Borderline for GD

[Incubator]

Hi.

I've just got my results from the GTT and I'm borderline for GD. They are repeating the GTT tomorrow but I also have to see my consultant to talk about diet etc. I'm not overweight and there's no history of diabetes in my family so I'm a bit shocked by the results.

Just wondered if anyone else was borderline and what they were advised to do. I have a history of large babies and my results from previous 2 pregnancies were negative for GD. I'm feeling a bit confused by it all!

Also, does anyone know a good website with helpful and not too scary information on GD!

Many thanks in advance.

x

 

[TripleB]

Do you know what your result was? Mine was 8.8 which they described as borderline but I definitely have it (monitoring my own blood sugar tells me that if I don't follow my diet plan). I would say don't worry though, I've had fantastic care since being diagnosed and really feel like they are doing their best for me and baby. If you do have it but are a borderline case you might just be able to control by changing your diet (as I do for the moment) but they will go through everything with you.

BnB is my best source of info so ask any questions you can think of - someone will know the answer!

xxx

 

[Incubator]

Do you know what your result was? Mine was 8.8 which they described as borderline but I definitely have it (monitoring my own blood sugar tells me that if I don't follow my diet plan). I would say don't worry though, I've had fantastic care since being diagnosed and really feel like they are doing their best for me and baby. If you do have it but are a borderline case you might just be able to control by changing your diet (as I do for the moment) but they will go through everything with you.

BnB is my best source of info so ask any questions you can think of - someone will know the answer!

xxx

Thanks so much for the reply.
I haven't been told the result, just that it was borderline and they need to repeat it.

Did they repeat yours as you were borderline too?

x

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I can sympethise with the the shock - I have no family history and not a single risk factor. It doesnt look like mine developed til late on though - 34ish weeks and diagnosed at 36+2.

My GTT result was 11.8 so not at all borderline.

If your result wasnt too bad or even if the repeat GTT comes back to say that you have got GD they will start you off on diet control. It isn't too bad and most people seem to get on OK with just cutting out the obvious cakes, sweets, fizzy drinks etc.

I have had to really cut back on any carbohydrates because it has gone a bit loopy because I'm so near the end. If your result was borderline though hopefully you would be able to just reduce the amount of carbs, replace white pasta/rice with brown etc and be fine.

Saying all of this since they found out I have GD I have had amazing care - and despite my crappy GTT result and late diagnosis my baby is average sized and no excessive fluid so all OK.

Hope you get some more answers after the repeat GTT but try not to worry in the meantime

 

[TripleB]

They didn't repeat my GTT so you're probably more borderline that I was.

I've found that the diet control is a bit trial and error to start with, generally I've been fine with just swapping white for wholemeal and cutting out the sugar but some things are difficult to explain - shredded wheat makes my blood sugar go loopy.

My baby is also growing normally with no excess fluid so if you do have it and its been caught this early, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Good luck with your re-test.

xxx

 

[louisechippy]

i was also dianosed a few weeks back my score was 11 after lucozade so again not border line at all x please dont let the fact that you have it scare you as you should and i hope you do recieve amazing care once it has been proparly diagnosed.. many things are just simple general knowledge things like cut out the cakes and stuff but sometimes it can get a bit confusing for instance i can sit and drink 3 cans of regular pepsi and my blood sugars will come back within normal range yet i drink 1 can of regular cocacola and my blood sugars are through the roof.... so its all trial and error.... they should have you in to see a dietician to talk over your diet and see what things you can change and they will try and manage it via diet control to start with it will be later on in pregnancy they told me i could find i have problems x any questions feel free to ask x

 

[Incubator]

Hi.

