Forum Health

Gestational diabetes

23 replies · page 1 of 2

Anne
After a morning of baby shopping, I got home and found a letter from the hospital in my mailbox. Last week (at 24 weeks) I did a small sugar test with the midwife (standard in Belgium) and now it turns out my blood sugar was too high. Next week (Dec 27) I have to do a proper sugar test: go to the hospital fasting, have blood drawn, drink sugar water, then have blood drawn again after an hour, two hours, and three hours...

Only after this test can they say for sure if I have gestational diabetes. I really hope not!

I’ve noticed my uterus growing so fast lately. At 24 weeks I read everywhere that it should be just above the navel, but mine is much higher, so I’m a bit worried. I’ve only gained 3 kilos so far though.

Pfff, my nice morning is completely overshadowed now. I’m mostly thinking about the consequences for my baby... ;-(

Replies

Page 1 of 2

  1. mama3 #2

    Hi Anne,

    I just want to give you some encouragement and say that things will surely go well with your little one. I also got gestational diabetes during my first pregnancy. She made it to the 36th week and was delivered via C-section, weighing 2910 grams and measuring 49 cm. She did absolutely great, went straight into a regular crib. She’s now a lovely 8-year-old girl and completely healthy. Unfortunately, my diabetes didn’t go away after that. It’s quite common in my family, though. My second daughter, which is how I got pregnant with her while having diabetes, was born at 38 weeks, weighed 3180 grams and was 49 cm. She’s also completely healthy, has no issues, and is almost 3 now. I’m currently pregnant with our third child. So you see, it really can go well even with gestational diabetes. You just have to be very mindful of your diet during pregnancy. If it comes to that, you’ll definitely get good guidance on it. Try to keep enjoying your pregnancy and don’t let it hang over this beautiful time like a black cloud! Good luck, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

  2. Anne started this #3

    Hey Mama3,

    Thanks for your reply! We don't have diabetes in our family at all, so I was quite startled.
    If the test shows that it really is the case, I'll definitely stick to the diet, I want a good start for my girl.
    Did you have extra ultrasounds during your pregnancies to monitor the growth? Did you have symptoms that pointed to diabetes? (Is fatigue one of them, I notice nothing of the extra energy they promise in the 2nd trimester :-)

    Best,
    Anne

  3. mama3 #4

    Hi Anne,

    Yes, I had extra ultrasounds due to growth, and now again. But as you saw, my two girls weren't too heavy at birth (and not now either). I hardly noticed anything from the diabetes, to be honest, nothing at all. But fatigue can indeed be a symptom. Just wait for your test next week. I'll be rooting for you.

    Best, mama3

  4. Anne started this #5

    Just got a call from the hospital's diabetes nurse. I do have gestational diabetes after all. I need to pick up a glucometer on Friday and will get diabetes education from the nurse. I'll have to check my sugar levels 7 times a day at first :-(.
    I have an appointment with a dietitian within a week for the diet, and then with an endocrinologist the following week. I hope I can keep it under control with just a diet and won't have to start injecting insulin...

  5. mama3 #6

    Hi Anne,

    How are you doing now? I'm curious if everything is going well for you.

  6. Anne started this #7

    Hey mama3,

    It's not that easy! I have to check my blood sugar 7 times a day: before meals, 2 hours after, and before bed. The levels before eating are always fine, but 2 hours after can sometimes be a disaster. They should be max 120. If I eat more than 2 small slices of bread in the morning, I'm already too high. I also have to watch out for potatoes and similar carbs. This afternoon I had eaten 2 small slices of bread with tuna salad, low-fat cottage cheese with sweetener, and an orange, and my level was 148 again. I guess it was the orange.

    The diabetes team is very strict; they say that 120 must absolutely not be exceeded, but then I think: is being at 125 once really such a disaster?!
    My GP also thinks the standards are quite strict.
    On Wednesday I'm going to the endocrinologist, hoping I won't have to start injecting insulin! Is that the case for you too, mama3?
    On Thursday I really had a low, didn't see things so positively anymore, but a few cuddles from my boyfriend made up for it a lot .
    I had a pre-natal check last week and our girl is still on track, so so far no problems from the diabetes.
    It'll all be fine, surely. I've already placed my postpartum order: American sandwich, medium-rare steak, banana cake, lots of fries, ...

