Gestational diabetes

jspeed83

Just diagnosed with GD😒. Wondering if any other mama's in the same boat or have had prior experience. My maternity doc ia taking all the precautions (more imaging, dietitian referral, high risk OB referral). But I still feel lost in the meantime. I measured big (3 weeks ahead) on fundal height, and baby is 2 lbs 10 it on my last scan at 27 weeks.

[Deleted User]

(((hugs))) I think @blackgirlmagic may be able to offer some solidarity. ❤️❤️❤️

blackgirlmagic

More people to the club  . I was diagnosed at 28 weeks and I'm 30 weeks and I no nothing about weight of baby and at my last doctors appointment, 27 weeks, the doctor did not mention anything about my fundal height being big, just that it looked good. I have not been told anything about extra appointments and I don't have my next appointment until 32 weeks. I am on a diet now and I have to test 4 times a day. The nurse I meet with gave me good paper to read and a sample meal plan that I have been following. I also have to upload my numbers into my portal so everyone can see it. I meet with a nutritionist biweekly and another support person weekly, who has so far been a big waste of time. I did speak with my doctor about it over the phone and told me that I'm doing well. He did say that I could have a few meals that have a random spike and that's ok. They just don't want to see consistently high numbers because I think that would be a sign of needing to go in insulin to help. He did mention that there would be some initial weight loss in the beginning because we are eating healthier and they suggest 30 minutes of exercise a day. I did 4 pounds, but I seem to balancing out now. He told me in his experience most people don't gain too much more weight once their body has adjusted to the new diet, which in great in my case. 

I've also found a facebook group that I joined for support and help. It's called "Gestational Diabetes Support & Meal Ideas".

I almost want additional scans just to see how things are going with him, but I don't want the scans in case baby is measuring "big", we all know how those scans can be completely off, and induce me early for no reason. I'd rather my body go into labor naturally, as long as everything is good with baby and I.  

I'm doing my best to follow the diet as best as I can. I will be honest and say that I don't look forward to eating as much because I'm basically eating the same thing every single day, I'm picky about food. But I'm learning that if you plan properly then can eat out and actually enjoy food again.  It almost feels like a punishment that during a time where we can "indulge" some, we now can't. I have seen where some people have had luck with Chinese food, pizza, and such, but I tired Chipotle, weighting and portioning everything out and failed my numbers. It will be a lot of trail and error, but just know that we will soon have our precious babies in our arms soon and it will all be worth it! 

Plus I plan to pack all the snacks for after his birth and told my husband I will have food requirements once we get home 

pdxkimber

You are not alone! I was diagnosed recently as well and have had the joy of insulin to accompany it. I was on steroids right after diagnosis, so things were out of whack immediately. Baby is also measuring ahead a few weeks. When I had US at 28 weeks she was measuring closer to 30 weeks and estimated 3lbs already. 

Even on insulin I'm having to be careful and find what works and what doesnt work for my diet. 

marfi236

I was diagnosed yesterday (26w6d).  I'll have an US on the 9th when I'm 28w3d.  I'm not super worried about the size because I'm planning on having a c-section anyway.  What I'm most worried about is the elevated risk of preeclampsia since I already have an elevated risk (my first was born at 34 weeks due to preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome).  I just hope we're moved in and settled before anything happens in the event this baby does come early too!  T-4 weeks to move in!

@blackgirlmagic I have a feeling I'm going to get bored with eating too.  I am also a fairly picky eater so I think my options are going to be pretty slim.  My doctor had me do an A1C once I got the diagnosis and it showed that I wasn't prediabetic in general so once the baby is born I don't have to worry about continuing a special diet so there will definitely be things waiting at home for me when this baby's born (I may or may not have bought twix ice cream bars today to be one of those things )!

My problem right now is my doctor didn't tell me what my levels need to be (and I'm seeing varying things online) and she's out til next Thursday so I'm hoping that the documentation that she sent me that I'll be getting early in the week (hopefully) will have this information!  I know fasting is 95 but it's the after meal level that I'm not sure about.  So we'll just wait and see how well I'm doing (there's only one of my values today that I'm not sure about, the others were around 100 so I know that those were fine).

blackgirlmagic

@marfi236 so after an hour of my first bite I have to test and my doctor wants to see my numbers below 140. I have seen online that people are being asked to test at two hours and be under 120. Hopefully you can get some advice before Thursday. Is there an advice/nurse line you can call? 

marfi236

@blackgirlmagic Unfortunately not.  I test at 1 hour but I’ve been seeing some people need to have 120 at 1 hour so that’s where I’m stuck.  I’ll probably call in to my doctor tomorrow morning.

andreaaaaaaaaaa

Hi all, I just received this unfortunate diagnosis today I'm super bummed and kind of in shock. I have an ultrasound next week and I'll be seeing the hospital's diabetes educator. In addition to the GD diagnosis, I'm over 35 so I'll be monitored very closely, so I'm trying not to panic about this too much. I'm curious if anyone has found any resources for recipes that you'd recommend? 

jspeed83

Sorry for replying so late, the update has seriously messed with my community and inbox. 

