[Cherish]

Lost about 20 kilos before I fell pregnant. Have just tested positive for gestational diabetes(2 hour GTT yesterday at 33 weeks) reading was 8. What is the normal reading?
I'm so annoyed! Why now after. 4 otherwise healthy pregnancies?
I'm hoping it can be controlled by diet alone, cos if not it will alter my homebirthing plans
Off to the endocrine clinic next week I spose /dramatic sigh

[FoxyRetro*Gal]

I was diagnosed with GDD last year but I can't help with readings sorry.
It was my 8th child and I had never had it in my previous pregnancies so it was a total surprise when I got the phone call from my OB. Originally I wasn't even going to bother doing the test but glad I did. Within healthy weight range also so I suspect my old age had something to do with it
Mine was diet managed and I didn't find it too bad.
Good luck and I hope you can still get your home birth.

[Beancat]

Hi There

I had GD last year with DD. From memory I think the fasting level is 6.0 and the 2hours post meal is 6.7 (it used to be 7.0).

Mine was completely controlled with diet and exercise. I was a regime of the following carb exchanges:
Breakfast 3
MT 1-2
lunch 3
AT 1-2
Tea 3

An exchange is 15g of carb and includes the following foodgroups, fruit, some veg, cereals, rice, pasta,noodles, beans, lentils, milk and youghurt (they will give you a detailed list)

i had to exercise everyday for half an hour - walking was fine.

I am not sure how your home birthing plan will go. There is a chance GD babies can be born with low blood sugar and this has to be dealt with immediately by giving them glucose. If the baby gets too big you may have to be induced or have a cesear.

good luck with it

kh

[~spirited~]

I had GD in my first pregnancy, and have just gotten a referral for a GTT from my GP. I had to keep my levels below 5 for fasting, and 6.7 after meals. I was allowed 30g carbs at meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and 15g for snacks (MT, AT and supper). I ended up on a lot of insulin, despite keeping to my allowances and exercising regularly. My biggest problem were my fasting levels.

Don't beat yourself up if you end up on insulin, some people just can't control it through diet and exercise, and it's due to hormones. I hope you get the birth you want. I had to attend the endocrine clinic and see OBs at the hospital, rather than the shared care or midwifery group I would have preferred. My hospitals policy was induction by 40 weeks for insulin controlled, by 41 weeks for diet controlled.

There is a GD thread in the pregnancy groups board, we are all very friendly, supportive and helpful in there


ETA DS was born at 39+6 weighing 3.25kg so not big at all. His BSL was fine and he didn't require any formula, or time in special care.

This post has been edited by ~spirited~: 09/11/2012, 12:36 PM

[*Lena*]

I tested positive at 33 weeks to my last pregnancy. My reading was 9. I didn't have it my first 2 pregnancies so was like you, gutted. It also meant I had to go to a different hospital that was 3 hours away from home.

I found it quite easy to control with diet. It got easier the further along I was. A glass of milo before bed always tied me over to morning. I hope you have it as easy as I did. My tip though is to try and express some milk to have incase bubs readings are low when born. I got told to do it and started but gave up because I was to l lazy. I decided since I was controling it so well (only 1 high reading the first week) her levels would be fine but they weren't and she had to be taken to scn as she wouldn't latch on and because I had a c-section I didn't get to see her until the next morning (had her 8am the day before) and it was hell. I think this was alot to do with the hospital, I still think I should have been more demanding on having her brought to me so I could try breastfeed her again through the day/night instead of them giving her formula because as soon as I finally got to see her she breastfed. I wasn't thinking straight at the time though. As you see this still gets to me.

Amahlia was not big either and was the smallest of my 3 by a bit. She was 7 pound 6 oz. My others where both in the 8 pounds.

good luck

This post has been edited by *Lena*: 09/11/2012, 12:54 PM

[Princess.cranky....]

I had GD with my 3rd pregnancy and never had it previously. I suspect it was my age that had something to do with it.

GD wasn't fun for me- on insulin, got Pre-eclampsia (higher risk when you have GD), emergency C/S at 37 weeks. DD was my smallest baby (8 pounds 8). Very sleepy baby, poor suck, needed special care and gastric feeding tube. Drs think GD caused slow growth and she needed some more time.

If you do end up on insulin, remember it's the hormones from the placenta that are causing the insulin resistance, not anything you have done.

I had problems with fasting levels too. It's very common because there is a big surge of insulin overnight (called the 'dawn effect').

You might find levels will up and down. Hormone levels change though pregnancy and can cause levels to go crazy. Especially towards the end of the pregnancy.

You might be surprised at what can affect your levels. Diet can sometimes be trial and error.

When you go to the clinic ask about temporary membership to the Diabetes Acc so you can get the govt subsidy on test strips and other GD related stuff. Good if you do end up on insulin. Hospital organized mine.

And do a follow up GTT 6 weeks after birth and every year following. GD mums have a 50% increased risk of developing type 2. I got it 2 years after DD3 was born.

Good luck. I hope it won't be too bad for you.

[Cherish]

Thanks everyone

[franno]

I was diagnosed with it this pregnancy. I am older and heavier which is what I attribute it too. For me it has been the best thing to happen health wise. I live in Singapore and there was no referral to nutritionists or anyone but fortunately my Endo had worked at a hosp in Oz that had such success with GD that studies were done on their hospital. I'll let you know the method they used and some of it you might find helpful. I have controlled it through diet and exercise and haven't had a problem keeping my levels low. I feel great as well. I have been instructed to eat 6 meals per day. 3 main meals strictly 6 hours apart with 3 snacks inbetween (3 hours inbetween). I often don't eat the post dinner snack. I have to walk briskly 3 times her day straight after the 3 main meals for 20 mins.
Its amazing how I managed to prioritize this schedule above everything else (probably harder with 3 other kids) and stick to it without exception. I really enjoy it now, haven't had to change my meals.
Good luck (ps I was also told if I end up on insulin it's not our fault - you can't control the hormones).

[Bubble11]

Hope you can control with diet, but as for the why now, well it's a reaction to this particular pregnancy. Which is why everyone regardless of risk factors should have the test: While weight pre pregnancy, weight gain, age, diet, previous GD, family history of type 2 diabetes etc are risk factors they're not the cause of GD.
In pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that help the baby to grow and develop. These hormones also block the action of the mother’s insulin. This is called insulin resistance. Because of this insulin resistance, the need for insulin in pregnancy is 2 or 3 times higher than normal. If the body is unable to produce this much insulin, gestational diabetes develops.
Good luck, I hope you get it under control and can have the birth you want.

[Want_to_be_a_mum...]

I was diagnosed with GD at 24 weeks. I think the reading has to be 8 or under so you are borderline. Mine was 8.2 and I was able to control mine with diet throughout the rest of my pregnancy. My sugar levels did rise and I had to be extra careful between 32-36 weeks. I gave birth to a beautiful baby who is perfectly healthy. He did need to be in special care for a few days as I was induced. I was induced at 36 weeks and 3 days mainly because of pre-eclampsia. Good luck!! It isn't all that bad. It stops piling on the weight which is great!