Gestational Diabetes Chatter #7

Hi ladies, hope you dont mind me joining in

I found out a week and a half ago that I have GD. I'll be 31 weeks on Monday. My 2hr GTT came in at 8.6 which they said wasnt overly high but still needs monitoring so I was sent to the local Diabetes Centre. Im now checking glucose 4 times a day. I cant get in to see a dietician until 2nd March and the Endocrinologist till 10th March. At the clinic they gave me an exchange sheet and basically told me what to avoid but im finding it a little confusing as I never had GD with my previous 2 preg.

My levels seem to be all over the place . After food they range from in the 5's (on a few occassions) to mainly in the 6's and 7's. They've said that you should stay under 7 but im finding that a little difficult. Some days I eat the same things but get totally different readings. My highest so far has been one after dinner at 11.5 then another at 8.8.

Should I be alarmed by these readings?? What sort of glucose levels do you need to reach before they put you on insulin? Although its recommended to be under 7 is it still acceptable to be getting levels between 7 and 8?

Sorry for all the questions but im completely confused by all of this :o

Kristy- Yes, its good to have a "buddy" in my buddy group to talk to about all this. Im finding it so hard to decide what to eat, it all depends on how many carbs im allowed per meal and at the moment i dont know the carbs im allowed. Im trying to do 1 to 2 carbs max till i find out. I know what u mean about throwing tanties over what to eat lol, about 1/2 an hour ago i was going to eat some cocoa pops cos i thought bugger it, i didnt though. Im trying to show some restraint on the excessive eating i have been doing for awhile now and taking off with packets of lollies to myself lol.

teepee- I just joined this group yesterday after finding out on wednesday i have GD. I havent been for my big session yet, so i have no idea what im doing yet. Hopefully, the others here can help u out with ur questions.

Welcome teepee!
I think the most important level is the fasting level, when you first get up before brekky. What have those levels been like?
With the 11.5 and 8.8, what did you eat? If you want to stay off insulin eat as plain as possible. But sometimes the insulin is just unavoidable, you could eat a perfect diabetic diet and still need it. Im surprised by how long you have to wait! especially with high levels.

Welcome to the newbies, sucks that we're all having to go through this :(

Thought I'd better pop in a post since I haven't done that since subscribing lol

Teepee & anyone else interested - just make sure you always test exactly 2 hours after you start eating, stick to pretty bland foods - I found that anything that has a sugars of 2.5g/% per serving or less usually keeps my levels in line.

This is what I was given in the info pack about eating:

Make sure you stick to these as a guideline for Low GI, high carb foods:
Breakfast - 3 to 4 carbs
Morning Snack - 1 to 2 carbs
Lunch - 3 to 4 carbs
Afternoon Snack - 1 to 2 carbs
Dinner - 3 to 4 carbs
Supper - 1 to 2 carbs

Hot and muggy weather can make your levels go up, as can stress and other high emotions when experienced over a long period during the day.

Exchange sugar itself for a sugar replacement... doesn't taste as good, but it's better than putting your levels up.

Potatoes, Chocolate and ice-cream are technically low GI, but are still classed as a "sometimes food" so if you feel the urge to have them, stick to only 1 serving of them a day.

If you are on insulin, don't let your levels drop below 3.5, as that will mean that you are hypoglycemic and need sugar pretty quickly, your diabetic educator will go through this with you when you start insulin.
Also if you are on insulin, if you don't eat a meal that you are supposed to take insulin just prior to eating, then don't take the insulin, just leave it until the next day and write a note in your book about it.

In general, before meal readings should be below 5.5, and after meal readings should be below 7 (the booklet that came with my test strips says differently, with the after meal levels allowing a higher acceptable limit of 8 or 8.5 or something like that), but don't get too stressed out if they are higher than what they should be, as that can put them up further.

If you are able to exercise in any way or form, do 30 minutes a day - even if it's just walking - as that can help you manage it.

