Gestational Diabetes Chatter #6

[belfie]

*sneaks back in too*
firstly... OMG mama spice I am soooooo happy for you!! Pls bring me good luck for my test tehe, I've gotta do it in a few weeks time; wish me luck!!

Csab - so sorry to hear the insulin has been upped already, how is it going? Please don't beat yourself up because truly it's not your fault at all

Blackorchid - Ooh I used too have that choc too, it was yummo!!

Thecolorbrown - pneumonia you poor thing! I hope you're feeling better now.

Hj1981 - how are you going? Sounds like your BSL's are great, I'm pleased for you.

As for days off, I must admit I didnt do any full days but I did do meals here & there -- some were special occasions and some I just plain forgot to take my BSL kit out somewhere with me lol I agree that everyone needs a break sometime and it's not gonna make that big a difference in the scheme of things (unless you Ate like whole bucket of sugar ha!)

[thecolourbrown]

Hello fellow GDer's!

Mamaspice - how great that you are Diabetes free! That must be such a relief. I hope I will be in the same position.

Csab - how are you going with the insulin? Have you gotten used to giving yourself injections?

Hj1981 - thanks for the support! Glad to know it isn't just me!

Blackorchid - thanks or your support as well. I am in the public system at the Royal Women's, which actually has been pretty good care, especially when I was admitted - the midwives were fantastic, I felt really well looked after.

I am feeling a lot more cheery after seeing the Diabetes Ob yesterday. In contrast to the diabetes educators (who were the ones either confusing or freaking me out) she was fabulous. She said it was stupid to not eat for 2 hours post a main meal if I was starving and actually that would have been affecting my sugar levels negatively. She was completely behind the idea that there is an individual path for these things and if I have always eaten every hour or so then that is fine. Thank god! I was always counting down the minutes until I could have something to eat again. She also said as I've been so sick it would be affecting my levels, but she was happy with them anyway so no insulin for me! I feel annoyed about the Diab Ed people. I knew that my diet was really healthy and changing the way I eat would have an adverse effect and I think I was correct. Yesterday I ate when I felt like it and all my levels where great. I just get big spikes when I don't eat and then have too much (which I never do under normal circumstances). Probably why I failed the GTT in the first place. My body is just not made for fasting!!
She said it was fine I had a day off (not that I ate anything bad, I just didn't test). She was so nice and understanding. I also had a scan and the baby is doing really well, not fat at all (in the 60th percentile), so I feel a lot calmer. I might still have to go on insulin by the end, but I feel much more in control of it all now and trusting my own feelings for it.

Hope everyone is doing well. thanks for your support when I was feeling down!

Andrea
x

[AwesomeFoursome]

Hi ladies. Can I join you all? I found out last Wednesday I got GD. I was going to write last week but I needed to get my head around it. I didn't react well . The thought of *****ing my fingers also scared the hell out of me but I've been doing it since yesterday and its not as bad as I imagined. The diabetes educator said my levels need to be 3.5 to 6.7. My reading have all been between 4.6 and 5.8 so I'm happy with that. I have to see the dietitian tomorrow then hopefully I will have more of a idea of what I can eat

[csab]

Hi everyone,

Csab - sorry your levels are going up and having to do insulin. Are you going OK now with the injections?

hj1981 - that is great that your levels are good! I wish mine were better....

I am really up and down with this GD thing. It hasn't helped that I have been sick, but even though most of my levels are below the 6.7 thing (and morning fasting always OK), I've had a few over and they started to talk insulin again. This was after the other Diab ed woman three days before said I was going well and diet alone would do it. I've had a few meltdowns about the whole thing as I feel like having a level in the 7's shouldn't be such a big deal a few times a week. Surely there is some margin for individuality about it all. It has also been hard being so sick and stressed and I know that puts levels up. Anyway today I decided to have the day off testing after I got held up at the hospital without my testing kit and when I got home I thought bugger it! I ate some chocolate and I'm not going to test again until tomorrow. I'm so sick of *****ing my finger and feeling stressed about the results. Feel naughty, but my mental health called for a rest from the stress today!
Anyone else ever have a day off?

Thanks hun, it isnt very nice when they start talking insulin is it? I nearly died when they told me I needed to be on it, and then again when they told me I needed to go on night time ones too. Glad you enjoyed a mental day off. hugs

I'm guessing you're in the public system? Isn't it annoying when you see a different doctor every time and each one tells you something different. I expect to do the Dr shuffle in a public hospital, but within the one clinic you'd think they would have a consensus on treatment!

