Gestational Diabetes

ebony__

Has any one else had it or have it? I’ve just been diagnosed even though I feel like I didn’t have high risk factors for it. Would like to hear people’s experiences.. did you manage t through food and exercise? How strict do you have to be with consistency of carbs per meal?

Jackie9003

I had it with my son, I was morbidly obese at the time. I had a blood test every week and a scan to ensure he wasn't growing too big too quickly but ended up on insulin injections despite being careful with diet. He turned out absolutely fine and as soon as he was born I went back to normal.
My second pregnancy was normal, although I had lost 6st at that time.

Everyone is different though so your experience might be nothing like mine, try not to worry and listen to your doctor. Congratulations

unrelentingminx

I have a glucose tolerance test booked in a month to test for it, purely based on a BMI over 30 (31!). If I am diagnosed with it, I honestly don't know what I can change in my diet. All my meals are homemade, I eat plenty of fruit and veg, and am pretty good at staying away from too many added sugars like those in cakes and biscuits.

ebony__

How strict did you both have to be with meal times and measuring carbs? I was told I need to aim for 30grams of carbs consistently every meal, which is really hard if someone else ever cooks for me or I don’t have a set of scales to measure everything out ? Could you ever eat out at a restaurants or had to just avoid that the whole pregnancy?

ebony__

My BMI was 27 so I was overweight but not drastically (and hadn’t been for long, put on weight due to a pelvic injury and drop in exercise) I was really shocked to be diagnosed with GDM.

unrelentingminx

a lot of restaurants are getting pretty good at posting their nutritional information online so if you know where you are eating out, you could look online for the menu ahead of time.

privy95

Have you been referred to a gestational diabetes registered dietician? When I had it with only 1 of my 5 pregnancies, I was referred. I was given a glucose monitor to test three times a day and taught how and when to eat. I never needed insulin, just regular monitoring and checks with the doc. Regular meals and snacks are important. Also eating carbs with protein helps to stabilize blood sugar. If all you were told is to make sure you have 30 carbs per meal, I think you should ask for more help. A referral would make a big difference in getting the education you need.

Pricklypineapple422

Some people are just predisposed to getting gestational diabetes - you can do everything right, eat the right things and exercise and still get it. Other people may have it and a cause CAN be poor diet and lack of exercise.

Some people manage well with diet changes and exercise alone, and some will need medication, such as insulin. When well controlled, gestational diabetes doesn't pose a large risk to baby, but for those who don't keep their glucoses controlled there are a lot of increased risks for baby (cardiac defects, respiratory distress syndrome, hypoglycemia after delivery, poor feeding, etc.). Your OB should be following you closely and giving you guidance, they may even have you see a diatician or diabetes specialist and they can provide guidance specifically tailored to what you and your growing baby need.

It's great you are looking for specific advice, but you should be getting this advice from your medical team so the advice is specific to you and your baby.

ebony__

I’m just wanting to know peoples experiences as I left my OB and diabetes specialist feeling overwhelmed and confused. They have both suggested they don’t think I need a dietician at this stage as my diet wasn’t bad to start with, I’ve been tracking my glucose levels after every meal and have never even been close to being over the recommended, the only time I was was with the actual GTT drink. But it’s only been 2 days so far and I’m still feeling very emotional about it and the increased risks for post pregnancy regardless of how well it’s managed is what’s scaring me most

Lindsay375

I had GD. It has to do with how the placenta affects your hormones that regulate insulin production. I wasn’t overweight and have zero risk factors and got it. It has nothing to do with exercising before/during pregnancy and there’s very little you can do to avoid a diagnosis.

I had to be very strict with my carb intake. I had goals of 15 breakfast, 15 snacks, 30 lunch and 45 dinner. For the other responders, it quite frankly doesn’t matter if you make all your meal. A banana still has too many carbs for breakfast for me when I was pregnant and would spike my blood sugar.

I didn’t eat out a lot but if I did completely avoided obvious carbs. By a few weeks into my diagnosis my fasting sugar was too high(and is significantly harder to control though diet) and I went on long acting insulin as well as short term insulin if my after meal numbers started to rise.

