Gestational Diabetes

agsgrrl

Oh joy, I've just sat down after my initial poke for my three hour glucose test. After a 12 hr fast it was already 101. Pretty sure I'm going to spend a good chunk of my day here to be told what I already know. Thanks mom and grandma for the genetic predisposition! Anybody else in the same boat?

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Ktrego

I'm sorry to hear that and will send good thoughts your way!

Do you mind me asking how many weeks along you are?  My doctor hasn't said anything about this test yet.

agsgrrl

Ktrego said:

I'm sorry to hear that and will send good thoughts your way!

Do you mind me asking how many weeks along you are?  My doctor hasn't said anything about this test yet.

Only 17 weeks, they decided to test me early because of weight and family history. I think they normally wait until the beginning of the third tri. The rest of my life I've erred on the side of hypoglycemia, so to already be a bit high was a surprise.

AZMagnini14

I am going straight for the 3 hour test, because I had it with my son. I won't take it till 24 weeks or so, but in the mean time I am on the diet. 

With my son I gained 15 pounds by this point, and this time around I'm up only 1 pound. So clearly the diet is helping!!!!

erien

Me! After a history with my first, I was tested and diagnosed at 10 weeks this time. So much easier to control sugars in the first and second trimester than the third. So I'm enjoying the somewhat restricted diet now knowing its going to get more restrictive in about 8-10 weeks. Both times I gladly accepted the diagnosis. It is a great diet for mom and baby and I need the extra motivation to eat so healthy.

agsgrrl

Luckily I was already in the mind frame that this was a possibility so I already had a nice healthy dinner planned

klh10100

Isn't between 80-100 a normal blood sugar? 101 is high?

agsgrrl

After a fast apparently

klh10100 said:

Isn't between 80-100 a normal blood sugar? 101 is high?

bowlwoman

I had it with both girls and developed Type II since DD2s pregnancy. The only silver lining about being full-on diabetic with this pregnancy is that I don't have to do the glucose test. I've been doing the GD diet and poking my fingers four times a day since 12 weeks, so, yeah, sucky.

GL and I hope you pass!

bowlwoman

klh10100 said:

Isn't between 80-100 a normal blood sugar? 101 is high?

Fasting for those of us with GD/Type II needs to be 95 or below and 120 or below two hours after eating.

Cheekers2010

I had it with my first and due to gettin really sick about one year after his birth it segued into type 2. Not fun. But, you will do fine! I'm sorry.

agsgrrl

OH FOR SHITS SAKE! I have grumpy veins, so my 3hr took 8 pokes. I just arrived at my midwife appt and they have to take blood too!! 8-} there will SO be some kind of treat for myself today

krame1sm

I've had GD since I was tested at 8 weeks. I had it with DS1 and was not surprised to get it again but surprised to get it so early. It's diet controlled so far but I know that it gets harder in the the third trimester to keep your numbers down. GL today!

agsgrrl

This whole day was worth it! After 10 pokes, I saw the midwife and finally got to hear my babies heartbeat! I've seen it, just not heard it until today AND when she was pressing I felt him/her move for the first time

norweigan

FTM question: Do they have everyone do the glucose test? Or are they looking out for something? I haven't heard yet that I would have to take it and from what I've heard about it I'm hoping that means I'll never have to do it...

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bowlwoman

norweigan said:

FTM question: Do they have everyone do the glucose test? Or are they looking out for something? I haven't heard yet that I would have to take it and from what I've heard about it I'm hoping that means I'll never have to do it...

Yes, usually toward the third trimester doctors have pregnant women do a glucose test to check for gestational diabetes (GD). There are hormones in the placenta that cause all pregnant women to be insulin resistant (IR) to some degree, but with some women (especially those who already have IR or other endocrine issues), the additional hormones from the placenta throw them into diabetes. This is why doctors usually wait until the third trimester; as the baby starts putting on weight and the placenta gets bigger and bigger, the amount of hormones increases. This is also why you'll see a lot of us saying keeping our sugars in check during the first and second trimsters is so much easier than the third.  And, the placenta getting bigger is a big reason why GD moms don't usually get to go past their due date. As the due date comes and passes, the placenta starts breaking down, putting even more hormones into the mom's body.

Women who develop GD are only diabetic as long as they have the placenta in their bodies; after delivery of the afterbirth, they are no longer diabetic as long as the placenta didn't break down and put too much hormone into their system.

Women who develop GD have a 50-60% chance of developing type II diabetes within 5 years of being GD, so if you do get diagnosed, most doctors will have you do a glucose test 3-6 months after delivery to make sure you haven't developed type II in the meantime. Most doctors will then check periodically to make sure you haven't developed diabetes in the intervening years.

Not a doctor or medical professional, just a third-time mom who has dealt with this during all three pregnancies. And was one of the unfortunate ones who did develop type II as a result.

agsgrrl

bowlwoman said:

norweigan said:

FTM question: Do they have everyone do the glucose test? Or are they looking out for something? I haven't heard yet that I would have to take it and from what I've heard about it I'm hoping that means I'll never have to do it...

Yes, usually toward the third trimester. There are hormones in the placenta that cause all pregnant women to be insulin resistant to some degree, but with some women (especially those who already have IR or other endocrine issues), the additional hormones from the placenta throw them into diabetes. This is why doctors usually wait until the third trimester; as the baby starts putting on weight and the placenta gets bigger and bigger, the amount of hormones increases. This is also why you'll see a lot of us saying keeping our sugars in check during the first and second trimsters is so much easier than the third.  And, the placenta getting bigger is a big reason why GD moms don't usually get to go past their due date. As the due date comes and passes, the placenta starts breaking down, putting even more hormones into the mom's body.

Women who develop GD are only diabetic as long as they have the placenta in their bodies; after delivery of the afterbirth, they are no longer diabetic as long as the placenta didn't break down and put too much hormone into their system.

Women who develop GD have a 50-60% chance of developing type II diabetes within 5 years of being GD, so if you do get diagnosed, most doctors will have you do a glucose test 3-6 months after delivery to make sure you haven't developed type II in the meantime.

Not a doctor or medical professional, just a third-time mom who has dealt with this during all three pregnancies. And was one of the unfortunate ones who did develop type II as a result.

Thank you so much for all the info!