Moms with Gestational Diabetes- question

austinlyns

Did you have any symptoms before being diagnosed or was it a total surprise at your appointment?

gregsgurl81304

I dont have GD this time around thank the Lord, but I did with DS. It was a surprise when I found out but looking back I remember that if I didn't eat regularly I would feel really shakey, and I would start to feel really sick. So I make sure I look for those signs, and test my blood sugar everyonce in a while after I eat to make sure my numbers are still good. 

temursgirl

I haven't actually done the test yet, so I can't answer your question, but there are a couple of things that raised my doctor's concerns:

I was VERY sick in my first trimester and ate/kept down hardly anything.  I continued to have major food aversions, but around 18 weeks suddenly put on a lot of weight (like 12 pounds in two weeks after no weight gain).

Even now I still have food aversions, and at 18-20 weeks I was eating primarily grapefruit.  Apparently, grapefruit weight gain is bad.

I was having severe, frequent, and uncomfortable blood sugar drop offs.

My doctor asked me to seriously curb the grapefruit and have protein regularly, which I've done.  I haven't had another weight gain like that and actually the blood sugar drop offs have become rare and less severe.  I'm hoping this means the test results will be good, but I have no idea.

What I'm telling myself is that if I do have GD, I'd rather know and address it than have any negative consequences to my or LO's health later.

hjl050308

I found out at 18 weeks or so I think. I mentioned to my doctor that I was really thirsty. I hadn't had any weight gain and my ultrasounds were right as far as growth, but I have other risk factors for it. She ordered the test but said it could be unlikely because I had no sugars in my urine. Turns out I have it.
I have read/researched it and many women have no "symptoms" of it.

gregsgurl81304

Oh yes, and sudden, more than average weight gain.

obscurereference

I had no symptoms either pregnancy and have had it both times.

austinlyns

Thanks for the info, ladies. This in baby #4 for me and I have never had it before. I have to pay out of pocket for the test, so I was weighing whether to do it. Sounds like I have to go ahead and shell out the mine since many people have no symptoms.

babybean82

austinlyns said:

Thanks for the info, ladies. This in baby #4 for me and I have never had it before. I have to pay out of pocket for the test, so I was weighing whether to do it. Sounds like I have to go ahead and shell out the mine since many people have no symptoms.

Another option depending on how expensive the test is to pick up a cheap Walmart generic blood sugar meter and some test strips and try testing your blood sugar a few hours after eating something really sugary. I have type 1 diabetes and I would say the extreme thirst is the most common sign of diabetes, other signs include aversions to sweet foods, and itchy dry skin.

lynnblack

I had it in my first pregnancy but so far I have not developed it. I didn't have any symptoms and my blood sugars were normal except for my morning fasting number.

LovetoLive614

I'm a FTM and I haven't gotten tested yet but I am going to ask the doctor to do test at my appointment Wednesday bc I feel like there is a good possibility I could have it - have problems with blood sugar drop offs before getting pregnant, am overweight, had no weight gain then rapid gain at 19 weeks, eating sweets makes me nauseas and I feel sick when I don't eat every few hours and often after I eat.

All that being said, from everything I read there are no real symptoms that can be interpreted as guarantee (many are similar to pregnancy in general) so I am sure I am being paranoid but still won't be surprised if I get it.

LovetoLive614

Also there is a lot of good info about GD on the High Risk board.

I thought this post about common misconceptions was very helpful.

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/2479514/gestational-diabetes-psa-as-requested

BMaidPlanner

@LovetoLive that post was extremely helpful!

ahopkins0419

I have type 1 diabetes and im not sure if the signs and symptoms are the same.....
I just remember my vision being blurry
Having to use the bathroom alottttt
Being extremely thirsty
But you really wont know until the test im guessing

tnd1218

Was just diagnosed a week ago and had my training class today. I had no obvious symptoms. At my 20 week a/s the doctor mentioned a slight increase of fluid and said it was a sign for gestational diabetes. Other than that no symptoms that I could say I noticed on my own.

brower10

Did any of you have glucose show up in your urine before you tested for GD?

hjl050308

@brower10, I never had any sugars in my urine before I found out.

emandjp

I had it with my 1st (have the test next month for this one) and it was a total surprise! I failed the one hour by a couple points and the second hour of the three hour by one point. I was really upset about the diagnosis at first but it ended up being super easy to control with my diet. I have eaten a mostly GD friendly diet this pregnancy with a few "cheats" a week just in case. I would highly suggest that you get the test done since there are many risk factors if you do have it. If you choose not to do it, then I would at least eat the GD diet.

purplegem11

I had sugars in my urine before I took the test so my doc was pretty sure I had GD even before the 3 hour test I failed. Other than that no symptoms and I had no weight gain.