Gestational Diabetes General Chatter #5

[belfie]

hey liv,

Welcome to the thread and thanks for your info too! Everyone has been so helpful in here since i've arrived (all of a week or so ago!). Sounds like you know what you're doing since you've had it before, but bummer about getting it again.

I saw my endo & DE again yesterday. They've confirmed the GD is now a definite (given my lovely untestability) and put me on notice... if I get one more BSL over 8, the endo wants me on insulin. I haven't got another appt yet, but they've said call us if you get any high levels. Then she said the endo brings some people in every week. So I'm really not sure if that means they think I don't need it, or they don't want to see me . Either way, while i'm still working f/t it's easier not to juggle appts all the time! I think the DE is also still just freaked by my diet, she just says, oh well you know more about what you can eat than I do... but she's given me details of a dietician to talk to on Weds, so hopefully that'll be useful. And I'm going to look at the Diabetes Aus info again to make sure i'd doing ok. I still don't have to do fasting levels, just 2 hours post meals.

DH and I have decided i'll move my finish date at work from 36 weeks to 34.5 weeks... even though I don't know yet if I'll be on insulin/get induced etc... 36 weeks just feels too late. So it feels good to have decided, and I'll tell work on Monday. I know some people say to me "oh I knew someone with GD, and it was no drama", so I think they'd think that's no reason to finish earlier - but I know combined with my pre-existing dietary restrictions it just is an extra straw on the camel's back... plus if I do end up being induced 38 weeks, I want more time to get organised! I have no nursery set-up at all yet! So I'm just trying to remind myself that it doesn't matter how easy others find it (or not), it's about what I'm able to cope with.

So here's my Q's for today!

• Did many of you end up being induced at 38 weeks? And if yes, were you all on insulin? If not on insulin, was the reason for being induced based on baby-size estimations?
• How did you find it injecting the insulin? The DE said it doesn't hurt...but TBH I didn't quite believe her!
• Liv mentioned trying desserts. I haven't been having sweets much at all - did many of you find you could still get away with some sugary stuff? (I'm guessing that's just trial & error... but I'm a bit scared to trial I guess!)
• When did you finish work if you were working f/t?

Happy weekend to all.
Belfie

[Jewel]

Hi livgoesagain. Welcome to the GD section.
Sorry to hear you've got GD with your pg.
Good luck with it all. Sounds like you've got a fantastic DE.
I had a really great DE too. It helps loads when they're so supportive, I think.

Belfie - I can only answer one of your questions, sorry.
The first one. I wasn't on insulin, nor was I induced. My DS#2 was born at 39wk+2days. He was 8lb 9oz so not overly big.
I was already a stay at home mum, so I didn't finish work. :P

Hope you're having a great weekend.
Good luck with testing.
xx

[Artechim]

Belfie:

Did many of you end up being induced at 38 weeks? And if yes, were you all on insulin? If not on insulin, was the reason for being induced based on baby-size estimations?

It was my hospitals policy to induce at 38 weeks if on insulin, but I managed to bargain with them and had a CTG every second day and ended up being induced at 39+3 days - for no reason other than the hospital wanted to, my BSL's were under control (can you see the chip on my shoulder lol).

How did you find it injecting the insulin? The DE said it doesn't hurt...but TBH I didn't quite believe her!

Honestly, I was fed that line about it not hurting too! What a load, of course sticking a needle in your body is going to hurt lol. It isn't that bad though, it takes a bit of courage the first few times, then it becomes easy. It really only hurts if you hit the wrong spot but you quickly learn where it is best to inject. Lucky for me I have enough extra padding on my thighs that it wasn't too much of an issue lol

Liv mentioned trying desserts. I haven't been having sweets much at all - did many of you find you could still get away with some sugary stuff? (I'm guessing that's just trial & error... but I'm a bit scared to trial I guess!)

Definitely trial and error, never the same for two people. I needed a heap of insulin to have toast in the morning, but could have a muffin at lunch on a fraction of the insulin. I could also have ice-cream at night, dairy was not a problem for me (you can buy low-gi ice-creams - I think it is Bulla brand)

When did you finish work if you were working f/t?

I finished at 34 weeks. I was planning to stop at 36 weeks but the insulin/eating/testin schedule was a PITA, induction was getting threatened and it was all so stressful (and I didn't like my job much lol)

[livgoesagain]

Thanks for the welcome.

Belfie, in answer to your questions.

