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.

Why can't you put in a repeat for 3 weeks Debs?
My GP only ever prescribed one box of strips at a time, until i put a note on the repeat form explaining how long they lasted me, and asking for 2 at a time, which is what he's given ever since.
Are you really doing 8 tests a day (presume you're eating 4 meals for the maths to work)? I've never known anyone be asked to test more than 4 times a day before.

Hi All

Just dropping in to see how things are going. Very impressed this thread has made the home page.

I hope the new ladies (and returners, Hi CSWS) find the thread as useful as I did.

Chocolate and Ruby, best of luck to both of you for your appts this week.

Ruby, yes I believe glucose intolerance does increase as pregnancy goes on and in one way it's a good sign in that it shows the placenta is still functioning. I was told that a sudden drop in numbers/insulin requirement would be a red light for placental failure.

Debs, aspartame is fine for GD, I drank gallons of sugar free squash, it's not considered great for other reasons though. I also found my GPs were prescribing 50 at a time, though with no restriction on re-ordering, at first. I just dropped a note explaing how many I used a day and they upped it to 150 at a time with no problem.

Oh, and FWIW, my clinics were on a Tuesday

Hello ladies,

Glad everyone seems to be doing well. I've been away a bit recently so haven't had chance to post. Welcome to all newcomers!

Not too much to report on my progress on the GD front - except to second the advice on exercise. My GD diagnosis (which like Burmese I contest) is slightly complicated by my having very low blood pressure - around 100/60 when not pregnant, now running at about 90/45 - which can make it very difficult to extract blood: Am definitely not about to bleed to death any day soon . Anyway, to deal with this and try to get my system moving I've upped my exercise again (I usually run, but gave up around 30 weeks). It doesn't seem to matter what I do - jogging, mowing the lawn, general nesting - but it has a huge impact on my readings.

On a slightly different point, has anyone who is getting high readings checked the accuracy of their monitor. I was shown how to use mine the first time I met the diabetic nurse and she wasn't going to give me the box, instruction book etc until I asked for it. Two things she didn't mention, which I now understand from studying the instructions, are that you are supposed to wipe away the initial spot of blood and massage more down from your hand and that the window on the test strip must be completely filled in order to avoid an inaccurate reading. If I fail to follow this - eg yesterday on my first attempt the amount of blood I could extract from my finger didn't fill the window - it can make a huge difference to the readings - a 9.3 followed immediately by a 6.7 . Just a thought.

Debs I think you need to have a word with your GP. I know that non- insulin using type 2 diabetics tend to have a nightmare being prescribed strips as they are hugely expensive (about £25 for 50 iirc) so GPs will do anything to avoid prescribing them if you're not on insulin. However NICE guidelines are very clear that women with GD must test frequently (I test 4 times a day, fasting in the morning and then 1 hour after each main meal) I had some problems first time round, but I just told the receptionist that if the GP wouldn't write a repeat for more than 50 then I would need an appointment to discuss it with him. My next prescription was for 200! I have changed GPs since my last pregnancy and bizarrely when I made an appointment at 5 weeks to ask him for strips so I could see how my insulin response was he simply rolled over the prescription from my previous GP for 200 with no problem.

Ruby good luck at the clinic.

Hi All
Marmite, I also had some problems with my readings. Tested before lunch last week and got a reading of 7.4. I was starving and hadn't eaten for 3 hours so knew it couldn't be correct. Tested again, got 6.1. Went and washed hands - finally tested as 4.1.
My GP was also only prescribing 50 strips at a time and I've been advised to test before and after meals - so usually about 6 times a day. I explained to the receptionist and since then have been getting 2 x 50 at a time, but no limits on reordering.
I'm not sure when the diabetes clinic is at my hospital since my lovely midwife hasn't refered me. She is keeping an eye on my levels and as long as I keep my levels down she thinks the trip to the hospital is not worth the effort.
I'm not sure if I've been sensible or not but I've almost completely removed most carbs from my diet. No bread, rice or pasta except a small amount with my evening meal. I am feeling a lot better for it. I'm snacking on lots of nuts and cheese. Bacon and eggs for breakfast and a huge salad with humous and grilled haloumi most lunchtimes. It's been a lot easier since going on mat leave. I also found that I can eat fruit - if I do it on the move. I have a two year old and if I'm out with him I can snack on his fruit with no bad effect.

