Gestational Diabetes Support

ruemcclanahan

Has anyone else been diagnosed yet?
Thought we could have a support thread for if/when more people need it

ruemcclanahan

Bah just me! Lol!

wanderlustsoul

Awww! Still might join you. I passed my 1st test luckily. Next one is in 5-6 weeks I think? 

ramzlau

My A1Cs came back good, but I don’t do the glucose test until 26-28 weeks, so I think a lot of us haven’t had our first test yet. More than likely you won’t be the only one. 

mindyb2019

@ruemcclanahan you prob won't be the only one im sure lol I haven't even had my test yet so im not sure if I will have it or not. I dont go till next month sometime when I'm between 26-28 weeks along. I got a bit to go yet. 

akoros

I don't get my test for another 3 weeks, so you may get company yet

mrs_massie

i talked to my dr. about symptoms potentially related to have GD. However, my A1C was better than perfect, my urine samples have been normal and I did not have it it my other two pregnancies so she wasn't concerned about me needing to test early for it. I'll get tested mid-March, but I just have a feeling I'm going to have it, so I may be joining here too.

Maggie1202

I have my 1 hour test a week from Friday, so who knows... I might be joining you!

kristah2

I’ll be getting tested in a couple weeks. Hoping not to join you though 😬

wendy838

My test is in 2 weeks too and knowing my luck I’ll be in your company!

ruemcclanahan

Not that I wish this on anyone lol! But I'll be happy to have some companu

ruemcclanahan

I'm bumping this in case anyone needs it! Lol! 

legallykate

@ruemcclanahan I picked up my drink on Wednesday and go in for my test on 3/31. Hoping I pass but I'm assuming based on statistics that some of us will join you here soon. Remind me why you got tested so early?

wanderlustsoul

@legallykate, not her but I know for me, since I had GD last pregnancy, I had to do the test at 16 weeks and again at the normal time (if I passed the 1st time). 

ruemcclanahan

@legallykate high risk pregnancy the MFM tests everyone early but I had GD with my first so we tested at 18 weeks 

klj0228

I’m not quite I’m not her quite yet, but I am having to do the three hour test on the 21st. I am feeling very down about it. Also struggling with what to eat. I feel like all the food aside from meat and vegetables is bad for me, but I know that’s not the case. Trying to not overwhelm myself with too many changes for a diagnosis I haven’t yet been given, but I also want to make good choices so I don’t get that diagnosis in the first place. 

ramzlau

@klj0228 Eating less food that causes blood sugar spikes is not a bad idea ever, but know that having GD, if you get diagnosed with it, isn’t about anything you have or haven’t eaten. It is simply your body needs help keeping up with the additional load that being pregnant puts on it to maintain correct insulin levels. There should be no guilt or blame with the diagnosis. As for what you can do, try to eat balanced meals, and in my experience with Type 2 Diabetes, these meals can still include carbs, but having protein and complex carbs in them helps stabilize the blood sugar. Everybody reacts differently to different carbs so there isn’t an easy answer without monitoring blood sugar levels to see how your body reacts. Try to eat 5-6 times a day, smaller portions a few hours apart. This keeps the levels more consistent throughout the day. Going for a short walk or doing some kind of movement after a meal will help keep the levels from spiking as well (Even for just 5-10 min). Like you said, I wouldn’t overwhelm yourself with anything drastic, but hoping that maybe one or two of these tips are easier for you to incorporate so you can feel like you are doing something if that is what you need. 

wanderlustsoul

@klj0228, I second what ramzlau said and also remember stress impacts your numbers. If you were at all stressed, it increases those numbers. My numbers were always highest with my son when I had final exams and then would go back down. 

This is something I had shared with a friend before so I’ll paste it here:

o Avoid the use of ‘fast’ carbohydrates like white pasta, white rice, white/brown/multigrain bread. Also juices, honey, sweets, and sweetened dairy. Choose ‘slow’ carbohydrates like wholegrain bread, wholegrain pasta, zilvervlies rice and legumes like lentils.
o Fruit is healthy since it contains fibers, vitamins, and minerals. It also contains fructose, fruit sugar. Be aware of the sugar in fruit and eat 2-3 pieces fruit spread over the day.
o Eat regularly to keep the blood sugar level stable. Eat every 2-3 hours a meal or in between snack.

and remember! Many do go on to pass the 3 hr test! 

klj0228

@ramzlau @AKuzReve thanks for the insight. I told DH last night that our carbs would be changing a bit. Anytime I try to do something like quinoa or wholegrain pasta he acts weird about it. I told him he has to suck it up and at least pretend to like it (personally they don’t taste that different to me) so that I don’t feel bad about making the changes.