Sorry to hear you are feeling down with all of this, I do know exactly what you mean though. I equate the finger *****ing with getting on the scales each morning and having that determine whether you're in a good mood that day, or a not so good mood. Except instead of doing it just once a day, you have to do it four times. It sucks!

I haven't given myself a day off, but I did give myself a meal off a couple of times. My birthday was one such occasion, I felt it was fair enough. On the topic of chocolate, I have found I can eat a bit, I just have to make sure it is only a small bit. I've found the chocolate they sell at Aldi a godsend. It's called Moser Roth, and comes in different varieties. The best thing about it is you buy a block, but it's made up of 5 individually wrapped portions of about 25 grams each. So not a lot of chocolate, it doesn't get my blood sugar up if I eat just one, and it eases my chocolate cravings. If you stick with dark chocolate (the mint choc one is beautiful) then all the better because dark chocolate is low GI. Maybe try one of those and test your levels after that. If they are ok you could work it into your daily rations!

Well thanks for the tip re: Aldis chocolate, I think I may have to check it out.

***sneaks in***

Hi Ladies, just popping in to wish you all well.

As painful as having GD can be, just remember you will soon be holding your precious bundles and it will all be worth it.

Blackorchid, I found I could get away with eating a little chocolate too

csab, sorry to hear you are on insulin hun. Just focus on the end result. Like Belfie, I gained nothing after starting insulin. But then again I didnt really gain anything the whole pregnancy.

hj, glad to hear your BSLs are super good

Thecolourbrown, it sounds like you've had a bit of a rough trot lately.

AFM I had my postnatal GTT the other day and I am pleased to say I am officially again diabetes free! YAY. . . I was sooo worried it as going to show I was getting type 2, but all is good

Yayyyyyyy for no more insulin and all coming back perfect for you. You are so right it will definately be worth it in the end. Hope all is going well with your gorgeous bub. hugs

MamaSpice - WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO that is truely FANTASTIC news!!!! so so very happy for you!!!!

thecolourbrown - im a guilty one of having a day off here and there! im no expert and i honestly don't understand enough about GD but i honestly don't see a problem with a day off exspecially if mentally you need it! you need to look after yourself and this whole finger p****ing IS stressful! i know how you feel

How are you going HJ, I hope all is going well for you. hugs

*sneaks back in too*
firstly... OMG mama spice I am soooooo happy for you!! Pls bring me good luck for my test tehe, I've gotta do it in a few weeks time; wish me luck!!

Csab - so sorry to hear the insulin has been upped already, how is it going? Please don't beat yourself up because truly it's not your fault at all

Blackorchid - Ooh I used too have that choc too, it was yummo!!

Thecolorbrown - pneumonia you poor thing! I hope you're feeling better now.

Hj1981 - how are you going? Sounds like your BSL's are great, I'm pleased for you.

As for days off, I must admit I didnt do any full days but I did do meals here & there -- some were special occasions and some I just plain forgot to take my BSL kit out somewhere with me lol I agree that everyone needs a break sometime and it's not gonna make that big a difference in the scheme of things (unless you Ate like whole bucket of sugar ha!)

Im guilty, Over the past couple of weeks , I forgot to check my BSL's a few times, yet they werent too concerned about the missed ones. lol. Thought I was going to get a lecture. My lunch time insulin is now upto 14units and they are now looking at me starting breakfast ones. bugger..... Ohhh well. Have you had your GD test done since birth yet? if so how did you go? hugs

Hello fellow GDer's!

Mamaspice - how great that you are Diabetes free! That must be such a relief. I hope I will be in the same position.

Csab - how are you going with the insulin? Have you gotten used to giving yourself injections?

Hj1981 - thanks for the support! Glad to know it isn't just me!

Blackorchid - thanks or your support as well. I am in the public system at the Royal Women's, which actually has been pretty good care, especially when I was admitted - the midwives were fantastic, I felt really well looked after.

