Gestational Diabetes General Chatter #5

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Hi Ladies,

I have been lurking around just reading the forum - i gave birth to my daughter on 21 January (i was insulin dependant gestational diabetes) and for the first few days after the birth my bsl's were all normal - however since coming home, the few times i have managed to do a check the have all been over 7.0 which when i was pregnant was my cut off. - My question is, after giving birth what is considered a "normal" bsl?? - i go for my post partum glucose test in two weeks and am really stressing about it!

[Megan]

Gill, I know in my aunty's case (she is a type 1 diabetic), her levels should be between 4-8. From what I understand, the cut off for gestational is 7 as they like to keep it a bit lower.
Good luck with your test. Fingers crossed it's all ok.

[belfie]

the cut-off is an interesting question - from what I heard/read, different endo's gave different cut-offs (even my endo acknowledged this!). He told me to watch out if it was over 7, but he really only cared if it was over 8. When I queried it, he said well the sevens are just a bit of a red flag warning us which direction you're going.

In terms of cut-off, I "failed" the GTT due to vomiting after 1 1/2 hours (everywhere in the waiting room lucky patients huh!). So they couldn't re-test me, and they just monitered my BSL's. My endo said if I went over 9 I definitely had GD (which I did).

Smudgy - sending you big I have to agree with Artechim, i think you've not been eating enough. It's really important during your PG to have your carbs as well. If you're type II, they tend to reduce carbs more but not for GD. If you're BSL's are too high with the recommended carbs, it's better for you AND baby to have the insulin rather than both of you going without the carbs. But I know how you feel (I was so there!) and being 3rd trimester definitely doesn't help, plus all these ppl who tell you it's easy when you feel you're stuck in a nightmare. As you said, it IS the placenta -you're doing a fabulous job, but really remember that it's a bit of a trap to feel that if you just control your food enough you won't need insulin. Sometimes it's just going to happen anyway.

Also, you may need to try different carbs to see what works for you - the rye bread is good, but maybe try someting other than the noodles & paratha bread? I know many people find the multi-grain breads better? and as someone said, basmati rice for sure. It IS trial and error, but before you know it, it will be over and you will have a beautiful baby in your arms

myson - I got some bruises & my DE warned me that I would. But I'm also not a bruiser (so to speak lol)... so didn't get many. I also reckon I hurt more if I injected right after a shower. Maybe more blood at the surface of the skin or something?

[snowchickie79]

Smudgy - It sounds like bread might be sending your BSL's up. I had issues with bread which is where I got my first high level. Even switching to a Low GI bread made my levels go up higher than my normal wholemeal bread did. It took a little trial and error till I found a bread that didn't affect me and it's the Wholemeal Vienna from bakers delight which I could eat no worries.

I had stir fry quite often but I found a noodle (hokkein) in the aisle of Woolies (PM me if you want the brand details) near the asian food section which had lower carbs than my normal so I had that and it didn't affect me. You might find including noodles or rice (basmatie or brown) into your stir frys might help you with controlling the hunger. A few of your stir fries you mentioned didn't have any meat in them, you really should include a protein source in each meal so try including some beef or chicken in your stir fries. This will also help with the issue of you being hungry still afterwards. Remember portion size of the meat though.

You mentioned one snack was a quarter of an apple.. Have the whole apple!! Or you mentioned 1/4 a carrot (have the whole carrot!) - Unless there is a specific reason why you are only eating portions of these and I've missed that part! I would have a piece of fruit and a cup of tea as my snacks, or a yoghurt and tea or something like that. You don't need to starve yourself just watch what affects your levels and what doesn't. Food diary is best way to identify that. If something affects you then avoid it, cutting down the portion won't really help you as you need to give your body the energy from food, so if it affects you, find something else that won't.

After 2 hours of dinner (chicken + spinach + mushroom + chillies stir-fry), my BSL read 7.3

- This one it could have been the portion of the chicken, you need to watch portion size of any meats as I found that sent up my BSL's.

Yes you definetley should have been told to go to 6 meals a day instead of 3. Normally I'd have breakfast, 2 hours later I'd test, then have my snack straight after, then 2 hours later have lunch then again 2 hours later test and have a snack (don't test after your snack, test first then have snack), then another 2 hours have dinner, 2 hour wait and test and then final snack before bed.

Also if you want to experiment with a food to see how your body deals, experiment with a small portion during your snacks as you have a good 4 hours before you test again and it'll give your body time to deal with it. If you experiment with a snack, then have a safe lunch that you don't doesn't affect you and if your level is high then you know the experiment snack doesn't work for you and to avoid it.

I always had a snack before bed but it was sometimes just a warm glass of milk. My only GD symptom was thirst in the morning and by having a snack that issue went away and obviously kept my levels good. I'd have a glass of milk and maybe a few biscuits (try the RICH TEA biscuits. They are super yummy but Low GI. I am still eating them for a sweet snack now!!).. Or I'd have a glass of milk and a Le Rice (Low GI).. Test it out and see what works for you..

Regarding Baked Beans. I always just had a can of them whenever I had them on toast and they didn't affect me. Try a full can and see what it does. Remember it's a trial and error thing but if you are loosing weight then you need to not skimp on the stuff that doesn't affect you.

