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December 2011 Moms
Gestational Diabets :-(
So....I am almost 10 weeks...I had my fasting glucose this week (Tuesday). The doctors called me yesterday to inform me that I had indeed failed and that I have gestational diabetes.... :-( The nurse really didn't go into much detail other than saying now that I am "high risk", they have switched my doctor, moved up my next appointment, enrolled me in some sort of 5 hour class that is next Friday, and had already called in my scirpt at our pharmacy....Needless to say with the lack of information as to what I needed to do....(change my diet, eat more, eat less...?) I started freaking out. After work I went by the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions which included a glucose meter the test strips, lancets and urine test strips. I read the information on the packages and it seems serious to me...Does anyone know anyhting about this? I have googled it but it seems like most mommies don't find out until about 20+weeks. I have to test my blood 4 times daily, and test my urine once...Has anyone heard of this before? Any thoughts / advise is extremely welcomed!!!!
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Re: Gestational Diabets :-(
I know a lot about this, sadly. I was going to a fertility center. They sent me to get a 2 hr. glucose tolerance test. My fasting glucose came out at 104, when normal is 99. The fertility center told me that they would not do anything for me until the level was normal. For two months, I took Metformin (a diabetes medication) and lost about 20 pounds. I am overweight, but not obese. The endocrine dr. that I had to go to made me make an appt. at the diabetes center to learn how to poke my finger and eat right.
On April 21st, I went for a follow up, only to find out the second glucose test was 105 (after losing 20 lbs.). I went home sobbing, knowing that there was nothing that could be done for me, fertility wise.
On April 22nd, I went to the fertility clinic for my normal 40 day no period US. I found out I was pregnant and was thrilled. They told me to call the endocrine dr to alert her. I had to keep my appt with the diabetes center and will begin pricking my finger in a week or two. I have to do it six times a day (one right before eating and two hours after each meal). Diabetes can be dangerous for you and the baby. I can't take the Metformin in a week, because you can't take it past the first trimester.
What annoys me is that my non-fasing glucose level is normal. My ALC number is normal, it is just that fasting glucose that is just above normal, but diabetes is considered 130.
This really sucks for both of us, but if you want to talk, just let me know. I am really upset too.
I have had it with two of my kids. It is completely manageable if you watch what you eat. Lots of protein, less carbs, etc. I was insulin dependent with both girls but I have a hereditary factor with my GD. I am average weight, exercise regularly, and eat really well and it did help control my GD, I just needed a bit of help with insulin. I am the only one of the people I know with GD to have to use insulin so I don't think it is the norm.
Did you just do the 1hr or the 3hr? If you fail the 1hr, usually they send you on to the 3hr test to confirm GD.
If people let it go and don't take care of themselves, sure, it can become a big deal. BUT if you take care of yourself GD is COMPLETELY manageable.
I had GD with my first pregnancy and pretty much assume I'll have it with this one. (My doctor said something like 3/4 of women who have it once have it in subsequent pregnancies. He also said that he guessed that the other 1/4 would have had it except that they start being careful with their diet early on and just aren't diagnosed with it.)
My first advice would be to try not to worry too much right now and to wait to make any changes to your diet until you go to your class next week. You won't know the specifics of what you need to do until then, and reading too much about carb requirements, blood sugar levels, etc. will just stress you out. Those numbers are tailored to individuals based on factors like weight and fasting glucose levels.
Generally, though, you will end up needing to watch your carb intake, limiting yourself to a certain amount of carbohydrates in each meal or snack, but you won't be giving up carbs completely. You also may need to take oral medication or take insulin. All that info. should be given to you when you go for your class. If your class is like mine, there will be a group component with education about GD and the GDdiet requirements generally, and you'll also meet one-on-one with a nurse or diabetes educator. That's when you'll learn more about your doctor's specific recommendations for you -- how many grams or units of carbs you can have at each meal or snack, when to test and what numbers to look for.
Finally, check out the high risk board. When I had GD, there were a number of GD moms on that board, and everyone was generally sane
I was tested early because of my weight. I failed the one hour, but passed the three hour and won't be tested again until 22 weeks.
Which test did you have??
I had GD with my first DS. I had to count carbs for each meal and eat a specific amount of protein/vegetable/fruit/etc/. My diet was actually limited to 2000 calories per day. I also had to eat 6 times a day. I did not have to take insulin because I was able to control my numbers through diet and exercise. I was not overweight to begin with and only gained 16 lbs. One result of not following your diet is the possiblity of having a large baby. I was induced two weeks early with an 8 lb child. My second DS, I was not diagnosed with GD (not sure how that happened) and I delivered a 9 lb 10 oz baby after being induced 1 week early due to high blood pressure. I wish I had followed the diet anyways to prevent having such a large child. I am doing that this time around.
All that being said, the diet takes a bit of time to get used to but it isn't that bad. Besides, the less wight you gain during the pregnancy means less weight to lose later on (at least that's what I kept telling myself...lol).
Do you mind my asking why they tested you so early? I was tested early with my 2nd baby b/c I had GD with my 1st. But they usually make you do a 3 hour test if you fail a one hour test. I don't understand them putting all this on you if you didn't take a 3 hour test.
That being said, I know it's overwhelming and scary at first but you get the hang of it. I didn't gain any weight with either baby b/c of the GD diet. I also had to use insulin with both pregnancies but that's not the norm either. I always had problems with my fasting numbers...it was very frustrating. They did a fasting glucose with all my blood work a couple weeks ago and they said my fasting # was ok. So I'm hoping I don't have to do the gtt test until 22 weekish. I would wait to do anything diet wise and with your meter until you have your class or get more info from your dr's. Good luck!
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