The docs only do repeat prescriptions every 28 days so I can't have another set yet. If you put in for tablets they will withold your script until you are on the 28th day. Luckily I have some boxes in house as I regularly tested myself every few months inbetween pregnancies.
I have ben told to test early morning and then before every meal so 4 times a day atm. They think I will probably have to do before and after meals as well which will double the strips.
On testing have any of you tested your machine? I am using the same machine from almost 2 years ago so the dietician gave me some solution to test it was still working. In the test box it tells you to test the machine every week or if you think your levels are way out.

CSWS Congratulations on being pregnant again and hope you manage the birth you want

Definitely agree with washing hands and repeating any tests which don't match how you feel. I have had dodgy tests both too high and low.

Im using my old machine, which hadn't been used for a year, nobody suggested doing anything to check it was still working ok, but it seems to have been fine for the most part.

Hi ruby, belazu make a barley cous cous that is lower gi than the wheat varieties abs more authentic, I always added chickpeas to cous cous so I was eating less carbs abs more protein, but not sure if it will work for other folk.

Hi All,

Found this thread through the link on the home page, so just doing a quick introduction before I read it in more detail.

I had GD in both my pregnancies, both times ended up being controlled by insulin after initially starting off diet only. Was very lucky in standard of care at my hospital and a great diabetic consultant/nurse/midwife team.

With DS1 I went into spontaneous labour at 37+4 and managed to avoid continual monitoring until labour was fully established. I stayed at home for a while and had a very chilled out midwife! All issues with his birth were due more to opting for an epidural than anything else. He was 8lbs 11oz.

DS2 was 5 years later in 2008, initially I "passed" the GTT on my 2 hour reading but queried it as the one hour was very high - the diabetes midwife gave me a glucose monitor to double check my readings for a week and sure enough I was diagnosed. This was approx 28 weeks and I'm sure that it went back further.

My hospital had an induce at 40 weeks policy, but because all scans were indicating a big big baby they took me in at 39+4. I really wanted to avoid being induced, but to be honest I had a marvellous experience - the midwives were fantastic and I had a very lovely and quick birth with just gas and air and my natal hypnotherapy cd. DS2 was 9lbs 9oz.

Both times I had another GTT about 8 weeks post birth which came back clear, and have had annual fasting blood tests with my GP.

Just wanted to add - my induction with DS2 was similar to Burmese in that I had already had 2 failed sweeps and was 2cm dilated. I had ARM and was allowed to walk round the hospital for a couple of hours to try and bring on labour, but it wasn't happening. I was being very stubborn regarding going on a drip and eventually the head midwife got my diabetes midwife to come and have a word with me about it! They were worried as the scans had shown 10lbs+ baby, but that just shows how inaccurate they are.

Anyway went on the drip at 3pm and DS2 put in his arrival at 5.35

I second what previous posters have said re low GI diet, the original book (name of which I have forgotten but is written by about 4 people) has a specific chapter on managing diabetes which I found really useful. The NHS dietician I saw in my first pregnancy was rubbish so I didn't even bother next time round.

I also found I put on a lot less weight towards the end of my pregnancy. Breastfeeding helps too, shame it has all gone back on since returning to work

Hi I hope you don't mind me posting, I have never had GD but my first baby was 9lb 4 and very long. We had shoulder dystocia at delivery but I had been put on a drip to speed up contractions and been induced so that could explain this I guess. The main thing that makes me think now that maybe I had GD is that ds had a little fit the night he was born and was tested as having low blood sugar.