For those having a VBAC - As long as your OB/GP/Midwife is ok with it then you can still do it, I am still planning on having mine, and as I have a serious fear of having to have another c-section and being cut open my OB doesn't want me to have that happen unless it is an emergency.

afm - My readings have all changed a lot since starting insulin a little over 2 weeks ago... My lunch time levels have started going up whereas before they were fine and never went high at all.
I'm currently at 6 units of insulin a day - 2 in the morning and 4 at night, which I believe isn't too bad, but I think I'll be going up another 2 units for lunch time soon as I've had 2 days in a row now with high after lunch readings, though yesterday's before lunch reading was a very low 3.8 :( Made quickly go and have 2 glucogel jelly beans pretty darn quick followed by a carb snack.
I'm over it all already, I'm craving sugary things constantly (seems to be a normal thing once I reach this stage of pregnancy as I was having 2 magnum ice-creams a day by this point with DS and I didn't have GD with him lol) and I could KILL for a McDonalds Chocolate Sundae right now *droolzzzz*

Feeling a bit off right now, my before dinner levels were 10.2 and I still haven't eaten dinner yet or had my insulin, so pretty sure they've gone higher again as I've just had a cup of coffee... blegh, so over it over it over it... bring on this labour so I can get back to normal already!

Oh, and I've lost another 700g in the past 3 weeks, so in total I've lost at least 12.7kg and only actually put back on 2.4kg since 16wks... rather sad really, I have undies that used to be tight on me that now fall off my hips! And my pants are nowhere near as tight as they were at this stage with DS and I still weigh more now than I did back then lol Oh, and I don't exercise... can't really, though I do try (and pay for for the next 2 days afterwards lol) as it sets off the BHs and irritable uterus and just causes a lot of pain really.

Little Miss has also finally turned from Posterior to Anterior! Yay! And started to engage (yay! but also boo because it's freaking painful too lol) so we're all stations set and ready to go... I only hope I'm not going to go past 40wks though.

Have a great night ladies

Hi Everyone!

JennaJayen - Wow! Were you with all that when I first got the "you have GD" speech! That info is great! Very informative and helps me understand everything so much better, so thanks heaps for that! I was going to say "well done" on the weight loss, I'm assuming its a good thing and not a bad thing?
I wonder if I've lost any weight recently aswell, since cutting back on the amount of cr*p I eat.
I hope you dont have to up your insulin either. Has your Ob told you that they will induce you or anything?

Teepee - Welcome! Its a lil daunting at first, hopefully your levels will settle down for you soon. It all depends on your Dr and what they say. Mine have said that if I get 3 high readings in a week (at the same time) then they review my diet, if I still get high readings then they put me on some tablets first, then if they are still high they put me on the insulin. I think 11 is a bit high for after a meal but it will also depend on what you ate, how many portions was in it and how long u tested after eating.
Like for instance I know that if I eat a particularly bad meal (like take away) then 2 hours isnt long enough for me to get until the 7 mark. But after 3 hours I'll be under the 7 mark. Its all such a learning curve.

Kristi - How are you doing lovely after your appt yesterday? Did it help you to understand everything?

Jaki - How did your last appt go? Did they up your insulin at all?

AFM - Well I'm doing alright, my levels have started becoming a bit high though :( The Educator said she's happy with them, particularly my fasting level now that I'm out of the 3's and into mostly 4's....but I've had a couple of 5's in there! :o Still under the 5.5 mark but I've been like WTF?? Considering I didnt have any food since dinner and my levels after dinner were like 5.6 they barely dropped overnight.
I'm now having 2 portions of carbs at breakfast which has brought my levels from 4's up to 5's after breakfast, so they are happy with that too. After lunch and Dinner I'm still in the 5's or 6's.

I should be finding out in the week of 14th march (when Im 36 weeks) if they are going to induce me at 38 weeks. Does anyone else's hossy do that? Just because you have GDM they induce you if they think bubs is too big etc?

