GD Moms

kyrwyn · September 2017

@jlemons-2 Mine start at 34 weeks and are 2x per week also. Mine are also scheduled out through 41 weeks even though there's no way they're letting me go that far according to my CDE.

@moonlady-2 I'm hoping for a good 3hr for you. Good luck.

@Marley629 The practice I'm with would probably diagnose you as GD, but we'll see what your doc says. The standard my OB uses is 2 of the 4, but like @beary67 said, you would have failed the 1hr by the cutoffs my OB uses (but not on your portal). I will say that getting diagnosed was horribly emotional for me, and a tough adjustment, but I feel so much better physically now than I used to. I think it's been a really good thing for me and my pregnancy. Let us know what we can do to support you, however your results come back.

In other news, my CDE told today that I'm a "poster child for nutritional compliance"... words that have literally never been uttered in my hearing before. (I weigh 285lbs right now. I am usually not patted on the back for my dietary choices.) They're really excited with how well my numbers are going, and the amount of walking, etc, that we're putting in. Either we have the nicest CDE staff ever, or I'm getting the hang of this. My fasting numbers are starting to creep up, so I'm expecting a night-time insulin increase next week, but it feels good to have been able to stave that off for an extra week by literally walking my ass off.

KathrynJ088 · September 2017

I reviewed my numbers with my OB yesterday and she's happy with them. They've stayed between the 90-120, usually in the lower end of that range. The only ones she seemed slightly concerned about were the fasting numbers bc they're pretty low (60-low70) first thing in the morning. I also start seeing my docs alternating every week after my next MFM appt in 2 weeks.

Good luck to those that have upcoming 2 or 3 hour scans. Bring a book, or movie, or magazine! I napped between my draws

beary67 · September 2017

@kyrwyn good for you on getting such great praise! You are working so hard and should be so proud of yourself!

@jlemons-2 I will start doing Bio Physical Profiles twice a week at 32 weeks. With twins my MFM and OB don't really like to do the NST because it's too difficult to get the heart beats of both babies at once, so we do ultrasounds instead. So 32 weeks sounds about right, and I've heard some start at 34, too!

@KathrynJ088 you're doing great! Your fasting number does seem pretty low--what are you having for your bedtime snack?

Marley629 · September 2017

Officially joining you ladies here. I just talked to my doctors office and I did indeed fail. I have to take a diabetes education course but they can't get me in until 10/9 which i know isn't very far away but I just feel like I should be starting treatment and checking sugars like today to get it under control so I'm feeling a bit hormonal right now. I also have to see my MFM for a consult (waiting on them to call me back so I can schedule it) and growth scans every 4 weeks. I'm a bit overwhelmed but I just want to feel better because it's been a roller coaster. Ironically, with DS1, I ate AWFUL and gained 60 pounds and passed the 3 hour with flying colors. With this one, as of this morning, I've gained 7lbs total and have eaten very little carbs because they make me so sick so who knows. My mom did have GD with my baby sister and she wasn't very compliant and it turned to Type 2 so I really want to make sure I try my best to avoid that. My A1C Was a 5.6 when it was checked the month before I was pregnant which i was told was borderline so I fully expected this diagnosis since I have feeling so terribly for the majority of the past 28 weeks. I really should have pushed for them to test sooner.

Can anyone point me to any resources or what I should be doing right now until my appt on 10/9?

kyrwyn · September 2017

@Marley629 First: Great big internet *hugs*. I was a basket case, emotionally, when I got my diagnosis (and again when I started on insulin). Hang in there; it totally gets better. You'll get a prescription for glucose testing gear: monitor, test strips and the lancet device & lancets for doing finger sticks. They'll train you, and while it sucks at first it really does get better with time. You're gonna do great. You have the best motivations right now (baby & yourself) to keep on top of this.