With my second child I did the lucazade test which I passed however I wasn't really able to keep still as I had my 20 month old with me! I was careful with what I ate during that pg and actually lost about a stone of my pre pregnancy weight once I had delivered the baby. I did have the odd sugar reading for example after drinking juice but then I found I avoided this by not eating bread or sweet stuff on days when I was having my urine tested.

This pg I have not been eating well at all I think my easy second birth has made me complacent. Have been trying to eat well today! My consultant agreed that I could not do the lucazade test (my husband is blind so I said fasting wasn't practial also I am a stone lighter than last time and under 35)and instead have a random blood test at my 20 week scan. I haven't had the result from this yet.

The thing is I have read a little more on GD since that consulatation and now i am not sure I should skip the test. Also my blood test was at 21 weeks possibly this is a little early? On the flip side I was 8 or 9 days over with my dc and I would not want my birth over medicalised if i did get a GD diagnosis there is no way I would be allowed to go that far over I guess. Part of me thinks I should just be pleased if I get a normal result from my blood test and eat a low gi diet. I guess another option would be to still not have the lucazade but to ask for my blood to be retested when i go for my 28 week bloods? Anyway no one needs reply as this is pretty random!

Oh btw by sugar readings I meant on my urine samples.

pookey, I would be very tempted to have the GTT based on what you've said, but if it's not practical maybe try not to manipulate your urine tests by controlling what you eat beforehand, just eat normally and then at least of you have a major problem it will be picked up that way.

Having said that I wouldn't discourage you from following a low GI diet anyway. I suspect most pregnant women would benefit from it.

Hello ladies - goodness it's busy here!

Quick update - saw the consultant today (the one I like and who covets my rather wonderful bag ). She's happy with my sugar levels and not worried by the erroneous spikes I've had of late. Seeing her again next Monday and we'll talk induction then. She did say that she was still ok with me going to 40 weeks but she will only let me go three days over.

She suggested a sweep next Monday but I don't know if that's really a goer - I have heard vile things about sweeps when you're not ready... I'll be 39 +2 weeks. Any views?

I asked why I am being scanned by midwives who are not trained to measure the baby. She said that they don't do growth scans anymore as the results were woefully inaccurate. They were referring women for sections expecting a spanking eleven pounder to come out and then a seven pounder would emerge. I did say that the scanning midwives don't seem to be looking for anything! Anyway, nice to see the baby sticking his or her tongue out at me.

Hi Burmese - noted on the cous cous! Off to the health food shop tomorrow. Thanks!

Hi CSWS - yeah I am seriously hoping that hubby gets back STAT! He's back on Friday and we weren't sure about him going but it's a good gig and I didn't really think anything would happen early... Touch wood! Hope you'll be ok when your DH goes away. My mum is staying with me which is nice and she's cleaning a lot so I can sit on my arse!

On the strips front, you are preaching to the converted! I'm only allowed 50 strips and 50 lancets at a time. Needless to say I have a deluge of lancets! They will only give me 28 metformin tablets at a time too even though I am in 3 a day. On mat leave now so it's not a headache really but I don't get it and they won't/can't tell me why!

Glad to see this thread so busy and hope you're all well.

Hey there...

I had GD with my twins...it got to be a real headache to be honest. Pricking 4x a day, insulin 3x a day. So glad there is a thread for this now on MN...I could've done with it, but had a good moan on my antenatal thread anyway! At the very end, my readings were all over the place, and I actually had to reduce the insulin and stop taking the night time one.

Best things I found were: porridge with fruit & nuts for brekkie. White basmati rice was brilliant! Instant noodles with peas and sweetcorn was a good, quick lunch and better than sandwiches.

Tbh, I didn't try too hard as it was really difficult on top of the rest of my life! Everything was fine. I had a C-section at 37wks +1 which is quite good for twins!

