was pg for you :-)

I know I had ketones in my urine whilst I was in labour, but I am amazed that no one monitored my BS or my DD's BS after birth. Admittedly I was a complete PITA having had a labour with much intervention rather than the chilled home water birth I had intended.

It is interesting the thought that stress may play a part in the "kick off" of GD. I had a terminally ill relative pass away, 3 break ins and was under completely unfounded disciplinary at work!! Just a little stressy!

Again everyone thank you for this fantastic thread - very interesting and informative. Heres hoping my next pg, and every other posters pgs are simple and uncomplicated!

RubyReins it is interesting the way that they tested you. Mine was done at the hospital - and I was under strict instruction to sit still for the 2 hour gap - as exercise can obv affect results.

Hello there

I was wondering if I could join you? I am 29 weeks and have just got my results back from my GTT this afternoon - 11.1 so really high.

I'm a bit taken aback as I am not overweight, have no symptoms, in fact have been having an incredibly easy and straightforward first pregnancy. The baby has always been spot on for growth and I have been slowly putting on just about 1 lb a week, and have only put on 16 lbs through the whole pregnancy to date.

So, apparantly I will see a diabetic educator and an endocrinologist next week, but it's a public holiday here on Monday - is there anything I should do over the next few days as I am now obviously worrying about the baby, given that the results have come back so high.

Thank you!

Hi Ozziegirly!

I'm not pregnant now; my DS2 was born a year ago but I always read these threads as I was diagnosed quite early on in my pregnancy as I have PCOS. This makes GD more likely.

I was devastated by the diagnosis; unlike you I was overweight etc but it isn't necessarily caused by lifestyle factors. It is just a pregnancy thing.

ANyway. What you can do is follow a low GI diet. I found I was "worse" in the mornings so usually had a breakfast of bacon and egg in the mornings rather than porridge. Porridge is low GI but I made it with milk which used to send my blood sugar up. I used to have something like a wrap for lunch with lots of salad and smoked salmon or similar. In the evening I'd have lots of veg with meat or fish but I tended to be fine in the evening. I cut out fruit juices and things like that, and used to snack on cheese and apple. The cheese lowers the GI of the apple, IIRC.

Exercise also helps control blood sugar so I upped that considerably.

My DS was born at 38 weeks and was on the 50th centile so not big at all.

The GD did get better towards the end of my pregnancy so started reducing the amount of insulin I took. If you do end up on insulin it isn't an indicator that you've failed to do something; it really is just about your body dealing with the pregnancy.

Good luck.

Thank you very much llareggub, that's helpful.

Bacon and eggs sounds fantastic to be able to have for breakfast, as I have been having bran flakes with linseed, sesame seeds and dried fruit for the last 6 months.....

I will pick up a book on the low GI diet this weekend and start learning. At the moment I have the aforementioned cereal for breakfast, a salad and a sandwich on wholemeal seeded bread for lunch, with a yogurt and evening meal is normally something like chilli, beef stew, pasta, followed by fruit. I guess something in there will need to be tweaked, but I do feel like I already have a relatively healthy diet, but I don't know much about GI/low GI to be fair.

I don't do much exercise at all so I can definitely improve there.

Thanks for the info - I feel weirdly calm about it and mainly just a bit confused that i can have something like this, when I don't know it.

Hi Ozzie,
dried fruit is really sugar loaded, fresh fruit especially the lowersugar varieties are better than dried or juice in terms of sugar content, vitamins and fibre. Avoid tropical fruits, better to eat berries, pears, apricots and apples. Most bread manufacturers add sugar to their products, regardless of how healthy it may look, read the label very carefully. Almost all yoghurt, besides plain natural yoghurt has added sugar and has a naturally high lactose (which is also a sugar) content, cows milk is higher in sugars than sheepskin or goats. I found eating fruit as snacks worked better than eating it as part of a meal. Other good snacks are nuts, cheese, oatcakes (makesure they have no added sugar) chunks of cucumber and carrots dipped in humous. Try to eat smaller portions of pasta, lentils, chickpeas and brown long grain rice all work really well to keep you feeling full up. Activity/ exercise defo helps, could be why I could eat pretty much whatever I liked, I walked alot, went to yoga everyday and my home never looked so immaculate!