For now: Try to pair whatever carbs you eat (and you will be surprised at what counts as carbs) with proteins. For most of us, 15g of carbs is considered a "serving". There are some links to resources in this thread, but I have found this food guide to be the most helpful at learning serving sizes (previously posted): www.cdappsweetsuccess.org/Portals/0/Documents/.../Food%20Guide_Eng_web.pdf My mid-morning snack is almost always crackers & cheese. My most reliable bedtime snack has been crackers and PB. I found a bread where one slice = 1 serving, so I make half sandwiches at lunch some times (all the meat and cheese I would have put on a full sandwich, but only one slice of bread so I can have some fruit with it).

You'll get targets from your nutritionist or diabetes counselor, but they'll probably tell you to eat smaller meals and between-meals snacks so you actually eat 6x per day. (You may feel like you are always eating, or testing, or thinking up your next meal/snack for awhile.) Meal targets will probably have between 1 and 3 carb servings, snacks will probably have 1-2 carb servings. Get a set of measuring cups you like enough to see at every meal and a kitchen scale to help with measuring portions, if you don't have them already.

Walking after meals -- if walking is okay with your OB -- really helps me keep my blood sugars in check. It doesn't take much to make a difference. 10-15 min can really help lower my post meal readings.

Things to keep in mind: It'll take awhile to adjust to your new normal, but you'll probably start feeling a lot better soon. Some of this you can control, and some of it you can't. If you end up on meds to help control your sugars, it's not a failure. It's just that the hormones are too much for your pancreas to keep up with.

You've got this!

@KathrynJ088 I'm so glad your numbers look great! I hope your low fastings get sorted out soon, but I'm glad to hear you're rocking your other numbers.

jlemons-2 · September 2017

@kyrwyn that's awesome that you are doing so well!!!!

Marley629 · September 2017

Thank you @kyrwyn. That is amazing advice and def steered me to the right direction. So helpful!! im super overwhelmed but I know that I need to snap out of it and just get my butt in gear to make sure I stay ontop of it all for mine and baby's sake.

Marley629 · September 2017

I had a growth scan today and the RN at the MFM's office sat with me and went over checking my sugars and a meal plan and risks etc to me and baby so that along with all the great info I got here has me feeling better prepared overall. Just went food shopping and meal planned for tomorrow. Baby is measuring 3 weeks ahead and is over 4lbs already so she will review my sugars after a week and then she feels I most likely will need insulin given how big he is measuring already. Having done Ivf, I'm not worried about those needles but man the finger prick really sucks as I'm sure you all know. I start weekly biophysical scans at 32 weeks and twice weekly ones at 36 weeks and growth scans every 3 weeks. Oye, I'm glad my work is so understanding and supportive.

kyrwyn · September 2017

@Marley629 Did they teach you to use the sides of your fingertips instead of the middle of the pad? And does your lancet have an adjustable depth? These two things can really help. They still suck, but they bruise less and stop hurting faster once you get your technique dialed in a bit. I'm so glad you got to talk to someone sooner than the 9th! I also try to have a really cold bottle (or glass) of water nearby for after. If my finger stick stings a little more than I'd planned after testing, I press it against the cold water bottle until it numbs a bit.

Ice cubes work, too, but they're messier and I don't need any help with messy.

AFrye0726 · October 2017

Joining you ladies here as well. I failed the 1st test pretty badly, I did forgo the 3hr test because I had GD last time, and I was so sick from the test I missed the rest of the day at work.

My fasting numbers are the only ones I'm still having trouble getting down, but I'm hoping after I do some grocery shopping, and work on eating a little more protein later at night, I can get some of that down.

Good luck ladies, hopefully we all get through this with flying colors.

jlemons-2 · October 2017

@AFrye0726 good luck with your diet! I found it was a lot worse the second time for me. I'm on meds.

