Possible gestational Diabestes in pregnancy - any advice?

[EmmaCC]

Hi,

I'm 28 weeeks pregnant with my 2nd baby and just had a call from midwifes at Kings to say that the results of a blood test taken a couple of days show that my blood sugar levels are higher than they should be - therefore I need to have further tests to see if I have gestational diabetes. Feel a bit panicked by this call and more by the fact that they can't do the tests to confirm this until 29th October. I'm told that they're really busy and as my levels were only just over then I'm not an urgent case - fair enough... but it still won't stop me worrying for the next 2 weeks!

It's also annoying as am going to Kings tomorrow to see the same midwife who phoned me to have the anti d injection - I asked if she could fit me in for the other test tomorrow but she said no. Perhaps I'm worrying about nothing here but anyone got any advice - should I try to push for the test sooner or is there anything I can do in the next couple of weeks to minimise the problem?? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[slh2009]

Hi Emma

I was diagnosed with GD about 5 weeks ago, at 30 weeks pregnant, after having the Glucose Tolerance Test at 28 weeks. The test itself was fine, they take some blood then give you a sugary drink, ask you to sit for 2 hours and then test your blood again. My result came back slightly high so I now have to test my blood sugar at home, at first three times a day but now only every other day as I am managing it well enough with diet. I'm not sure there is much you can do to change the result of the test but they recommend a low GI diet, so cut down on carbs, eat granary bread, and you are not meant to eat cakes and sweets! It does not seem to be diet alone that affects blood sugar as I can eat the same thing 2 days running and get a different test result. Tiredness, stress and emotion can be factors. Exercise is good for lowering the blood sugar too.

I'm at Lewisham not Kings but I have found the care very good, have had an appointment with a diabetes dietician and get monitored every two weeks by a diabetes specialist midwife, with additional scans to check the growth of the baby (they can get big). So all in all very reassuring. I was upset that I am not now eligible to use the birth centre/pool as I have to be monitored in labout, but I have now accepted this is the best thing for me and the baby.

All being well the diabetes should revert after birth.

Hope that helps...

Sara

[malleymoo]

Hi Emma I would suggest not worrying yourself too much at this

Moment. I similarly was asked to do the glucose tolerance test following a routine blood test at my dr's surgery, unfortunately I wasn't informed aboutmmy raised sugar level fir several weeks after the test so I had a scary wait for my appointment. However when took the glucose terance test they were able to rule out gestational diabetes. I also know several other people who have had the same experience. Unwound suggest that till you have your test you eat well and try not to dress yourself out too much.

As an aside it was only after I took the test that I really considered what might have happened and realised when I was going to the clinic I was often going straight from work and knew I could be there for some time and due to lack of better options was buying myself a kingsize chocolate bar each time I went to the clinic to keep my self going oops

[buggie]

If you do a search for gestational diabetes in the box to the top R, the

thread I started about GD should come up. I was diagnosed at 28wks and managed at Kings - I can't praise the way they do things enough - when you have your GTT,if it indicates GD you'll be seen immediately by the dietician and started on blood sugar testing - other places can make you wait anotherwk for this.

The GTT is done in diabetic clinic rather than done by the MW so that's why you can't have it at the same time as your anti-d

If youdo have GD the wkly joint clinic is fab - you get to see diabetic team/mw's/ obs consultant from 35wks/dietician all in a one-stop shop.

Best thing is all symptoms go as soon as you have the baby. My daughter is now 4wks old and have got use to a normal diet again v quickly!!

[Helen GV]

There's not much you can do at this stage, as it tends to develop at around 28 weeks so you either have it or don't.

Definitely look up the previous thread, as there is a lot of discussion about what you can and can't eat. I would also second doing as much exercise as you can, as it will really help with controlling blood sugar.

Good luck :o)

[MrsP]

Don't panic!!! Look up the earlier thread. Watch what you are eating and stick to low sugar foods, say no to fruit juice, and be sensible with carbs. The specialist team at Kings are superb, you will be in good hands. I have had GD twice and was insulin dependent, but now have two healthy children.

[Claire.Hobbs]

This happened to me too - it turned out to be absolutely fine. I triedto explain to my mw that I had been in a rush the morning of the test and grabbed an energy bar on the way to the mw! They still insisted on me having the gtt, which in itself is fairly unpleasant as you have to fast and the drink sickly sweet drink and still no food for hours. Take a sandwich with you to eat as soon as you are out of there is my advice!

Oh, and when I turned up for my gtt the person giving me the drink took one look at me and said 'your bump is small, you don't have gd as if you do the baby is big and you tend to have abnormally large bump'.

In the meantime, keep carbs down at least the White bread and sugary foodsincluding fruits, (fresh, juices and dried) ty to have small frequent meals and include protein at each meal/ snack ie hommous with oatcakes or carrots, pot of yoghurt, handful of nuts with berries etc. Gentle exercise such as walking, yoga or swimming also helps decrease insulin resistance.

Try not to worry as if you did have gd it's not harmful to the foetus unless it isn't caught in time. I hope it turns out to be false alarm.

[Indiana]

I too had to go to Kings to have the test which turned out fine.

A few of my friends were however diagnosed with GD but they received great care and managed to adjust their diet accordingly. It was frustrating for them in terms of what they couldn't eat but nothing to get too worried about.

Good luck

[buggie]

Claire.hobbs - size of bump/baby isn't an accurate judge of GD - I didn't show/had v small bump throughout my pregnancy, and at full term my daughter was only 4lb 10oz, yet I had GD.

Only 20% of recognised cases of GD result in a big baby - it isn't so much the size of the baby that causes concern, it's that the extra weight is often put on around the abdomen which can cause complications during delivery.

[BB100]

You shouldn't worry too much Emma unless you are very very thirsty then you should ring and tell the clinic. I was walking around with a 5 litre bottle of water and drinking 7 cartons of juice a day whilst waiting for my appointment at Kings and didn't know my blood glucose levels were sky high (and was making it worse with the fruit juice). Even so, my baby was fine so unless you feel unwell or are having urine infections a little wait shouldn't be a problem.

[new mother]

'your bump is small, you don't have gd as if you do the baby is big and you tend to have abnormally large bump'.

By the way, in case anyone goes by this, it is totally ill-informed. Bump size has very little to do with size of baby. Mine were both tiny to the extent of being asked why I was there when I went to the labour ward tour. ("Errr to see you again next week probably" was my reply.) I was very worried about insufficient fluid, tiny baby etc and was repeatedly reassured that size of bump had nothing to do with eventual baby. Correct as it turned out. Both were whoppers, especially given that they were early.

re GD, it has a great deal to do with when the test was done and what you had eaten recently. It is very inaccurate and only narrows it down to those who definitely don't have it. those who might have it but probably don't and those who do have are left in a large bucket of confusion. If you are only just over, the chances are it is absolutely fine.

[Claire.Hobbs]

Sorry about the ill informed comment re bump size/gd - it was the comment I had at king's I did not look into it further. I did have a tiny bump but large baby as it happens.

[EmmaCC]

Thank you all so, so much for your posts and PMs...eventually had the test on Friday and it was a false alarm so all good! I really appreciated all the advice and reassurance though - it made the wait much easier xx