1. I ended up developing PE so DS was delivered via CS at 36.5 weeks. He was 3050g. However the plan was to induce at 38 weeks as my fundus was starting to size a little bigger at 34 weeks.
2. I was on the Protaphane I think it was called and it had a little fine needle with a dial thingy on it. I didn't find it too painful, I think I was more just scared.
3. Try Cadbury low fat ice-cream - tastes phenomenal and hasn't been causing me too many problems. I think most things are okay if they're not too fatty or sugary.
4. I was supposed to still go into work the day I was feeling unwell and ended up going to the ob then hospital instead. DS was born a week later. The advantages/disadvantages of working for family.

It seems like a bummer going on the insulin but at least you'll be able to eat more without blowing your levels. This time round, diet alone seems to be enough (fingers crossed it stays that way). But my DE was just a little concerned about weight loss - she would prefer I go on the insulin and get enough calories. No one had ever put it to me that way before which really did make sense. To her hunger is a big no no at this stage of pregnancy. What a lady I say!

[snowchickie79]

Hi Everyone,
She also mentioned that what you have before you go to bed at night can really effect your fasting levels so I've been trying out hot milk, then hot milk with a piece of toast, etc etc. I'm now getting the hang of what seems to be okay and what pushes me over.

Good-luck to all. Sounds like at least everyone is being taken care of which is great to hear.

livgoesagain - Welcome to the thread. Great to hear you have a great DE.. My endo is quite good and has been very relaxed with me about which early on eased my nerves. I am an avid "hot milk before bed" as I find that I have a little hunger before bed and it stops me waking in the morning ready to consume all the water that I can get from the tap. Sometimes I just have a glass of hot milk whilst other times I might throw in a couple of "Rich Tea" biscuits or a couple of Snack Right biscuits (both low gi and taste fabulous).. I've also been having the occasional Le Rice (again low gi) which really hits the sweet tooth whilst still keeping levels all ok. Tonight as long as my after dinner level is fine I'm going to splurge on an ice cream which I haven't tried yet.
If you want to test out stuff, I suggest doing it during your snack time but also if you are really curious have the food at snack time then test 2 hours later before your next main meal just to see how your level with that food goes. That is what I've done and even managed a donut which I got a 4.3 with.

hey liv,
So here's my Q's for today!

• Did many of you end up being induced at 38 weeks? And if yes, were you all on insulin? If not on insulin, was the reason for being induced based on baby-size estimations?
• How did you find it injecting the insulin? The DE said it doesn't hurt...but TBH I didn't quite believe her!
• Liv mentioned trying desserts. I haven't been having sweets much at all - did many of you find you could still get away with some sugary stuff? (I'm guessing that's just trial & error... but I'm a bit scared to trial I guess!)
• When did you finish work if you were working f/t?

Belfie

Belfie - Answers to questions:
1) I've managed to keep my GD under control with diet alone. In fact I'm getting away with some foods i didn't think I could. It only seems that spaghetti and bread (have found a bread that I can eat without a problem now) where my issues. All else seems to be fine with me thus far.
2) Have not had to address the issue of insulin so couldn't tell you this one..
3) Yep try deserts, as I mentioned about Le Rice is great and I've even had Lamingtons which I made for my baby shower and didn't have an effect on me. Other deserts I've had are iced donut which again was fine so I say give it a go and if you can time desert so that you can test 2 hours after, before going to bed then you'll know if it was ok or not.
4) I finished work 2 weeks ago due to other reasons. I was scheduled to finish this past Friday but have been glad I finished early.

ME - Not much to report on my side. A friend who was 4-5 weeks ahead of me had her baby this past week.. A little girl and she is such a cutie.. 9lb 7oz and apparently her OB has told her next PG she'll have to go for 2hr GTT as it could have been late onset GD.. Either way she has a healthy little girl who is as cute as a button.
Levels have been fine although today I was naughty and skipped my morning snack. Really does make a difference and it didn't help that we had nothing in the house. I went shopping this afternoon and stocked up including lollies for the labour room.

Anyway I better be off. Chat soon.

[Petals]

Hi all

Just checking in to see if Becci has any news for us - chances are she is miles too busy at the moment, or still in hospital at the moment!!

Belfie - I was induced at 37+5. I had said I would work until week 36 long before I got GD and was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I ended up doing my last stint at work on the Thursday before the Tues I was induced.
If you end up on inulin - then DO take time off before week 38 if you want it! I would have loved more time!! They do not induce early if you are not on insulin.

The insulin injections are not too bad, no worse then the finger***** tests. I used to have yogurt at supper (after evening BSL test). The forme (green tub) had the lowest sugar that I could find at the supermarket. I also found a low carb, very low sugar dark chocolate (called "well naturally") that I could get away with occassionally.

Hi livgoesagain! welcome!

[Jewel]

I hope everything is going great with Becci.
Can't wait to hear the news.