Marley629 · October 2017

@AFrye0726 good luck! I'm very new to all this but having a similiar issue so I'll take your advice and up my protein before bed.

kyrwyn · October 2017

@AFrye0726 @Marley629 Good luck with the fastings, ladies! I couldn't do it without nighttime insulin, but between the meds & walking more after dinner they've stabilized solidly in the "good" range. And brought my breakfast numbers down a little bit with them, which is a welcome addition.

kersey0208 · October 2017

My fastings are up this past week. Worried about my appointment tomorrow and needing meds. I'm intolerant of metformin so not sure what route they will go. To be honest I'm super scared of insulin. Trying to take a walk at night and eat protein before bed. Hope the #s get better.

beary67 · October 2017

@kersey0208 I believe there are other types of oral meds you can take besides metformin. I skipped all of those and went right to insulin, but I do know there were a few options. Insulin has been super easy for me and I haven't had any issues besides one low reading yesterday that I had to correct with apple juice. Other than that I haven't had any problems on insulin--and they have been increasing my dose every 4 or so days.

kyrwyn · October 2017

@kersey0208 The practice I'm with used to offer glyburide as an oral med, but stopped very recently due to concerns about it crossing the placenta and a recent study implying that it didn't offer truly comparable outcomes to insulin therapy. I was super scared of insulin too, and spent most of my training appointment crying (to no avail, still had to do the injections). It's been almost four weeks for me now, and I can honestly tell you it gets easier. The first week was the hardest, now it's just part of what we do each night.

kersey0208 · October 2017

@beary67 @kyrwyn thanks for sharing your experience ladies it's been helpful! I'm just going to go in tomorrow expecting the worst and hoping for the best. It helps knowing that your not alone. I'm sure if you guys can do it, I can too.

jlemons-2 · October 2017

Yes Glyburide is a common choice too! There are always options, I'm sure you'll do great.

Marley629 · October 2017

@kersey0208 my doctor also said that if meds are needed she will steer clear of metformin for me considering the side effects and that I have had HG This whole time so she didn't want to make it worse so I'm assuming there are other options. I would just ask if they bring up putting you on the metformin. I hope your appt goes well!

kyrwyn · October 2017

I just found out that having GD is an automatic referral (and in-group approval) for a lactation consultant at the hospital and postpartum breastfeeding support with our medical provider. By this they mean someone who is actually on-call during our stay to help us with any questions we have, or to address and trouble we have getting me & the kiddo started, and that as a GD pregnancy we'll also get priority for clinic and walk-in appointments after we go home since they consider it part of their continued care paradigm for managing a return to healthy blood sugars!

Just thought I'd mention something positive since we're getting some new thread members, and there's plenty to be scared and overwhelmed by at the beginning. Extra help and support sounds great to me, since I'm pretty sure it's gonna take me awhile to get the hang of it. Hopefully your medical groups offer some post-delivery support too!

AFrye0726 · October 2017

@jlemons-2 @Marley629 @kyrwyn Thanks ladies. Appreciate the support. I'm hoping since numbers seem fairly ok so far, it'll just be getting the evening locked down.

Marley629 · October 2017

What time does everybody have their snack before bed and what time do you wake up in the morning

beary67 · October 2017

If I eat dinner at 6pm, I have my night snack at 9pm. My breakfast is at 8am.

kyrwyn · October 2017

I eat dinner at 6-7p, take my insulin at 10p and have snack right after, test fasting by 645a the next morning and have breakfast by 7am. I was told not to go more than 9 hours between snack and breakfast, since overnight is when I have trouble controlling my sugars. So much for sleeping in before the kiddo gets here. =\

KathrynJ088 · October 2017

@beary67 I've been having a serving (1/2 cup) of Halo Top ice cream, a glass of milk, Graham crackers, or Greek yogurt (3 of the above) for around 45g carbs, which is what was recommended by the nutritionist. Fasting numbers lately have been steady between mid 60's and low 70's.

I usually have my bed time snack around 11pm and test fasting around 7-7:30am.

elvenchick92686 · October 2017

I have no schedule whatsoever. I just eat and snack when im hungry :-/. Once i had to leave my job and slept whenever i have gotten on my SO schedule so therefore the time i go to bed and/or wake up changes everyday. My numbers have been pretty good so far.

jlemons-2 · October 2017

I don't eat anything after dinner because I have horrible reflux and evenings also seem to be when my nausea is the worst. I have to force down some dinner

Marley629 · October 2017

@jlemons-2 this is part of my problem too. I'm struggling to eat the snacks especially Bc of my nausea.