  7. mama3 #8

    Hi Anne,
    it’s indeed strict that you have to sit at 120. Here (NL) they keep it at 140 for 1.5 to 2 hours after eating. But I have to say, I lived with my two other children in Germany and they were also very strict there; you weren’t allowed to sit higher than 140 for 1 hour after eating. Yes, I inject insulin and now I even wear an insulin pump. With my first child, I got gestational diabetes and had to start injecting right away. I must say I’m glad I’ve been wearing a pump since the second one; you don’t have to prick your belly so often anymore. You place the needle and then it can stay in for 3 days. Ideal, before that I had to inject/prick my belly 5 times a day.
    Just a question, what kind of bread do you eat? Because that can also make a big difference. If you eat white bread, for example, the sugars are absorbed into your blood very quickly. The darker and more whole grains you eat, the better! For example, whole grain pasta is also much better than regular. Good luck on Wednesday and I’ll hear from you. Keep your chin up, it’ll all work out! And that thing about the order after giving birth..........that sounds familiar to me :-)!!!!!

  8. Anne started this #9

    I do eat more grains, but apparently I still need to be careful. And as I've already noticed, one day is different from the next. I'll keep you updated!
    Thanks for the help and sympathy!

  9. Iza #10

    At least it helps to reduce your sugar intake significantly now and try to have fewer carbs too. Good luck and hopefully the results are okay.

  10. Renate74 #11

    Hi hi,

    I've also been injecting insulin for 1.5 weeks now, because gestational diabetes has flared up again. I had it during my previous pregnancy too, but only much later on. Right now I'm injecting quite a lot because I can't get it under control. It's driving me crazy. I watch what I eat and drink, but it fluctuates terribly.

    I have to see the internist at 9 am tomorrow and the gynecologist in the afternoon.

    I'm curious what they're going to do. With my previous pregnancy, they induced me at 38 weeks, and after the birth, everything was fine again. Don't worry too much about it, of course. I really hope for you that you won't have to inject and that you can get it under control another way.

    Wishing you lots of success.

  11. Renate74 #12

    Hi Anne,
    During my previous pregnancy, I was induced because our son was growing too fast and it wasn't safe anymore, and I was exhausted.
    I went to the gynecologist yesterday for a check-up, and luckily everything is fine with our girl. She's also back above the growth curve. So this time too, I'll be induced at week 38. But also because despite injecting insulin, I can't keep my sugar levels under control. On one hand, it's nice to know when you can hold your girl in your arms. But it sounds really silly, even though this is my 4th pregnancy, I'm already dreading it, it's actually stupid, right!!
    But also because there's a chance I might end up with type 2 diabetes now. And I can only hope that's not the case. We'll wait and see. Anyway, lots of success and be careful with white bread; toasted bread is actually also a culprit, which I didn't know either. But the diabetes nurse told me that.

  12. mama3 #13

    @Anne, too bad, but good that you know what you're doing! Good luck with the induction, but I'm sure it'll go well! Yeah, with my second I was induced 7 times, but I never got more than 2 cm dilated. That's why I ended up having a C-section for baby number two! Now, my third is also going to come via C-section. If everything goes well, it's scheduled for week 38/39. I'm curious. I'll also get myself sterilized right away.
    If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me anytime!

  13. mama-ok #14

    Ladies, I had my diabetes test on Monday, and to my great surprise, mine was also elevated. Diabetes definitely doesn't run in the family. I'm going to see the dietitian next Monday and then the internist two days later. I found it quite disappointing because I've always watched what I eat, and before my pregnancy, I was really into sports. Even then, I paid close attention to my diet, but well, I know that sometimes it doesn't matter what you do. I got my blood sugar monitor yesterday and started doing a day curve on my own today. I've been strictly watching my diet for the past few days. Let's see if my own dietary advice, which I give to my patients, will help me too.