I had weekly NST at the hospital for the baby. It’s all about keeping blood sugar in check so your babies body isn’t affected. I had no issues as soon as I gave birth and my baby boy was healthy. He had extra monitoring before he ate each time in the hospital was completely within normal range each time.

maelissaatwood

I was just diagnosed with GD yesterday, it’s very scary. I can empathize with feeling worried and overwhelmed. Following this feed for the same reasons 😭

marmaladepixie

My sister had it, and she was borderline underweight at the time she was pregnant. She didn’t gain much weight either when she was pregnant, and was restricted as far as activity due to placenta previa. She spent the last 2 months in the hospital on bed rest. The only food that did not make her blood sugar go up, was steamed chicken, steamed broccoli, red quinoa and other green vegetables. This was basically what she ate, even for breakfast. She also had low-fat plain Greek yogurt and could have a few small apple slices but that was it fruit wise. Her diet was very clean before becoming pregnant too! I felt so bad for her. Type 2 diabetes runs in our family and they told her she woukd be high risk for developing gestational diabetes. No one believed it would happen though. I wish you good luck! Do whatever you can with your diet and try to manage blood sugar without insulin, apparently that ups the risk for type 2 after you give birth. Test your blood sugar often and keep a food diary, and keep meals simple

ExistingFish

I had it with my third and most recent pregnancy. I barely failed the 1 hour screen (by like 1 point) and only failed the 3 hour by a few points. I had a "mild case", I did not struggle to maintain my blood sugar correctly. I was overweight when I became pregnant (the pregnancy was unscheduled).

I maintained by diet...and by logging on here. Let me get the dates for you (my diary is public).

I think it started here:
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary?date=2017-05-06

And he was born in August. I didn't log all the way through, I was given the OK to test less after a while and I just kind of ate the same things over and over again.

I didn't gain a single pound after my diagnosis. He was born fine, I had no problems after my pregnancy.

maureenseel1984

marmaladepixie wrote: »

My sister had it, and she was borderline underweight at the time she was pregnant. She didn’t gain much weight either when she was pregnant, and was restricted as far as activity due to placenta previa. She spent the last 2 months in the hospital on bed rest. The only food that did not make her blood sugar go up, was steamed chicken, steamed broccoli, red quinoa and other green vegetables. This was basically what she ate, even for breakfast. She also had low-fat plain Greek yogurt and could have a few small apple slices but that was it fruit wise. Her diet was very clean before becoming pregnant too! I felt so bad for her. Type 2 diabetes runs in our family and they told her she woukd be high risk for developing gestational diabetes. No one believed it would happen though. I wish you good luck! Do whatever you can with your diet and try to manage blood sugar without insulin, apparently that ups the risk for type 2 after you give birth. Test your blood sugar often and keep a food diary, and keep meals simple

Just having gestational diabetes already increases your risk for 1.) Developing GDM again if you become pregnant again and 2.) type 2 later in life. It isn't the insulin that causes your risk to go up. The NEED for insulin is a good indicator that it may not go away after pregnancy. It means insulin resistance is bad enough that the sugars can't be controlled without a hyperglycemic agent.

http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/lower-your-risk/gdm.html

ebony__

With my diagnosis my fasting sugar was fine, my 1hr test was up and then my 2 hour test was fine.

I’ve been told to test 2 hours after every meal and so far they have all been well below the targets. I’m wondering what’s more important? Having good readings ? Or having carb consistency and being below carb targets ?

Lindsay375

ebony__ wrote: »

With my diagnosis my fasting sugar was fine, my 1hr test was up and then my 2 hour test was fine.

I’ve been told to test 2 hours after every meal and so far they have all been well below the targets. I’m wondering what’s more important? Having good readings ? Or having carb consistency and being below carb targets ?

It also can get harder to control the closer you get. Having good blood sugar readings is what’s important, carb targets is what gets you there. You don’t want to be below carb targets either, as it’s rare but ketoacidosis is something that can happen. Have you met with an endocrinologist? My OB referred me and that’s who controlled everything...I gave them my numbers once a week for review.

Another long term effect I was told is that keto would be dangerous because of my heightened risk for Type 2.

tauntonmom

When I had GD, the one food that consistently pushed my glucose readings up was pizza
Even if I only had 1 slice. So you learn and adapt. When I really wanted pizza, I would stick to 1 slice, and leave the crust behind. I also found it hard to eat that late snack when a cookie might have been okay, but I really didn't feel like having protein. Half a turkey sandwich was a frequent go to for that one.

Logging will help you learn what works for you. Going out to eat doesn't have to end, but if it's a place with large portions, maybe ask for a take home container with the meal so you can split it in half before you start eating.

My kids are grown now, but I'm here getting my weight down in part to reduce my risk of developing type 2, which my mother had.