I tried to go ahead and plan ahead for my day. So for work I packed chicken and vegetables, carrots for my snack and boiled eggs for breakfast. 

akoros

Ugh nooooo....my reading was 144, so I need to do the 3-hour test

klj0228

@akoros I’m sorry you’re in the three hour test group too. FX you pass it! I Read today that the odds of having GD are pretty low. My number was 142. Makes me sad to be so close to passing but not. 

akoros

@klj0228 I'm hoping that the fact that it's so close means that we're fine. Probably doesn't help that the only thing I ever want to eat is refined carbs (pasta, bread, cookies, pastry...)

ramzlau

@akoros Yes! All day today I have been avoiding the refined carbs and of course it is all I want. I should have asked for my number, I don’t know how close or far I was from passing. 

And yes I saw something that said only 15% of people fail the 3 hour test, so 85% pass. 

akoros

@ramzlau I know, right? I used to routinely eat low carb in general, and now I'm at a loss when I try to think up meals

ruemcclanahan

I've been eating lots of cheese lol!

ruemcclanahan

I hope you both pass your three hour!!! Good luck!

ramzlau

Did my 3 hour today! I felt much better this time, no nausea, or sugar crash after. So hopefully it means better numbers. 

mrs_massie

I have my test tomorrow and just remembered they didnt give me any instruction, but my appointment isnt until 1pm. I think I remember fasting for previous GD tests, but I've heard some people say they can eat protein in the morning. What were the directions that were given to everyone else and what was the outcome of your test?

ramzlau

I failed my 3 hour so I go here now! Next step is meeting with a specialist. Back in the high risk category 🤦‍♀️

ramzlau

@mrs_massie I would check with your doctor. It seems every office has their own protocol? 

klj0228

@ramzlau sorry your results came back with not great news. How soon will you be able to get in with the specialist? 

I have been doing pretty well with my diet changes. My biggest issue has always been sweets. I’m not a huge carb person, except my husband loves them. I’ve been doing half a whole grain bagel with peanut butter as a snack at work, Boiled eggs in the morning, so much water - which is normal for me, lots of vegetables and I’ve been avoiding our coffee shop at work. My Monday morning routine is to usually take DD to daycare and then go to Starbucks, but this morning I came home and had my own coffee with just half and half. I’m making pasta for dinner tonight since DD has been asking for it for a week, but I am using whole grain pasta instead of regular pasta. 

Am I doing this stuff right???

akoros

@mrs_massie I'd call your doctor and ask, it really depends on what type of test they're giving you, there's a few different kinds. For some you want to eat normally ahead of time (but a good idea to go light on carbs, particularly refined carbs, the day of), others you need to fast. 

wanderlustsoul

Awww @ramzlau I’m so sorry! 

ruemcclanahan

Boo @ramzlau I'm sorry!!
I'll start a weekly check in and we can talk meals and  snacks and whatnot!

ruemcclanahan

@klj0228 those sound like reasonable changes while you wait to get your results!

ramzlau

@ruemcclanahan That would be great! I am brainstorming ideas already and told H that means a change of diet for the family too. I meet with the high risk OB on Thursday. My OB thinks I will be able to manage with diet, so we will see if MFM agrees. 

@klj0228 Sounds good to me! Way to go getting those changes made. The first few weeks of a new food routine are always the hardest for me. 

mindyb2019

@ramzlau oh man! Sorry girl. That sucks you didn’t pass the 3 hour. So sorry  

_orchid_

@ramzlau sorry you're back in the high risk category. Hope you can meet with the specialist soon and the diet changes aren't too bad

mc0303

I failed my 1 hour test  so now I’m going on Thursday for my 3 hour test 😭😭 Whhhyyyy

ruemcclanahan

@mc0303 it's nothing you did! It's all your placenta and how it is changing how your body uses insulin. It's not your fault. There is nothing you could have done differently!

ramzlau

@mc0303 Noooo! Ugh sorry! But after reading the risks of undiagnosed GD, I am happy they caught mine. Hopefully you pass with flying colors. Apparently I am in the very low 15% that fail, so you have good odds!