I have to admit, I feel a bit reassured that I am not alone. Where I live they have a great gestational diabetes clinic, and I feel a lot more on top of my diagnosis now. 

I hope you all get some scans soon to see how things are measuring. I am to see a higher risk OB in two weeks with an ultrasound to see if induction is likely.

whl1013

I'm also in the GD club - although I know it is not a very desirable club to be in...  @marfi236 , as far as the cut off numbers go, my doctor wants me to be <95 fasting; <140 1 hour after meal; <120 2 hours after a meal.  I only have to do the fasting and one hour past test, but she provided me the 2 hour cut off as well in case I missed the 1 hour time.

Anyways, how are you ladies doing after a few weeks of this?  I had my first appointment with my OB since my diagnosis yesterday.  So far, I'm measuring on schedule and haven't gained excessive weight- so that's a plus.  They require weekly visits now and once I hit 32 weeks, I have to do an NST two times/week.  It's a lot, but I'm just trying to be grateful for more opportunities to see the baby.  My numbers have all been well within range, except my fasting blood sugar is hanging out around the 90-95 range, and that makes me nervous.  I'm really hopeful I can avoid the need for insulin.

marfi236

@whl1013 I'm certain I'm going to be placed on insulin.  I wouldn't be surprised if it happens this Friday at my MFM appointment.  Almost all of my 1 hour tests have been under 140 (the one that wasn't was a new breakfast test that just didn't work) and all were well under 120 at 2 hours.  In the 12 days I have been testing I have only been <95 once for fasting.  No matter what I have for my snack in the evening, my fasting number is always high.

I did IVF so I'm well versed with giving myself shots so while not ideal, it is what it is!

whl1013

@marfi236 It can be so frustrating.  The fasting number is the hardest to control because it is the least dependent on food/lifestyle choices and more on hormonal activity- at least that's what I've read.  I wonder when they determine if insulin is necessary.  I meet with my nutritionist again on Friday, so I'll chat with her about that then.

jspeed83

@whl1013 the dietician I saw said that if I snacked 1 1/2 before bed, especially something with fibre and protein, it would help my numbers. Seemed backwards as I figured if I didnt eat my numbers would be better. Also, she said if my sleep pattern is bad, then my fasting numbers would be high. I started testing the second I woke up, even if I knew I would try to fall back asleep.

marfi236

Officially on insulin. It's actually a huge relief because no matter what my snack was or when I ate it my fasting numbers were always high.  My MFM said that there's not much we can do with the fasting as it's a lot to do with hormones.  First night doing the insulin tonight so we'll see what my numbers are in the morning!  And here I was thinking I was done giving myself shots.

[Deleted User]

Oh boy. @marfi236 GL with the insulin, I hope it helps your numbers.  You are a real trooper!

@jspeed83 that is really interesting!  I guess the protein and the fiber help regulate the blood sugar overnight somehow.  Did your doctor suggest any specific bestime snacks?

whl1013

@jspeed83 . Yes!  I've read quite a bit about the "power" of the before-bed snack.  The last couple nights, I've just had a handful of almonds, and my fasting numbers have been better.  I've also heard that a hardboiled egg or even a small serving of greek yogurt/skyr with nut butter is helpful as well.  It prevents the liver from thinking that it needs to start pumping out whatever hormones trigger an insulin response - or something like that.  I wondered about the sleep pattern as well because my two highest fasting reads were both after nights that I slept awfully.  I found a group on Facebook called Eat Well With Gestational Diabetes that's been really helpful.  Right now, the dietician running it is doing a crash course just on lowering fasting blood sugars - it's been helpful.

@marfi236 I am glad that you are finding relief in taking the insulin.  I hope you notice an improvement in your numbers and help reduce some of the stress.  I appreciate your positive mindset with this as well- it's helped me shift my own mindset- and I really needed that!

jspeed83

@BusinessWife yes, green yogurt and granola, a whole wheat pita with peanut butter, popcorn with nutritional yeast, basically low sugar high protein with fibre.
 
@whl1013 I found the same as well with the bad sleep nights. Which is almost impossible to change with a big baby growing and finding a comfortable position. I did start cutting down on my intake of flax seeds which made my stomach so loud at night that there is no wonder he couldn't sleep.
 

[Deleted User]

@jspeed83 oh wow!  I was just looking for nutritional yeast at the store and we couldn't seem to find it anywhere!