Gestational Diabetes 2nd time questions?

TinaPezz1130

I had GD with my first. Baby was fine and I managed my blood sugar through diet. It's likely but not certain that I will have it again. My question is, when would it really form and spike my blood sugars and therefore risking baby's health? I'm 6 weeks and haven't been following the GD diet yet, though it's reasonably healthy. I get exercise, too. Still, some of my meals have definitely gone over GD carb limits. Should I buy a blood sugar tracker now? When would I get screened? Anyone know? Also, can anyone who had or has GD remind me of the carb gram limits per meal? I can't seem to find a sample online. #somanyquestions Thank you!

acunamatada

I see this is your first post on our board. Welcome! Please introduce yourself on the introductions thread as well as read the **read first** thread pinned at the top to get an idea of how we keep the board organized. Generally posts like this are frowned upon, and it will likely get lost in the other threads pretty quickly. 
I think we do have a few STM+ ladies who have had GD in previous pregnancies, you would get more responses asking this question in our questions or STM+ thread. 
I am not too familiar with GD myself but I'm sure your doctor would be the best resource to answer these types of questions because they all tend to handle things a little differently. I would assume with a history of GD they would screen you earlier/more often. Welcome and good luck! 

MLS6212

*June 2018 lurker*

I agree that board organization is crucial, but I'm actually glad this was a one-off post as I can provide some insight and wouldn't normally be snooping around the "daily" posts in a different BMB.

@TinaPezz1130 I'm going through this right now, so I can only comment on what has been happening to me. I had GD with my first pregnancy which was managed with diet changes. However, it's looking like I might actually have (and had) type 2 diabetes that wasn't discovered until I was pregnant.

If you can swing it, start watching your carb intake as soon as possible. I think it varies from person to person, but my limits were 30g each for breakfast and two to three snacks and 45g each for lunch and dinner. Don't worry about monitoring your glucose levels until you're asked to by your doctor, since the testing supplies can be expensive.

If your OB's office is aware of your previous diagnosis, you will likely be asked to take the 1 hour glucose test before 12 weeks. If you fail it you will need to take the 3 hour glucose test. If you fail that you will likely be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes rather than gestational diabetes. If you pass the 12 week testing you'll have to take them again at 28 weeks. Failing at 28 weeks they can diagnose you as a gestational diabetic. If you didn't with your first pregnancy, you'll likely be asked to take a 2 hour glucose test about 3 months postpartum to ensure the diabetes resolved itself.

I failed my 1 hour test with my first pregnancy, then had to take the 3 hour test, which I also failed. When I was 3 months postpartum I took the 2 hour test which I also failed. My OB's office told me I'd likely be diagnosed as having impaired glucose tolerance, but my family doctor said my A1c levels were fine, so I was in the clear "for now". A little over a year later I got pregnant again and failed my 1 hour test at 12 weeks. I have to go take the 3 hour this weekend (14 weeks) and if I fail that, they said I will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Since talking to my family doctor I have discovered that in addition to my paternal grandfather having type 2 diabetes (which I knew), my estranged father and my uncle also have it, so I have some strong genetic risk factors that I was unaware of when I was first diagnosed with GD. If I knew those risk factors I'm not sure what the diagnosis would have been.

Sarafuss

I would agree with most of what @MLS6212 said except for the likely being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes if you fail at the 12-week mark.  I have had GD in all four of my prior pregnancies and have never been diagnosed with Type 2 as it always goes away when I do the glucose tolerance test at 6-8 weeks postpartum.  It sounds like because you failed the GTT post-partum (despite normal A1C levels, which just means you are managing your diabetes well, not that you don't have diabetes) they decided to diagnose you with Type 2.  I just wanted to jump in and say that so people wouldn't think that just because they failed the GTT early in pregnancy (as I have in two pregnancies) that would likely mean they have Type 2 diabetes.

ETA: Although because of my risk-factors (PCOS, having GD multiple times, and family history) I do have a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future.