From what I remember, many things can affect your readings, including stress. So, it's better to go with a general upward direction or downward direction than to get too specific on each reading.

pookey - I would either have the gtt this time, or ask if you can have a blood monitor to monitor yourself for a week or two anyway, which should give them a good picture of what is going on with your sugar levels, and thus whether you have GD or not.
Although it might not be the most convenient diagnosis, it is important to get it diagnosed if you do have it, as it can be a serious condition if not managed correctly.
If you can control it well through diet then you may well be 'allowed' to go over your due date too. I had ds at 40+9 with GD.

Well I had my final scan today and all fine. Baby still head down, and they measured it a bit smaller than the last scan (not actually smaller, but lower centile iyswim). They are prepared not to push me yet to be induced, on condition that I go for a trace on the baby's heart this friday and again next Friday, and then I go back to clinic in 2 weeks at 39+6 to review the situation. A bit of a pain, but have managed to arrange some childcare so that I can go in for the traces, and the dc will just have to come with me to the next clinic appt if necessary (dh will be back then, but should be working from home).

MerryMarigold - I guess the insulin must have allowed you to eat those things, as everything that you have mentioned would send my blood sugar sky high! Even a small bowl of porridge sends me above 9.

Thanks for the advice cholcolatecalculator and cantsleepwont sleep. I certainly wont be manipulating the urine tests this time. Really impressed that you were allowed to go over 9 days CSWS. Will chat with the midwives at 25 weeks I think.

Ruby I had sweeps with both my two - I cant say for sure if they actually got things going or I was ready because i was at 40 weeks + when i had them - I think it was probably about 3 days after the sweep on both occasions that I went into labour. If you put aside the risk of infection its probably better than being induced? I hated my second sweep but I would probably go for it agan this time.

Can I please ask another question, I am confused about snacks. I have read contradictorily (SP?) that you should have 3 meals and 2 balanced snacks to keep things steady and elesewhere (not a pregnancy book) that it is better to have just the 3 meals as otherwise glucose is being released with the snacks? Can having tea with a splash of milk have a similar effect?

Can't sleep. I'm sure the insulin helped, but the readings kept going up as the pregnancy went on, pretty much regardless of what I ate, and so the insulin went up too! Then at the end, it was all over the place, and I virtually came off it all together. So odd, and so obviously hormonal.

PS. The noodles and white rice surprised me too. But brown easy cook rice was a lot worse, strangely. I just experimented around and found those things were the best.

Had another clinic meeting today and a growth scan. Baby is bang on 50 percentile for all measurements and there is a reasonable amount of liquid so I am back in 2 weeks for another scan and clinic.
They seemed pretty happy with things. The metformin is working and I can explain any spikes to being stressed(DD trying to climb out of her carseat on the motorway) and drinking pure orange juice.
My 'hypo's' were explained as my body coping with my levels getting back down to normal so they should tail off.

Basmati rice is different from other varieties of rice.

Yes, I can eat basmati rice at dinner time, but I can't really do carbs at all at lunchtime, so no way that I could have then. Lunches tend to be things like a chicken kiev and salad, or smoked mackerel and salad.

Glad your appointment went well debs. I also had my growth scan yesterday. The baby is measuring spot on for 28 weeks, but my fundal height is only 24 cm, so that's all good. No idea where the baby is hiding though as I don't look more than about 4 months pregnant. Midwife wasn't concerned about my weightloss as the scan was ok.

Unfortunately during the growth scan the sonographer picked up what may possibly be an abnormality with the baby. I have to be scanned again by a consultant and nobody could tell me anything in the meantime. The wait to see the consultant is likely to be a couple of weeks. So bit of a rocky day all in all yesterday.

Very sorry to hear that, Chocolate. Must be a stressful wait. Quite a rollercoaster ride at times, this pregnancy business . Let us know how you get on. We are thinking of you!