Gestational Diabetes General Chatter #1

[MrsD72]

thought I'd update you - my education session went ok although there is some confusing information around.....I think I can say I'm not alone in that most people think to control diabetes, you need to cut out all sugar, whereas the dietician, etc yesterday said its more about the GI - its a bit confusing!
To make matters worse, my hubby is pretty much putting his fingers in his ears and doesn't want to hear about it! He's been pretty good until now with my pregnancy but he told me last night it was all I was talking about! Hello!! Its a lifestyle change and potential long term problems, which is the scariest thing for me
Was also told my chances of having my hoped-for VBAC as now 50/50
How did everyone else deal with a partner who doesn't accept or want to know about yr GD???

[Artechim]

MrsD72, I can understand how annoying it must be for you with a DH that refuses to talk about it with you. I know that it is a constant matter of conversation at my house because it is always on my mind. I started the insulin yesterday, DH has been very good. He even asks questions and listens to my chatter (as long as he doesn't have to see the actual finger *****s or injecting)

[Amanda_Jane78]

Hi Ladies.

I have been to the Dr today (actually for a cold) but she tested my urine and everything else anyways just to see ow things were going...

My blood pressure has risen from 125/65 to 165/95 in a week and there is what she classes as "moderate levels" of sugar in my urine. She has booked me in for a GTT test next Monday and I'm a little scared... ok not scared... TERRIFIED! I know I haven't been diagnosed yet, but I am overweight and fear it will be confirmed on Monday.

I'm hoping I'll be able to sponge information out of you all... and ease my fears...

I know this may be a little pre-emptive, but if you are insulin dependant, does that mean injections or are there tablets for this yet?? I totally admire anyone who can inject insulin themselves but don't think I would ever have the courage to do this myself.

Can you fight it, I mean with diet and exercise, can you make it go away?? Or is it always there??

Anyone's help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Artechim]

Hi there. I am not an expert on this by any means, but I can tell you what I know.

If your GTT comes back positive, you will most likely be given a blood sugar monitor for a week or two, and refered to a dietitian who will let you know what foods you should be eating. The lady I spoke to suggested 3-4 serves of carbohydrates for breakfast, lunch and dinner and 1-2 servings for morning/afternoon tea and supper. It is recommended that you choose the low GI alternatives as they are slower to digest and don't spike your blood sugar as much. A serving is 15g, you can figure it out off the info on the pack.

If you have it, it is there for the rest of the pregnancy. You can't make it go away but a lot of people can control it with a change in diet and more exercise. You will also be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

Some people can't control it with diet alone. I reduced my carb intake to only one serve per meal and still went too high on my after meal sugar readings. I have just started on insulin. It is an injection. There are pills available for type 2 control, but are not recommended in pregnancy but I don't know why. The actual injection isn't too bad. It actually hurts less than the finger *****s for monitoring. It is only a tiny thin needle, about 1 1/2cm long. It does take a bit of courage to put it in though.

Hope that was helpful, if anyone finds anything is incorrect then please post a correction. This is all new to me too.

Goodluck with your test on monday, hopefully all is well.

[MrsD72]

Hi there. I am not an expert on this by any means, but I can tell you what I know.

If your GTT comes back positive, you will most likely be given a blood sugar monitor for a week or two, and refered to a dietitian who will let you know what foods you should be eating. The lady I spoke to suggested 3-4 serves of carbohydrates for breakfast, lunch and dinner and 1-2 servings for morning/afternoon tea and supper. It is recommended that you choose the low GI alternatives as they are slower to digest and don't spike your blood sugar as much. A serving is 15g, you can figure it out off the info on the pack.

If you have it, it is there for the rest of the pregnancy. You can't make it go away but a lot of people can control it with a change in diet and more exercise. You will also be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

Some people can't control it with diet alone. I reduced my carb intake to only one serve per meal and still went too high on my after meal sugar readings. I have just started on insulin. It is an injection. There are pills available for type 2 control, but are not recommended in pregnancy but I don't know why. The actual injection isn't too bad. It actually hurts less than the finger *****s for monitoring. It is only a tiny thin needle, about 1 1/2cm long. It does take a bit of courage to put it in though.

Hope that was helpful, if anyone finds anything is incorrect then please post a correction. This is all new to me too.

Goodluck with your test on monday, hopefully all is well.

thanks for all that info
my levels are still too high for the hospital's liking despite me eating pretty much low GI etc but I have just gone on maternity leave and was a shift worker prior to that so they're going to see how I go over this weekend otherwise it will be insulin for me

[melbel]

Just to answer something said by Artechim......they use insulin as a preferred method of treatment during pregnancy even for type 2s for a couple of reasons...in early pregnancy they don't know enough abut most of the oral drugs to be sure they won't cause birth defects....this is slowly changing as the drugs are around for longer but will be an issue for while I think...all new drugs have a question mark in this area.

In later pregnancy they are a big no no because the chemicals in the drugs can cross the placenta and actually cause dangerous low sugar levels in the bub whilst still inutero. Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone (even though you are using a synthetic derivative) and does not cross the placenta to the baby so it is much safer to control the mothers sugar levels this way to avoid any risk to the baby. Sugar however can cross the placenta and cause the things the doctor has already told you like a larger baby etc.......it can also cause problems after birth if the mother's sugar levels are not well controlled in the immediate pre birth time span because as the baby's own system starts to take charge to deal with excess sugar the baby can actually rebound and go into a dangerous state of low blood sugar called hypoglycaemia. If the mother's sugar levels are kept as close as possible to normal this risk of this is much less.