I am feeling a lot more cheery after seeing the Diabetes Ob yesterday. In contrast to the diabetes educators (who were the ones either confusing or freaking me out) she was fabulous. She said it was stupid to not eat for 2 hours post a main meal if I was starving and actually that would have been affecting my sugar levels negatively. She was completely behind the idea that there is an individual path for these things and if I have always eaten every hour or so then that is fine. Thank god! I was always counting down the minutes until I could have something to eat again. She also said as I've been so sick it would be affecting my levels, but she was happy with them anyway so no insulin for me! I feel annoyed about the Diab Ed people. I knew that my diet was really healthy and changing the way I eat would have an adverse effect and I think I was correct. Yesterday I ate when I felt like it and all my levels where great. I just get big spikes when I don't eat and then have too much (which I never do under normal circumstances). Probably why I failed the GTT in the first place. My body is just not made for fasting!!
She said it was fine I had a day off (not that I ate anything bad, I just didn't test). She was so nice and understanding. I also had a scan and the baby is doing really well, not fat at all (in the 60th percentile), so I feel a lot calmer. I might still have to go on insulin by the end, but I feel much more in control of it all now and trusting my own feelings for it.

Hope everyone is doing well. thanks for your support when I was feeling down!

Andrea
x

Im so glad your feeling alot better now especially after seeing your Ob. Hopefully you get to stay off insulin. I am used to it now, sometimes I keep getting the spots that hurt and end up moving the needle over to a more less sensitive area. Mostly the side is better, but as Belly gets bigger seem to be finding more spots not so favourable lol.

Hi ladies. Can I join you all? I found out last Wednesday I got GD. I was going to write last week but I needed to get my head around it. I didn't react well . The thought of *****ing my fingers also scared the hell out of me but I've been doing it since yesterday and its not as bad as I imagined. The diabetes educator said my levels need to be 3.5 to 6.7. My reading have all been between 4.6 and 5.8 so I'm happy with that. I have to see the dietitian tomorrow then hopefully I will have more of a idea of what I can eat

Welcome hun, It does seem to be something to get our heads around, I didnt really believe them at first. lol. yet soon reality really hit and now I am on insulin. Actually hurts less than the BSL checking, and I was actually petrified of giving myself a needle. Ohh well soon got used to it. Thats great your doing well with your levels. hugs


Well I have been told today that when bub arrives they will take bub to SCN to monitor, and once I come out of recovery after the c/s, they will take me upto see bub. Made sure DH knows what will happen so he knows to stay with bub until at least I can go and be with bub. How long bub will be in SCN will depend on bubs, which I well expected anyway. Other than that, BSL's have been getting abit more harder to control, esp at lunch time so am now on 14units, and they are talking about having me have insulin at breakfast yet havent fully decided yet.

I cant believe it has been this long since i last posted, sorry everyone. hugs

[AwesomeFoursome]

Thanks csab. I was wondering what everyone else have been told their levels should be? I was told between 3.5 and 6.7 but my sister was told between 4 and 8. I started the new strips tonight and needed heaps more blood . I did 3 reading in a row, just to test it don't ask me why lol and they were 6.8, 7.7 and 7.9. How can you get so big a difference in the same minute? That doesn’t seem right. Anyone know?

[melbel]

that's about right Yowie...there is a 1-1.5 m/mol margin of error on the testing machines and strips....it is just a limitation of the technology...if you read the pamphlet with the test strips it says something about this..... try not to get too hung about it or i does your head in. I know I can feel hypo sometimes when the bsl is reading around 4...do another test and get a 3.4 or something..... the technology is not perfect you just gotta go the best you can with the info you have.....

[thecolourbrown]

The thought of *****ing my fingers also scared the hell out of me but I've been doing it since yesterday and its not as bad as I imagined.

Hi Yowie, sorry you have had to join us! I was a complete sook at the first appt regarding finger *****ing as well, I think as I am a pianist I thought it would hurt and I hate the idea of hurting my fingers! I haven't found it too bad though.

I did 3 reading in a row, just to test it don't ask me why lol and they were 6.8, 7.7 and 7.9. How can you get so big a difference in the same minute? That doesn’t seem right. Anyone know?

I do this too Sometimes if I get a really high result I wash my hands again and retest - I have found that can make a HUGE difference. I once got a 10.4 (ARGH!) then washed my hands again and got 6.4. Also as someone pointed out there is a margin of errror.

Csab - It is good you know in advance that your baby will go to SCN, although I am sure that is hard. I am having a cs as well and haven't been told either way, so I guess it depends on how the GD pans out for the next 4 weeks. Have you had many growth scans of bub since being on insulin? Has the GD affected your baby growth wise?

