For those who have had/have Gestational Diabetes

[1nceUponATime]

So I just got diagnosed with gestational diabetes and started tracking my glucose etc.... And I haven't had my first visit with the doctor since this diagnosis, so of course I have googled it and terrified myself. It seems sometimes it's standard practice to induce GD patients early? Risks about the placenta deteriorating early etc?

I guess my question is... If you have had GD or have it...

If you were diet controlled did you have to do additional monitoring like extra ultrasounds or NSTs?

Were you induced or being induced?

What is the reason for that if so? Is it just "standard practice" or was there some kind of complication that caused induction early.

It's probably too early for me to worry about any of this, and I plan on asking my doctor on Tuesday... But I'm already worried now that my chances of spontaneous labor is over? Or that I'm going to be really overwhelmed with doctor appointments. Or something is going to go wrong with my baby.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Rei]

Hi I have gestational diabetes. I'm a FTM but I was diagnosed back at 28 weeks and I've had two visits since then. Mine is controlled with diet and so far my doctor hasn't even brought up early delivery. She did, say, however that she will not let me go to 42 weeks. She also didn't like to induce unless medically neccessary and so far she apparently sees no reason to induce early. I think I may have an ultrasound at 32 weeks (or 36 I'm not sure) so I guess she'll talk more about it then.
Stop stressing! stay in communication with your doctor. Has you been referred to a nutritional yet?
I have not been overwhelmed by doctor visits. Just the standard 2 week ones and I have one appointment on the 14th with a diabetic teaching nurse...which I guess is kind of unnecessary as I feel I'm doing a pretty good job so far keeping my numbers down.

 

[minties]

I had GD with my last baby (not diagnosed till about 34 weeks) and have it with this baby too (diagnosed about 24/25 weeks).

I had an emergency c-section with my first, so that combined with the GD meant I was encouraged to have a planned c-section with my second. I could have tried for a VBAC but my midwife said they wouldn't be happy with me going past 41 weeks. This was a combo of previous section and the GD.

I never had any monitoring as such, but had a couple of growth scans and the checked on the placenta and blood flow (always fine). Her placenta was great, very healthy, and I had her at 39+2. My GD was diet controlled for the most part, but I was not very good at doing that so went on metformin for about the last 10 days. That was my fault though as I kept eating crap food.

This time around I'm seeing a midwife, hospital consultant and the GD nurse frequently. However a lot of it is because of having had 2 c-sections and not all about having GD. I've had one growth scan at 29+4 and will have a final one at 35 weeks. I'm having a scheduled c-section at 39+0 due to the previous ones. Diet control is working very well for me this time, I've never had a pre or post meal number anywhere near the top of the acceptable range.

My daughter didn't have any issues after birth at all and everything went smoothly. I don't find GD a hassle at all, the only hassle is having to go to extra appointments.

 

[Christina86]

I had GD with my first. I was induced at 40weeks but for high blood pressure not because of the GD. My OB said of it wasn't for the hypertension she would have let me go until 42 weeks if baby didn't come. My GD was completely diet controlled by cutting out carbs.

They are having me do the test at 19w this time. So I'll find out if I have GD by the end of next week/ beginning of the following.

 

[1nceUponATime]

Thank you guys. I'm going to ask my doctor a bunch of questions on Tuesday but reading the internet you always find the worst case scenario stories ... And it makes me nervous.

 

[minties]

I think the worst case scenario would be the mother ignoring the GD, and letting it run rampant. If you take care of yourself and keep your blood sugars under control then I have every confidence that all will be fine. I don't worry for one second that GD will harm my pregnancy or baby, maybe I'm not worried enough!

 

[1505768LP]

Just curious, did any of you have symptoms?

 

[Rei]

Just curious, did any of you have symptoms?

Not really, most women don't. I'm pretty sure GD is the reason why I am so thirsty all the time though. And when I say thirsty I mean I would drink like 6 or 7 bottles of water a day.

 

[Christina86]

Just curious, did any of you have symptoms?

I craved Ice and tons of sugar. Like I would go into the store and buy big bags of candy and eat them as fast as I could.

 

[jenmcn1]

This is my 4th baby and for the first time in ANY of my pregnancies, I was 'diagnosed' with GD. Mine was literally borderline, but I found out only 2 weeks ago(34 weeks), met with a nurse and she showed me how to track my sugars etc.
So far all has been fine, my sugars have been 100% normal and no keystones in my urine. I'm very very careful with what I eat.i have protein with each meal/snack, lots of healthy fats like coconut milk or avocado, and carbs...like sweet potatoes or regular potatoes. And I have no issues.
The risk is generally, that the baby can get 'too big'...so a vaginal delivery would increase risk of the baby's shoulders getting stuck and increase risk of csection. Also that if sugars aren't controlled, once baby is born, they no longer have that influx of sugar from mom thr their blood sugar becomes very low, which can be an issue.

All that aside, if it's controlled through diet and/or insulin all will be fine.
I already had a csection planned for 39 weeks for other reasons completely unrelated to GD.
Hang in there and try not to worry. Just stay in communication with your doctor, and they will just make sure that all is under control with your sugars

 

[1nceUponATime]

So far my blood sugars have been pretty good except for a couple high ones and I'm pretty sure this because of the bread I ate so I'll have to switch that, but I even had like a quarter of a large pancake at breakfast and granted we walked around for an hour or so after that so it could have helped w my sugar level but my reading was good when I took it.

 

[minties]

Walking helps my numbers immensely. Even if I just walk up and down the house for 15 minutes if I don't want to go out anywhere.

I went for a 1 hour walk after lunch the other day and got a reading that was apparently too low (3.7mmol/L).

 

[JJay]

I was diagnosed at 28 weeks, didn't have it with either of my previous pregnancies. I tried managing it through diet but I was cutting out sugar and carbs, losing weight and still getting high numbers so I went onto metformin and then insulin. I'm much happier now I'm on insulin as I can eat more or less what I like and just adjust the level. It's easier than having to try and avoid carbs as it was taking so much time shopping and preparing food. I was so sick of eggs!! I don't get any symptoms unless I don't eat regularly enough now I'm on insulin otherwise I get shaky so I always carry jelly babies and chocolate with me. I've been told with GD you are induced between 39 and 40 weeks unless you have to take insulin then it's 38-39. I'm having a repeat section anyway so it doesn't make any difference to me. Good luck on Tuesday. X