  14. Anne started this #15

    @mama3: Induced labor 7 times! Wow, that’s no joke. But now they’ve scheduled a C-section around week 38 too, so don’t they usually not let the baby stay until the due date anyway?
    @mama-ok: It’s not like it runs in my family either, I’m also a bit of an outlier Are you a dietitian yourself?
    I have to say that insulin does some weird things to my body! With diet alone, my fasting levels were super good, and only occasionally a bit high after meals. Now my fasting levels are already too high. Yesterday afternoon, my 2-hour post-meal reading was okay, but after an hour I felt a bit weird, so I tested again; the level was higher than an hour before (and I hadn’t eaten anything in the meantime). I’ll check it again today, otherwise I’ll call the nurse tomorrow morning to see what she thinks.
    I’m finding it pretty tough, honestly! I can live with it for myself, but I’d feel terrible if I couldn’t get it under control for my girl.

  15. mama-ok #16

    @Anne, I’m a nurse and I often have to guide diabetes patients on using insulin, dietary guidelines, and lifestyle habits.
    Honestly, I’m worried too—not about myself, but about the little one. I also find those finger pricks really annoying. I’ll find out next week whether I need to start injecting insulin. If I do, then I guess I’ll have to.
    Do you use insulin around 10 PM? If so, that often needs to be adjusted. If it’s not enough, you often see high fasting blood sugar, but ask your diabetes nurse—they know best, of course.

  16. Anne started this #17

    @mama-ok: I'm a nurse myself, but I work in the OR, so I don't deal much with insulin therapy etc.
    Insulin injections don't hurt; the finger prick feels worse. I inject 3 times 3 units of fast-acting insulin with meals, so no long-acting ones in the evening yet. My values for insulin were much better, with a few outliers they were perfect, now I'm just struggling along. This afternoon before eating my levels were very low, close to a hypo. I ate 3 whole wheat buttered slices with chicken breast and tomato slices and 1 orange, and after 2 hours I measured one of the highest values so far. I don't quite understand it. I'd rather they had waited a bit longer with that insulin. I'll go ask for advice from the diabetes nurse tomorrow.

  17. mama-ok #18

    @Anne, that's so nice! A delivery ward sounds pretty cool too. I used to work in community nursing, and now I work at a health center.

    I totally get why they prescribe fast-acting insulin with meals since your levels tend to spike after eating.

    I think you should have waited with the insulin pen, because fruit also contains sugar. Fruit is healthy, but it can cause your blood sugar to rise quickly. However, if your levels are so low, you definitely need fast carbs; otherwise, your body reacts too slowly to whole grains. You also need to be careful not to wait too long between meals—max 3 hours. It's better to have your fruit as a snack in the morning, about 2 hours after breakfast, and after lunch.

  18. Renate74 #19

    Hey ladies,

    I've finally got my sugar levels under control for a day now. I'm injecting before every meal and also before bed. After two weeks, it seems like the baby is finally coming down in size. I don't dare to cheer too early yet, you never know.

    On Tuesday I have to go back to the hospital for a check-up, and they'll immediately schedule a date to induce me the following week.

    With my previous pregnancy, I was also supposed to be induced, but when I arrived in the morning, I already had 5cm dilation, so I was taken straight to the delivery room. It still took a few hours after the little one actually showed up, and during the birth, I had a hypoglycemic episode. So half of the experience was missed by me.

    Totally stupid question maybe @mama3, but can you get sterilized right away if you have a C-section? I didn't know that. I've never had a C-section before, so I have no idea what to expect.

    I can only hope that the last few weeks go well for all of us without any weird issues, and that we can all hold our little ones in our arms soon.

  19. Anne started this #20

    Hey ladies,
    Went to the endocrinologist yesterday and I'm already taking 10-9-9 units of insulin. The fasting morning level is also on the higher side, so I expect I'll soon need to start injecting long-acting insulin in the evening. What a hassle it all is, right!
    Next week I'm seeing the gynecologist. I'm curious how our princess is growing and how she's doing compared to gestational diabetes, whether she'll induce early and all that stuff... I've already prepared my list of questions (it's the first time I'm seeing him again since the diabetes).
    Last week (30 weeks) I had a pre-term scan and she weighed 1600g and was 41 cm long. I'm not sure if that's a lot? (the midwife said no). I was also there on January 4th, but then she kept her hands and feet in front of her face, so it was a new attempt. The midwife who did the scan did say there was more amniotic fluid than last time.
    We'll just have to wait and see until next week, right!
    How are you all doing?

    Kind regards, Anne

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