I have had a couple of great appt recently and have been released from the diabetes team. Yay! Back to my old high risk group instead. I only have to test 3 days a week now as my levels look pretty stable, and the Diab Obs I saw on Monday wasn't even fussed about the occainsonal high one. He said they look for patterns or a gradual overall increase, which mine isn't doing and said from a diabetes point of view I am a "non event"! So nice to hear positive words. I really dislike talking to the Diabetes educators now though (still have to check in once a week) and are still trying to say to me I might need insulin?? I am finding they try to argue with what the doctors have told me and are so pig headed about the whole thing. Bit daft to be told by the specialist (who is also the head of the Diabetes clinic at RWH) one thing and then the ed person tries to argue with it over the phone.
l'll stick to what the doctors are telling me in person (with all my notes in front of them) thanks!

[csab]

Yowie - Sorry couldnt help with your question, but was an interesting one, and now since you have an answer by one of the other lovely ladies it gives me something else to watch. I wasnt gain to keep testing as i thought it would stuff my book up. lol, and give them Dr's a reason to ask me more questions.

Mel - Thanks for that. I sometimes feel hypo's too, like yesterday felt like I was having one, yet when I tested it was high yet, so maybe I should test again if I get a result like that, especially if there can be a difference.

thecolourbrown - Thanks, Im sorry you have to have c/s too, I am so not looking forward to it. I have been having frquent u/s throughout this pgcy even before being diagnosed with gd. My bub is on the small side, so they are keeping an eye on the growth. I am not sure if the GD had anything to do with my bubs size or just that bubs is small, or due to a multiple of reasons, combined. Such as me needing to be on aspirin and thyroid tabs and the GD. They have said though when I mentioned to them that i thought bubs would be bigger not smaller due to GD, and they said that they are more likely to be bigger but can go the other way. I have my next u/s next week, so I guess we will have more of an idea on how bub is growing again. Bubs abdominal circumferance has been under the 5th percentile. Im so happy for you that the DR's are pleased with how everything is going with your GD, thats wonderful. Im so glad I dont need to speak with the diabetes educators, just the Dr's.

[thecolourbrown]

Csab - I'm so sorry you have been having a worrying time with your bub. We had baby issues - the baby's brain ventricles where too big (mild isolated ventriculmegaly) - was found at the 19 week morpholgy scan. Put us through hell really with fortnightly scans and potential for horrible outcomes. In the end it resolved, but has not removed the risk of downs or other chromosonal issues, or some other stuff (much less likely, but the thought it always there at the back of my head). In the end we decided to stop the contstant ultrasounds, further mri testing and we ruled out amnio as the risk factor was slightly too high of miscarriage vs. problem, it was just soooo stressful. The genetic counsellor was fantastic in helping us to make that decision. So I really feel for you, it is very stressful once an issue is found, especially if it needs a lot of monitoring.

I hope your u/s next week shows fabulous growth of the baby and puts your mind at ease somewhat. Our is on the larger side - moving between the 70th and 60th percentile. But he is also a long one, so they are saying that the GD has not affected him as he is not a fatty - just tall! I still dread ultrasounds, they have not been the happy expereince for me that other people mention. I feel like I am holding my breath the entire time.

With the cs, I have arthritis (my sacrum is damaged right where all the action would be in labour) so it is the way to go for me. But honestly I've never wanted to have a vaginal birth anyway, so I'm quite happy about it! The care at the RWH has been fantastic and I feel like I am in safe hands there. Have you had a yucky cs expereince? Do you have a set date or do you start labour and then have a cs?

[csab]

Csab - I'm so sorry you have been having a worrying time with your bub. We had baby issues - the baby's brain ventricles where too big (mild isolated ventriculmegaly) - was found at the 19 week morpholgy scan. Put us through hell really with fortnightly scans and potential for horrible outcomes. In the end it resolved, but has not removed the risk of downs or other chromosonal issues, or some other stuff (much less likely, but the thought it always there at the back of my head). In the end we decided to stop the contstant ultrasounds, further mri testing and we ruled out amnio as the risk factor was slightly too high of miscarriage vs. problem, it was just soooo stressful. The genetic counsellor was fantastic in helping us to make that decision. So I really feel for you, it is very stressful once an issue is found, especially if it needs a lot of monitoring.

