Gestational Diabetes General Chatter #4

[Jewel]

Yeah, the sugar is from the diabetes.

Ugh, I'm so sick of this testing and food and all that jazz.

[snowchickie79]

Hello all,
Just wanted to drop in. i've just found out, like 1 hour ago, that i have GD.
I'm devastated!! I had my 2 hour test yesterday and got a 9.2 on it. Fasting was 4.2, 1 hour was 9.6 and 2 hour was 9.2. I remember the hour after drinking the glucose that my heart was racing but second hour felt fine. Apparently not though.

I'm very confused though because I've been faxed a diet plan to use till i see the endo next Wednesday and the food is what i already eat just many more servings! I don't eat junk food, don't eat sugary food, no cakes or treats, so I just don't understand how this still happens.

Secondly I don't see how a diet which is almost the same as what i am doing now is going to help the situation and more and more i am concerned i'll end up on insulin. Having a big "needle phobia" is not helping the situation. A blood test is an effort for me..

This is what i'd have on a normal day:
B'Fast: Weet bix with sultanas or Just Right with added Bran + skim milk
Lunch: Multi-grain or Wholemeal sandwich with tomato & cheese with mustard
Dinner: Lean meat (either beef, chicken or pork) with vegetables/potato or spag bolognaise or a stir fry.
Snacks: If i get peckish then i'd have a piece of fruit or some diced mixed fruit or maybe a cracker like Vita Wheets.

I don't eat deserts, don't eat lollies. Have 1 or maybe 2 cups of tea with 2 sugars & skim milk per day. Might have 1 x small glass (250-300ml) of unsweetened fruit juice a day and the rest is all water.

I know I must sound like a drama queen and trust me the tears have been free flowing for the last hour or so but i just don't understand how this happened. The only thing I can think of is lack of exercise. Prior to being PG i used to play touch football and attend pilates/yoga classes. I've always been slim but now i find exercise (walk the dog around the block - about a 20 minute journey) makes me tired, my sciatic hurts and i'm getting lower back pain so I haven't been as active. I would have to assume that the exercise is not the culprit here but i'd really love something to blame for this because i'm absolutely stumped on how this has happened.

[melbel]

sweetie.....huge hugs it must be a big shock for you. just know you are not to blame at all. GD is not related to diet, exercise or lack thereof in most cases. You have just been plain unlucky tis all. scuse the poor typing have just got a new puppy and am typing one handed!
in simple terms here is how the pancreas works during pregnancy: during pregnancy you will require 2 -3 times the normal amounts of insulin to metabolise your food, that goes for everyone when they are pregnant. Understandably this places stress on the pancreas to produce that much extra insulin. In some people for whatever reason the pancreas doesn't cope as well with the extra stress and can't quite keep up with the extra demand so you get a small shortfall of insulin. you have just been very unlucky to be one of those people.....not that it makes it any easier but it is not your fault.
there is a fantastic book i reccommend you look for called the new glucose revolution by professor jennie brand-miller. it explains the GI approach to diet extemely well and has tips and recipes etc. Also the diabetic living magazine comes out every 2 months and is awsome for food tips for diabetes of all types.
chin up keep thinking its only 12 weeks tops not a lifetime.

[Becci]

SnowChickie - Welcome to the group!!

It's all got to do with that extra insulin that's needed plus the placenta creates a hormones that stops the insulin from working properly (sorry I can't remember how but I was pretty bamboozled with info when I saw the Diabetic Educator).
The main thing is it is managable. I'm new to it all too. Only been monitoring my levels since last thursday. And I hate needles too!
There is only a few % of women with whom the diabetes will stay wil til after the birth. Plus GD babies are usually induced early so the time that you will have GD is getting less and less.
When you see the Dibetic Educator and the Dietician next week all will be clear.
It's not just about low GI, healthy diet, etc the amount of carbs comes into effect too.

Anyway I don't want to comfuse you anymore than you already are so I'll stop now.

Try to look on the bright side.....You have just met a wonderful group of girls that are just the same as you!!!!!!

We are here for you.

[Jewel]

Hey Snowchickie!

I'm sorry to hear about your results.
When you first find out it's such a kick in the teeth.
I cried so much when I first found out. I'd cry when I woke up and throughout the day. I must have been an ightmare to live with.
Once you get started with the testing and seeing a diabetes educator, or whoever you need to see, things should seem better.
It does take adjusting and even now I find I break down about it, and I've been doing this since I was 10wks.


We're all here for you.
We'll try our best to answer your questions aswell as support and encourage you.

BIG HUGS!!!
xx

[kirsten74]

Hey Beci, I was on some fairly high doses of insulin by the end of the pregnancy. I was taking (I think) about 20 units of Actrapid at lunch, about 40 of Actrapid at night before dinner and then about 30 of Protophane before bed. This is the dose that brought my morning readings down.
I was diagnosed at 15 weeks and on insulin from 16 weeks so it was a VERY long pregnancy. The good thing was that I had a healthy little boy weighing 7lbs 15oz. They monitored his BSL for a couple of days and they were all fine. My Ob was convinced that it wasn't going away after the pregnancy, but a GTT at 7 weeks revealed that it had gone away! YAAAY!
Good luck with it all everyone. If anyone has any questions, just ask!

[snowchickie79]

First question, with many more to come I'm sure..
What do you all drink?? I used to have a cup of tea in the morning, a small juice and then water. But the material i've been given says juice is out so what on earth am I supposed to drink other than water?? Water is so boring after 1.5L..
Also with tea, should i switch to an artificial sweetener, and if yes, which one as I thought you were not supposed to use some of them during PG?

Also I'm really worried about the possibility of this not going away once baby is born, is it common for it to stick around afterwards? Is it more common for those on insulin rather than diet based control?

[Jewel]

I drink mostly water, but yeah you get sick of it and I miss juice. Lol.
Sometimes Coke zero or some of the other sugar free range they have.
I did get Equal as the sugar substitute when I have tea, but I haven't really had tea or used it. ( I don't really know if it's alright or not. )
Splenda is alright though. I used it in some cooking.

I'm on diet control. I think if I did find out when I was 28 weeks or whatever, then I'd most likely be on insulin, but since i found out so early I think I had it easier. If you get what I mean.

I think it generally does go away as soon as you have the baby.
I'm not sure if mine will be though.