I had the retest today and it's come back borderline again. They want to check me again in 3 weeks but in the meantime I have to follow the GD diet. I've got a few days before I see a dietician so any help on how to follow the diet would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

x

 

[TripleB]

It's basically a low-GI diet, aimed at preventing blood glucose peaks and troughs, so you're looking at slow-release carbs and no sugars. Replace all refined "white" foods - bread, pasta, rice with the wholewheat variety and nothing sweet (unless its sweetener). Try and keep a balanced meal i.e. carbs, protein and veg but you might find that you need to reduce carbs if its having an effect on your readings (are you testing already?). On the plus side (unlike a normal diet) you can have nice things like bacon, cheese, cream etc - keeping in mind that too much isn't good from a fat point of view. Just to give you an idea here's my typical day:

Breakfast: Boiled egg and wholemeal toast
Lunch: Couscous chicken salad with houmous
Dinner: Chilli con carne with brown rice and veg
Snacks (for whenever you feel hungry): nuts, apples, cheese and crackers, glass of milk, low-sugar cereal bar

You'll work out which things work for you and those that don't e.g. I can't eat shredded wheat or tomato ketchup. Also, don't be afraid to eat out - just cut down on the carbs e.g. half a pizza with a salad, half a portion of rice with a curry, new potatoes instead of chips etc.

Hope that helps - I have to say that I feel great since following it - no nausea or heartburn and sleeping like a baby. I lost 6lbs in the first couple of weeks and now am not putting on any weight even thought the baby is - less to lose after I suppose!

xxx

 

[Incubator]

It's basically a low-GI diet, aimed at preventing blood glucose peaks and troughs, so you're looking at slow-release carbs and no sugars. Replace all refined "white" foods - bread, pasta, rice with the wholewheat variety and nothing sweet (unless its sweetener). Try and keep a balanced meal i.e. carbs, protein and veg but you might find that you need to reduce carbs if its having an effect on your readings (are you testing already?). On the plus side (unlike a normal diet) you can have nice things like bacon, cheese, cream etc - keeping in mind that too much isn't good from a fat point of view. Just to give you an idea here's my typical day:

Breakfast: Boiled egg and wholemeal toast
Lunch: Couscous chicken salad with houmous
Dinner: Chilli con carne with brown rice and veg
Snacks (for whenever you feel hungry): nuts, apples, cheese and crackers, glass of milk, low-sugar cereal bar

You'll work out which things work for you and those that don't e.g. I can't eat shredded wheat or tomato ketchup. Also, don't be afraid to eat out - just cut down on the carbs e.g. half a pizza with a salad, half a portion of rice with a curry, new potatoes instead of chips etc.

Hope that helps - I have to say that I feel great since following it - no nausea or heartburn and sleeping like a baby. I lost 6lbs in the first couple of weeks and now am not putting on any weight even thought the baby is - less to lose after I suppose!

xxx

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help.

So glad you're feeling better.

x

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I am eating lots of casserole, curry, chilli etc but all with loads and loads of vegetables - weirdly I quite like it....

....I have also lost 4lb and am not putting on any weight now, I look and feel so much better than before they found the GD so there are some + points!

 

[DanielleM]

Wow after looking at some of the GTT results you ladies have posted I am now realising why the hospital was so concerned and called me in as soon as my GTT results came back my fasting bloods were 14.9 and my post glucose was 22!!! I was admitted into hospital for 7 nights and placed on a sliding insulin scale and now on 5 injections of insulin a day between 20-24 units depending on the time of day!!! The doctors were totally exasperated with me, they just couldn't stabalise my blood sugars at all. Even now I am home I am having a couple of high reading but am sure when I get reviewed on Tuesday in clinic my insulin will be adjusted accordingly.
Did any of you ladies suffer thrush pre-diagnosis of GD apparently that is a sign as you urinate sugar out and the bacteria feeds of it!! I suffered terribly from it so am looking forward to not having to deal with that!! But looking at my sugars I was probably peeing out granulated sugar lol!!!!