KristyG - lol when I first got the "You have GD" speech it was over the phone and almost 2 weeks after I'd done the test - I did it on December 30th. Apparently no one had remembered to call me once New Year was over and done with and I only found because one of the midwives I had been seeing had gone through my notes in preparation for my next appointment. 2 days later the Diabetic educator called me and made an appointment, I turned up with hubby in tow and he took in more than I did lol and keeps on reminding me when I'm NOT allowed to have something lol

And your levels are sounding really good too :)

My diabetic educator and the nutricionist also gave me a LOT of leaflets and printed out information as well, and went through everything with me and hubby to make sure that we both understood everything :)

And yes, it is well done with the weight loss lol I was at least 110kg when I found out I was pregnant, so being under 100kg now is just wonderful (all the stress from TTC and the miscarriages meant that I ate a lot of bad things and didn't do much exercise :redface: ) I also craved a lot of healthy things at the start of this pregnancy (salads, chicken, avocado etc lol) and it was only from 20wks onwards that I started craving sweet things... and still crave them! I could kill for a Large Double Cheeseburger meal with a large Chocolate Sundae right now :P

My insulin did end up being raised, I now have to have 2 units at lunch time, which considering that it's taken 5 weeks to get to this point isn't too bad, only 5 weeks left until Little Miss's due date and I'm only on 8 units of insulin a day - probably because my diabetic educator does understand that sometimes I DO have to give into the cravings for sugary things or I'd go crazy from stress lol
As for inducing - they won't induce me because I had an emergency c-section after an induction with my son, and we're aiming for a VBAC so they've said as long as I don't go past 41wks this time then everything should be fine.

Generally with GD they send you for a growth scan around 35-36wks to check bub's size, position, amniotic fluid, placental flow (GD can sometimes cause problems with the placenta when it's not managed correctly) etc, and they get an estimate of bub's weight then, but it's only an estimate and when I had a scan at 33wks with DS because they thought I had too much amniotic fluid they said that estimates from an u/s can be out by as much as 500g, so they aren't particularly accurate.
If bub is measuring large for dates, then they usually push for an early induction because they don't want to risk the baby getting stuck or something going wrong, when usually a woman would be able to push even a 10Ib baby out like they used to do about 200-300 years ago and still do today in many supposedly 3rd world countries (my MIL did that with hubby lol, he was 10Ib exactly, she smoked the entire pregnancy, didn't have GD and didn't eat excessively either).


afm - I had a growth scan today to check Little Miss Dragonfly's size & growth, plecental flow, amniotic fluid etc, was great to see her again, and she's not as big as they said she could be. I didn't get told an estimate of her weight, but she's only measuring 35wks 5d (DS was measuring at 37wk 2d at this stage of pregnancy with him and I didn't have GD then lol), so only 4 days ahead of dates, and her legs are measuring at a WHOPPING 37wks 5d for length! She's going to be one tall little girl (unlike me, I'm just plain short at 5ft and 4.5inches lol).

She's now anterior (facing the back), head down, engaged, locked and loaded and ready to go :) So excited, DS was posterior (facing the front) even when I was trying to push him out, and got stuck, so her being in the best position for birth is excellent for me and makes it much more likely that I'll achieve my VBAC.

My insulin has stayed put the last 2 bsl record checks this past week. Whoot, first time for everything!

Yay Jaki!!! That's excellent :)

Thanks for all the advice ladies. Much appreciated xx

Kristy you're right. It is very daunting and a huge learning curve! From what ive heard its common to be enduced when you have GD but this is my first time with GD so cant say from experience. Im having my 3rd c/sect and ive been told that they may now do it at 38 weeks instead of 39 if the baby looks to be getting too big.

Jenna it's always great to see bub isnt it. Glad everything was fine and she doesnt seem to be growing too fast. Wonderful news that she's turned, i hope you get your VBAC!!!