Readings of 4++ are not low. I had some readings in the high 3's and they were getting a little low. During labour I had a 3.1 and the midwife made me have some lollies to bring it back up but I'd eaten nothing since the night before as I went into labour at 5am and only went to hospital at 9.30am.

Regarding plans for after delivery, I've tried to stay Low GI but I have always been a healthy eater and chosen low fat and low gi stuff so I really just changed my snacking habits and the bread I now have the 9 Grains. I've always been under my BMI so will just have to play it by ear and try and stay as active as possible. I am going to try my darn hardest to avoid it for my next PG as I've spoken to ladies who have. I did question my GD diagnosis as in the time I had GD (11 weeks) i only had 3 levels over 7.0 the entire time. I was eating small amounts of cake at the end without any effect.

About these levels:::

10/2
BSL = 4.6
Breakfast - 1/4 apple + 1 thin beef sausage + capsicum + mushrooms + 1/4c baked beans + 1 slice white bread
BSL = 8.7!!

I'd say too many proteins here with the sausage + baked beans and then bread. Try this without the sausage and try full can of baked beans

Snack - 2 thin rice cake + 50g yoghurt
Lunch - Tomyum chicken soup + 1c noodles
BSL = 7.5

I'd say a mixture of rice cakes for snack and then the soup & noodles. Maybe try eliminate a part and see if that helps. LIke the soup & noodles without the rice cakes prior

This is only my thoughts/guesses but who knows, it may help.. If not then can completely ignore me!

Wow that went on a little but hope it helps.

Leigh26 - Congrats on the all clear for your GTT.. I told you!!!

Hi Ladies,

I have been lurking around just reading the forum - i gave birth to my daughter on 21 January (i was insulin dependant gestational diabetes) and for the first few days after the birth my bsl's were all normal - however since coming home, the few times i have managed to do a check the have all been over 7.0 which when i was pregnant was my cut off. - My question is, after giving birth what is considered a "normal" bsl?? - i go for my post partum glucose test in two weeks and am really stressing about it!

gill77 - In my panic and stress post birth and prior to my GTT again I found this information on the Diabetes Australia website. It talks about PreDiabetes and the levels you would need to display to be considered "PreDiabetic" so if you are under those then you wouldn't be considered PreDiabetic and therefore not full diabetic. It talks about what your fasting level should be under and also 2 hours post food. 7.0 after food looks fine - they say under 7.8 just for PreDiabetes so it would be even higher to be considered diabetic. Pre-diabetes... Diabetes Australia - NSW - go the bottom of the fact and download the fact sheet.

[snowchickie79]

P.S. I'm so sorry thay was so long ladies...

[belfie]

P.S. I'm so sorry thay was so long ladies...

lol I was just reading thinking what a great post it was! Don't apologise missy!

And as always, I have to jump in and say that for whatever reason, baked beans ALWAYS put my levels over (but then I always was a bit weird ). So just to show you how much things can vary.

Oh and btw, I still haven't done my follow-up GTT. I'm such a wuss next time I have to go to the GP... for sure....

[snowchickie79]

It was always bizarre how some foods were ok for 1 person and not for another and part of the reason it can be so frustrating but it all boils down to just how your body deals with the food and how it's functioning.

Smudgy - If you are loosing weight and always hungry then you may find going on insulin to keep your levels under control will give you more room to move with what food you can eat and it'll mean that you can increase the amount of food you are eating to stop the weight loss and also the hunger. Being PG makes you more hungry as it is let alone being hungry and trying to deal with the GD. I honestly did not get hungry very often and if I was then I knew I hadn't eaten enough at my last meal or snack.
You need to make sure that whatever you are eating has the highest amount of nutrition possible. The GD does limit your diet and that's a given fact so whatever goes into your body needs to be food that gives you the nutrients and vitamins you need. Hence why chocolate and junk food is off the menu because they really provide your body with little to no benefits. I didn't eat any processed foods (again due to the fact processed foods are more convenience foods than nutritional - give or take a food specific foods)..

Good luck everyone and keep asking questions..

Belfie - Get yourself off to the GP and get your referral. You'll feel much better once you get it all over and done with..

[smudgy]

I'm almost to tears with GD and reading everything here in response to my frustration just made them pouring like rain (3rd trimester pg hormones are making me cry so easily these few weeks!) But especially snowchickies and belfie, oh thank you so much!

Last Thursday was our second meeting with the DE and she asked me to make an appointment with this Dr whom will decide to let me go on insulin or tablets. She confirms my pancreas is not keeping up with pg and placenta so no matter how much I control my food intake, it'll spike up. Plus, a completely no-carb diet is out of the question.

So here I am. Tomorrow's the appointment and I am finding myself not enjoying pregnancy at all at the moment (this is my first) Not even the thought of my baby's arrival would bring as much excitement anymore.

On Monday we had a growth ultrasound and baby seems to be growing at a normal size - not too big - which is good news. My ob however mentioned the possiblity of not letting me go further than 38.5 weeks.

To add to the third trimester discomforts, my ob thinks I might have PUPP. I've a huge rash across my belly but no where else at the moment. It is SO SO itchy all the time and I feel so uncomfortable.

Sorry for the blabber, whiny complaints and rants here, ladies. Feels so good to let it out from my chest. Hope everyone had a great V-day and may all of you blessed with joy and happiness for all the kind words you provide

Miza