I hope your u/s next week shows fabulous growth of the baby and puts your mind at ease somewhat. Our is on the larger side - moving between the 70th and 60th percentile. But he is also a long one, so they are saying that the GD has not affected him as he is not a fatty - just tall! I still dread ultrasounds, they have not been the happy expereince for me that other people mention. I feel like I am holding my breath the entire time.

With the cs, I have arthritis (my sacrum is damaged right where all the action would be in labour) so it is the way to go for me. But honestly I've never wanted to have a vaginal birth anyway, so I'm quite happy about it! The care at the RWH has been fantastic and I feel like I am in safe hands there. Have you had a yucky cs expereince? Do you have a set date or do you start labour and then have a cs?

Thankyou hun, but you have been through quite a bit with your pgcy, Im so sorry for that. I know exactly what you mean with the u/s's. I dread them really, I hold my breathe each and everytime. its horrible. That is why I decided to do a u/s in 4d but just for fun one, just so I can see bub and not worry about all the medical jargons coming into it. I wanted to feel like I can focus on bub in a good and exciting way without all the worry associated with the medical ones. Actually made me feel more excited about bubs arrival. You know how you feel like you distance yourself due to all the stress.
Did you do a NT scan at 12wks? If you did how was your results? They had me there from 10am until almost 3pm, the first sonographer wouldnt say much and when I asked if all was ok, or what was wrong, she just said Ohh I have to go and speak with the Dr's, so they can have a look. When she left I had a look and she had bubs nuchal fold with what I can remember 3.7mm, honestly I could have died. Then the Dr came in to have a look and I heard him say to himself all looked good, yet he kept checking, then he turned to me and said Ohhh I would like to use the u/s machine next door as it is better, he got up and then came back and said Ohhh cant use that one just yet as it is in use. He then said we will have to wait for the room. Then left. After about 10mins another Dr came in with him, he checked and said to the other Dr, So what was your result? He said I got 1.8 and 2.1, the new Dr said he had similar 1.9 and 2.1, so they took 2.1 as the measurement. They then proceeded to tell me that the lady had measured the NF wrong, at the wrong angle and that their result brings my risk factor to 1:408. I asked what the risk would have been with the ladies result and it had brought it down to 1:8. So no doubt I would have had to do a CVS again like I had to with my last pgcy. They had told me that as far as they were concerned that my risk was low and that they advised that there was no need for further testing. So we didnt. Yet I know how much it plays on your mind.
I have to say, it was such a relief in the end after that NT scan.
Im so glad that your little bub's problem with the ventricles had resolved, what a relief for you. It wont be long now for the both of us, we will be meeting our little ones really soon. I have to say I am so very nervous though. Im so glad the hospital is treating you well, thats great. Ive had two VB's and 3 c/s's, this is my 4th c/s. I had been waiting for the talk from the Dr's and kept missing it until last appt. where they say, what form of contraception to you plan on choosing, heading towards "Would you like us to tie your tubes. lol" I have told them I dont want them doing anything with my tubes, which she was really fine with. So hopefully no more talks about that in the future. lol.

Ohh and they dont want me to go into labour, if i do go into labour they will do an emergency c/s straight away. My c/s experiences havent been too bad, my first c/s was after many hours of labour and only getting to 8cm's dialated and me starting to thicken, close and bubs stressing. I actually didnt feel too bad after that c/s until I got home and all the meds had worn off, then had pains travelling down my lower back and leg. Still get it now, but more when the weather is cooler. My second c/s was an emergency c/s too after going into labour before the booked date. the recovery from that was alot better than the first. The 3rd was done on the booked date, yet this one I ended up having not only the catheter, but also a leak bag for the blood they couldnt stop in surgery. that was attached still even after the catheter was taken out a few days later and didnt get removed until about day 5. Yet the recovery again wasnt too bad. Just hoping not to have the leak bag again this time. Wasnt very fun having it removed, and they had told the MW's that when it is to be removed that pain releif etc was to be given 20min beforehand, well they didnt do that, and this MW just decided to take it out without it, which they say can cause shock to the patient when removing it, as what I can remember anyway, yet thankfully I wasnt too bad when it was being removed, but the meds would have been nice to have though.
This one will be booked again, yet as to when still up in the air.