AFrye0726 · October 2017

I had a protein bar around 11:30 last night, and my fasting number around 7am was actually normal 125.
We usually eat dinner around 6/7.

kyrwyn · October 2017

@Marley629 @jlemons-2 I had to find "compact" snacks so that it wouldn't trigger my nausea. I eat 6 ritz-style crackers with 2 Tbsp peanut butter as my bedtime snack... it takes me about 10 minutes to eat them, and then I have to stay upright for another 20 before bed. (I sleep on an incline due to sinus issues anyway, which has helped with nighttime nausea). When I was trying to eat larger volume snacks like popcorn (3cups = 15g carbs), or anything with cheese at bedtime, I had a horrible time. My snack is only 20-22g carbs, so it might not fly with your nutritionist. (15g from crackers, 6g from PB).

kersey0208 · October 2017

No medicine at least for another week. My OB told me to try eating some PB and celery before bed and if I wake up in middle of the night to test my blood sugar. Trying to see if these high fastings are legit because all my other #s are good.

Marley629 · October 2017

I was doing so well number wise and the last two days, my numbers have been high

I wonder if my numbers were "normal" last week as a fluke of me having the stomach virus.

kersey0208 · October 2017

@marley629 I hope they level out for you and that you're feeling better this week!

jlemons-2 · October 2017

@Marley629 I go through weird stages too. Just try not to stress, it can make them worse! And lots of water.

kyrwyn · October 2017

@Marley629 Sometimes my numbers shift around a little for no apparent reason and then correct. If yours don't shift back down, your team will adjust your diet/exercise/meds plan to compensate. Don't get too discouraged -- it could also be your hormone levels rising (totally normal and expected) and making the insulin resistance harder to compensate for. (If you're curious, I tell myself the same things over and over again.)

Marley629 · October 2017

@kersey0208 @jlemons-2 & @kyrwyn thank your for the reassurance!! I'm happy that I have everyone here for support but of course I wish none of us were in this position!

kyrwyn · October 2017

Hi ladies! I've been thinking about you all a lot this morning. I have a check-in with my CDE tomorrow, and I hope everyone is having a happy, healthy week.

Sending you all some love and support and wishes for good numbers!

jlemons-2 · October 2017

My doctor likes to have me on Metformin for my GD but my MFM prefers Glyburide. I tried taking Glyburide a ways back (maybe two months ago?) and my sugars dropped down in the low 60s so they took me off. Well, of course at my monthly MFM appointment last week, he prescribed Glyburide once again. I just started taking it yesterday. It went okay but I ate a lot. Today I took it with breakfast like I am supposed to and three hours later I felt VERY faint and hot and sweaty all of a sudden. My blood sugar was at 45! Now, they say take a half a pill everyday for now but I hate this stuff and I am so uncomfortable taking it. I don't know the purpose of this really long AW post but I am feeling really down about my GD this round. There is just always something new. I have a whole other issue with my appointment too which didn't help. I will probably go post that somewhere too, sorry!

elvenchick92686 · October 2017

@jlemons-2 i am on glyburide too. I hate it cause of the drops. But my sugars have all be good when im supposed to test so they haven't switched me yet. Mine mainly drops at night but usually if i feel off during the day i drink oj or a pixie stick and it does okay. I am getting sick of dealing with this gd business. I know its to make healthy babies but im just over it!!!

Marley629 · October 2017

@jlemons-2 I'm sorry that you aren't tolerating the glyburide. I think you should talk to MFM again and stress that you are not comfortable taking it given how it's affected your sugars already and that you prefer the metformin. Were your numbers stable on the metformin? FX that things improve soon!

@kyrwyn I hope your appt goes well tomorrow!

AFM, my after lunch and after dinner numbers seem to Be high and my fasting and breakfast numbers are good on a daily basis. My counselor is on vacation this week but shouldn't be back Friday so I'm curious what she has to say about my numbers. I feel like LO had a growth spurt this week because my bump is huge alll of a sudden and his kicks aren't as forceful which makes me think he's running out of room. WHo knows. I have a growth scan next Friday the 20th so we will see then.

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