Those diagnosed early with gestational diabetes...

JessicaG9289 · January 2014

Hello, I was wondering how far along everyone was when diagnosed with gestational diabetes? I've noticed a lot of people in forums saying they were diagnosed in the first trimester, as early as 8 weeks. Is this something that is supposed to be tested that early? Don't they look for ketones in the many times I pee in a cup? How were you diagnosed and why did they test earlier than the normal 28 weeks?

I was 20 weeks when I went into Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and landed in the ICU with blood sugars in the high 300's and an a1c of 11.9. My perinatologists, who took care of me in the hospital, diagnosed me as Type 1, based solely on the fact that I went into DKA, which they say only happens with Type 1. I didn't have a c-peptide or an antibody test done to confirm.

I am trying to figure out if my doctor missed something that could have prevented DKA had I been diagnosed earlier in the pregnancy.

Ylvelill · January 2014

I got tested early at 9 weeks but I have been pre diabetic in the past and I am overweight. As I understand it, if you do not have any prior risks for it then they do not test until 24w. Although they will do the ketones regularly.

JessicaG9289 · January 2014

Yeah, I am 24, 5"1', 130 lbs pre pregnancy, and zero family history of any type of diabetes, so I wasn't at risk. But, I was in the OB's office two days prior to being in the hospital, and after getting out of the hospital, my OB said they noticed ketones in my urine but weren't concerned for some reason.

JackieP1023 · January 2014

Typically, they won't check early unless you're at increased risk. I was diagnosed around 27weeks. I am at a higher risk, being 5'7 and close to 300lb, pre-diabetic, PCOS, history of diabetes in my family... But since my ketones were all fine, they didn't check until the 'normal' time

angelsnight · January 2014

I was tested and diagnosed around 13 or 14 weeks each time. I have PCOS with insulin resistance, family history and I was overweight, so I had enough risk factors to test early.

The first time, starting around 10 weeks I did several fasting and two hour blood draws at the lab, which weren't great which is why they decided to test early (along with my risk factors) and I failed the 1 and 3 hour test. This time, it had only been six months since I last had it, so they did the one hour around 11 weeks, I failed, and they said I could just skip the 3 hour and assume I have it.

hjl050308 · January 2014

I lurk on this board but wanted to jump in...

I just found out last week at 19w2d. I had told my doctor that i was insanely thirsty at my 18 week appointment and she wanted me to do the test as a precaution. I never had any sugar in my urine so she thought it might just be a fluke and just thirst. For my other pregnancies, I was never tested until the "normal" 24-28.

Rrrrrachel · January 2014

My first pregnancy I was tested early due to weight and family history, but didn't have it. This pregnancy I was tested early, and I have it. My sister tested early and passed and still ended up having it when she was tested later.

orriskitten · January 2014

I was dx'd as GD with possible T2 in my first pregnancy around 13 weeks because I had sugar in my urine. Otherwise, I would have been tested at the usual time, even though my dad is T2 (he is also alcoholic and has a number of health issues related to that, so no one was ever of the circumstances and such). I was officially dx'd as T2 a few weeks after giving birth when my "GD" never went away.

DKA can happen to T2 diabetics; it is not as common, but it can happen. I was put on an insulin pump for my pregnancy this time around and did training with 2 other ladies (both T2) and we were warned about DKA. Have you had regular blood tests prior to being pregnant? If you never had DKA/diabetes symptoms/landed in ICU for glucose issues before being pregnant, then from what I have read it does not sound like you are T1 because that means your body just doesn't produce insulin and you would have found out very early in life. They used to refer to it as juvenile diabetes because typically those with T1 are diagnosed under the age of 21 because complications pop up. It could be that you just have T2. I had some pretty high numbers first time around and ended up on insulin fairly quickly, but only need oral meds when I am not pg and there is another T2 woman who goes to the same doctors as me who is on CRAZY amounts of insulin while pregnant (I believe she is just around 300 units every day).

Sorry to ramble on so much, just did a lot of research for myself when I was diagnosed. It is tough and scary, but can always be better than you imagine. Feel free to PM if you need to talk or vent! Its hard getting diagnosed as diabetic when you're pregnant.

borstad · February 2014

I was tested/diagnosed at 8 wks for my 2nd pregnancy bc of sugar in my urine. My 3rd they automatically tested me at 6 wks & I already had it.

jschauer84 · February 2014

I was diagnosed at week 13. I am 5'4", 130 lbs. they tested me early due to family history. I was put on insulin by week 17.

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Those diagnosed early with gestational diabetes...

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