I hope this helps explain some of the why I am doing all these needles feeling...hehe

[MrsD72]

well I started on the insulin yesterday and its a lot easier than actually doing my BSL!
After the initial shock of it I think I'm going ok - but even after the first couple of meals, my BSL is a bit too high so I'll have to increase it
oh well - its only for about 6 weeks

[joel's girl]

MrsD72 - it's good that the insulin is going well and you're right it's only for another six weeks so at least there's an end in sight. I wish you the very best of luck with it.

My BSL have been pretty good actually I'll be surprised if I require insulin when I go back to the clinic this thursday. The ony time I went over was when i was in hospital a few nights ago and they gave me a finely crushed tablet in a spoonful of honey !! I didn't even think at the time but the level was only over by a bit anyways so I'm sure that's not too bad.

Hope you all are travelling well.

Cindy

[Amanda_Jane78]

Well ladies... I'd like to thank you for your advice... You alleviated my fears of GD and I knew I'd find support here.

I do have some good news for me though... My tests came back clear. I truly do thank you for your help and hope all goes well for all of you and your babies.

Thanks again.

[*noni*e*]

lol i didn't remember to come back and say what happened with my test hahaha... as some of u would know from the sept thread i got a positive gtt by .3 damn it lol... it seems though my diet didn't really need to be changed just the time between meals (which is killing me btw!!!) gosh 2 hours is a long time lol sometimes i find myself checking early and hoping it will be normal so i can eat a bit earlier lol...
what levels have ur gd clinics given u??? i heard someone say 6.5 for after meals??? mines 5.5 fasting and 7 for 2 hours after meals... ive gone over 6.5 many times...i am not overweight and theres no diabetes in my family so i was actually quite shocked to be diagnosed even if it is by .3 fundal height is normal not that thats much of an indication i have heard.. this preg i have put on 7kgs so far.. just wondering do u think i should be worried about it going over 6.5? is that what most ppl have been told? lol sorry for the ramble

[Artechim]

Noni, I was told 5.5 fasting and 7 after meals. Even with insulin I am still going over, and I am not even eating as much carbohydrates as the dietician said to. Two peices of wholegrain bread will give me a result around 8.5. It is really getting me down, I am being so careful with what I eat and how much but I can't seem to control it. I had my insulin doses adjusted yesterday but so far I am getting results just as high as before.

Joel's Girl, I am glad you are able to keep it under control - sounds like you are having a stressful enough pregnancy without having to have insulin as well

Amanda Jane, congrats on dodging the bullet.

MrsD72, the insulin isn't as bad as I thought, but I do have some big black bruises on my thighs where I must have hit veins.

[MrsD72]

Noni, I was told 5.5 fasting and 7 after meals. Even with insulin I am still going over, and I am not even eating as much carbohydrates as the dietician said to. Two peices of wholegrain bread will give me a result around 8.5. It is really getting me down, I am being so careful with what I eat and how much but I can't seem to control it. I had my insulin doses adjusted yesterday but so far I am getting results just as high as before.

MrsD72, the insulin isn't as bad as I thought, but I do have some big black bruises on my thighs where I must have hit veins.

my diabetes educator told me morning levels below 5.5 and after meals no higher than 6.5 - it was hard and I understand about the bread thing too - I can normally only eat one bit anyway otherwise I feel bloated!!
The insulin is going ok for me - morning levels have settled down but its the after meal ones that are all over the place, hence why I am now booked in for a c section

[MrsD72]

thought I'd update this thread too
I am now booked in for a c section on 6th September....mixed emotions about this after my push for a VBAC but its the GD that has brought it on - my BSL just aren't stable enough
oh well

[Caz1971]

thought I'd update this thread too
I am now booked in for a c section on 6th September....mixed emotions about this after my push for a VBAC but its the GD that has brought it on - my BSL just aren't stable enough
oh well

I am wanting a VBAC too. My sugar glucose was high so tomorrow doing the 2nd test. I have a bad feeling......

Caz

[*noni*e*]

arte - sorry to hear your having such trouble with ur levels
mrs d72 - sorry bout the c section but just think when ur holding ur little bundle it will all be worth it
as for me i am completely fed up with this whole thing i havn't monitpred for two days and instead of getting up and doing it today i got up and ate 4 sweet biscuits 2 pieces of toast and had a juice lol... and tmw is my appt at the hospital lol... i seem to get normal levels all the time anyway as long as i am moderately active i feel like i am putting tiny holes in myself every second day for nothing and its really starting to get me down.. i talked to the drs about it and they just use the excuse of oh but it might get worse later so u need to keep an eye on it grrrr.. my test was only over by .3 and i keep wishing it was just that little bit less because it seems like i am doing this for nothing sorry about the winge i just had to get it out

[MrsD72]

mrs d72 - sorry bout the c section but just think when ur holding ur little bundle it will all be worth it

sorry but I don't feel grateful at all for having a c section
I really pushed for a VBAC this baby (having had 2 c sections) and was pressured by 2 Drs at the hospital to book in for a c section this time only days ago
My main concern about having a c section was the recovery time - I have been very inactive and imobilised through the whole pregnancy and I was hoping the VBAC and the recovery from that would be better
sorry if that sounds harsh but I feel like my body just hates me at the moment and to be told I have to have a c section was the last straw

[mrsr]

Can you "tell" if you're suffering from GD? What symptoms are there - I'd like to know what to look out for prior to the glucose test.

[*noni*e*]

:hugs: mrsd72 i completely understand u not feeling greatful for it i am sorry if my response earlier sounded condesending i shouldnt have commented without knowing the whole story hope u can forgive me...
tmw i am off to fight for my birth preferences too with the ob who tells me one thing one week and another the next see how it goes i suppose...
mrsr - im not sure abiut the symptoms the only thing i noticed is every time i did tests for gd i felt really sick when they told me there were no side effects to the test dunno if that helps??