Congrats Jaki on some stable checks - fingers crossed that it continues that way for you :D

AFM I faxed my record sheet over to the diabetes eductor this morning as my levels are still very inconsistent. I gave them a rundown of my diet and they said that what im eating should be having a better effect and since its been 14 days and diet isnt keeping it under control, insulin would be the best option for me. She spoke to the Endo and he wants me to go in for a run down etc and start on Friday. Not sure what dose yet but hopefully i wont be having too many jabs in one day? Oh well, anything for a happy and healthy baby I guess!! :D

You will start on a fairly low dose i'd say. And they will just raise it each time until they hit the right levels :)

Hi all,

Went to my 1st lot of appointments today after being diagnosed and I'm now on insulin for night time. My pre brekkie levels are still to high for them so I'm now on 8 units of protaphane at night time. I'm hoping that this will bring the levels down and I won't have to go on any other (fingers crossed).

I saw the dietician, the midwife, the endocrinologist and the diabetes educator. Oh my what a morning lol. The midwife wasn't to helpful today with any info but I put it down to her using the new system for the 1st time. She was really worried about doing it wrong lol. I have to go back in a fortnight and then the fortnight after that is when I have to have another ultrasound. I also got to have a vampire suck my blood out for many tests lol. Frogglette is measuring to date and she did have a good feel of her and she said that while she is not small atm she is not really big either ;)

The bonus today is that I have lost another 1/2 kg so that means that I have put on only 3kgs this pregnancy (so far). I will weigh less after baby then when I started YAY lol.

Good luck to everyone else on their appointments

Well done with the weight Kim, it seems to just fall off with the GD, one bonus :D
Dont be disappointed if your dose goes up, the further we get the harder it is to control the levels.... bl**dy hormones!

Thought i should come in and update, this week has been so busy for me i havent had time to get on here.

Had my education session on Monday which was overwhelming but i have learnt alot. We have been told to have 2 to 3 carbs per main meal and 1 to 2 carbs every snack time. Im also taking part in a study they are doing to figure out if testing 1 hr or 2 hrs after every main meal is the way to go, so i could have been testing 1 hr after eating, but i got the 2 hr testing time.

So far the diet seems to be working welll, ive even been able to have some naughty stuff i thought would be out. Ive figured out that bread puts my sugars up, i had 1 salad sandwich on burgen bread yesterday and my levels were 7, 2 hrs later, every other meal they have been sitting at 6.2, 6.5 etc. This morning my fasting level was 5.8 too, dunno whats going on with that.

So yeah, thats where im at.

I hope u are all well and will try and check in more often so i can keep up.

Ladies I have a weird question. The midwife I spoke to the other day told me that they will get me to start expressing a couple of weeks before bubs is due so that we have a supply on hand in case she has to go to NICU. I thought that expressing would bring on premmie labour. Have any of you been told anything like that??? and what about your thoughts on the prem labour business??

I know they like GD mums to express but ive not heard the labour thing. However 2 weeks early isnt premmie, they are only getting fatter between 38-42 weeks :0)
I'll be praying it brings it on.... i'd rather that than induction :D

lol I guess so Jaki. It's just that I tend to go into labour about 38 weeks anyway so I'm not sure how this is going to work. Oh well more questions to ask for the next appointment ;)

My level this morning was higher than yesterday so I have to up my dosage already :o I have to go up to 10 units. Which is not a lot but I'm wondering what I'll end up on. Oh well

Hope everyone else is well xxx

Saw the educator this morning and the endo wants me to start on 6 units 3 times a day. The educator told me to have only 4 units before dinner to start with as she didn't think my dinner levels were that bad. I'm on Novorapid and they said I might have to also have a night time one depending on what my morning levels are like over the next few days. I started at lunch but it didn't seem to work, my 2hr glucose was still 8.6. Ill see how I go over the weekend and call them on Monday, hopefully I won't have to take too much more. My OB told me that if your on more than 15units a day that the baby would have to be in SCN for the first night or 2 to monitor its glucose levels. Has anyone else heard this?

Did you wind up the pen extra and shoot some away to make sure it was flowing before winding up your dose? When the pen or vile is first new it takes extra winding to get to the fluid. I'm just wondering if you perhaps got an empty injection.

I am presuming my baby may need to go to special care but I've not been told it will 100% happen. I guess I will find out when I get to brissy.

Well another BSL record check and my dose is staying put again! Yay!