 

[AmeliePoulain]

Wow after looking at some of the GTT results you ladies have posted I am now realising why the hospital was so concerned and called me in as soon as my GTT results came back my fasting bloods were 14.9 and my post glucose was 22!!! I was admitted into hospital for 7 nights and placed on a sliding insulin scale and now on 5 injections of insulin a day between 20-24 units depending on the time of day!!! The doctors were totally exasperated with me, they just couldn't stabalise my blood sugars at all. Even now I am home I am having a couple of high reading but am sure when I get reviewed on Tuesday in clinic my insulin will be adjusted accordingly.
Did any of you ladies suffer thrush pre-diagnosis of GD apparently that is a sign as you urinate sugar out and the bacteria feeds of it!! I suffered terribly from it so am looking forward to not having to deal with that!! But looking at my sugars I was probably peeing out granulated sugar lol!!!!

Woah...that is a lot of sugar !!! To think they were a teeny bit concerned about my 'high' reading of 11.8 or something after the glucose drink!

Sorry you have had such a rough time with it all but at least it can be managed now.

I was told about the thrush connection but luckily I have never had it.

 

[winegums]

my best friend was borderline and they didn't tell her to do anything they just said carry on as you are, and she's just given birth to a 9lbs baby (which isn't TOO big in the grand scheme of things - my nan had a 12lber without diabetes!)

 

[Blondie007]

I have been told I have GD after a reading of 7.8! I have to manage by diet till I see the consultant again on Wednesday and doing the usual 4 tests per day. I am having fortnightly scans too.

 

[Incubator]

Thanks for all your responses.

I'm struggling a bit with the diet - just don't seem to know what to eat and when. I'm hoping I'll get the hang of it soon!

What do you lovely ladies do for snacks? I'm sitting here and my tummy is rumbling but I've no idea what to have. I've already eaten my maximum of 3 fruits per day!

x

 

[Incubator]

my best friend was borderline and they didn't tell her to do anything they just said carry on as you are, and she's just given birth to a 9lbs baby (which isn't TOO big in the grand scheme of things - my nan had a 12lber without diabetes!)

I was borderline last time too and being looked after at a different hospital. They told me not to go on the diet and my baby was born a week early and weighed nearly 10 pounds. As much as I'm finding the diet tricky to get the hang of I'm glad they've put me on it as I really struggled towards the end of my last pregnancy carrying such a big baby.

I'm so impressed with your nana having a 12lber. Wow!

x

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I have found a brand of oak cracker called 'nairns' - they sell them all over the place. If find that a couple of them with cheese really works for me.

 

[Newky]

Thanks for all your responses.

I'm struggling a bit with the diet - just don't seem to know what to eat and when. I'm hoping I'll get the hang of it soon!

What do you lovely ladies do for snacks? I'm sitting here and my tummy is rumbling but I've no idea what to have. I've already eaten my maximum of 3 fruits per day!

x

As well as fruit I've been eating loads of mullerlight yogurts, houmous with crudites, nuts and cheese with wholegrain crackers. Also tried snacking on a handful of cocktail sausages the other day which were yummy! No one has ever told me that there is a max amount of fruit you are allowed per day Although I don't exceed 3 anyway thinking about it. x

 

[Incubator]

Thanks for all your responses.

I'm struggling a bit with the diet - just don't seem to know what to eat and when. I'm hoping I'll get the hang of it soon!

What do you lovely ladies do for snacks? I'm sitting here and my tummy is rumbling but I've no idea what to have. I've already eaten my maximum of 3 fruits per day!

x

As well as fruit I've been eating loads of mullerlight yogurts, houmous with crudites, nuts and cheese with wholegrain crackers. Also tried snacking on a handful of cocktail sausages the other day which were yummy! No one has ever told me that there is a max amount of fruit you are allowed per day Although I don't exceed 3 anyway thinking about it. x

I nearly cried when my GD midwife told me that I wasn't allowed more than 3 portions of fruit a day - she also said that 10 grapes counts as 1 full portion which is just mean and cruel!

Thanks for the snack tips.

x

 

[AmeliePoulain]

No one told me about the fruit thing either I sometimes have more than 3 portions but my body seems to handle that (yet it can't hack 3 teeny tiny new potatos )

Also another thing I love snacking on is humous and carrots!