GD Meds? Anyone taking Glipizide?

[tabathavm]

well had my week checkup since being diagnosed with GD and my fasting numbers are a little elevated so they are putting me on Glibizide. I read that the manufacterer doesnt reccommend this med for pregnant women. Have any one you been taking this? Any problems with it? My dr also wants to see me every week now (im 30 weeks) and when i start this med he wants me to come possibly 2 times a week. I go for my growth scan on dec 8

 

[Green Glitter]

Tabathavm - you can ask the pharmacist was category the drug is, as they have done a recent study of a lot of the pills for diabetes and some are tested safe in pregnancy in recent research. It was more common overseas (I see metformin prescribed a lot elsewhere), but I have seen US doctors prescribing them now - and even I was put on a pill before insulin.

I was put on Glyburide (not Glipizide) for my GD around 29 weeks. Glipizide may still be a category C, but I would check with the pharmacist to be sure and express any worries you have.

I tried Glyburide (as my fasting numbers were too high in the morning, like yours) and it did lower them, but not enough - for me, anyway, everyone is different - and I was eventually put on insulin. I know insulin is pretty safe in pregnancy, so if your numbers aren't coming down on diet alone and you're worried about taking the pill - talk to your OBG about alternatives. I'm sure they will understand.

As for your appointments, that is very standard. When you start medications for uncontrolled diabetes, they will want to see you more often and that is common. I go twice a week, every week. They will check for things like AFI (amniotic fluid levels, as they can be higher in GD patients) and they will do NST (stress tests to make sure baby is okay) as well as monitor the placenta.

A growth scan is common as well, as GD is often associated with larger birth weights - so they monitor that to be safe.

Any and all concerns should be voiced to your doctor. I had the same concerns when they put me on Glyburide, but after a lot of discussions and research with my OBG, I found it was okay. I am not entirely sure on Glibizide, though, and I would ask if you are concerned.

Haha! We are also near one another, as well. I live in Canton (just north of Atlanta) and I see you're in Covington. Sorry for the book, but I remember having all these questions not too long ago and feeling quite nervous about the pills.

 

[tabathavm]

oh im so happy to read your reply! Makes me feel alot better. So glad to know they will be doing more test than just growth scan. So do u know if they will do these test in office? And how do they do them? What are the extra appts like? Like the other ones? Sorry for all the questions, its so nice to talk to someone whos been there ya know. Also my dr said they will do a csection if hes bigger than 8 1/2 lbs... my last was over that without GD. So did you have to be induced? When? How much did your baby weigh? Thanks again for your message! tabatha

 

[Green Glitter]

Not a problem at all. I am happy to be able to tell you about what I've gone through. Again, we are at different OBG offices, so they may handle it slightly different at your office, but I can relay my office and how it works - but there obviously may be slight differences. I have Kaiser Permanente and that's how my office works. They have the equipment there to do the stress tests and ultrasounds for AFI monitoring, so that will be what it depends on. They should, though, do it directly at the office.

So, here is my experience twice a week, every week. I go in and do the normal: weight, BP and blah, blah. Then I get hooked up to the NST machine at every appointment (it's those monitors that they strap to your belly and watch the heart rate and movement of the baby), and then I go for an ultrasound right after - and again, mine is at every appointment. That is what I go in expecting. It's because I'm on medicine, insulin now and prior was Glyburide, so they will monitor the baby more closely. The other thing my doctor watches is the placenta's health, just to make sure it looks healthy... That is how mine go, anyway. All of that IS done at my OBG's office because they have the equipment there - so just ask your OBG if you'll be offsite for anything.

As for my growth scans, those are not done at my doctor's office. I have to go to a specialist to do those, and it's at a different office. Again, I'm not sure if yours would or wouldn't be. Depends on your insurance and OBG's office.

I had a growth scan done at 34 weeks, and my baby was measuring at 6lb 10oz - huge. LOL. My doctor is going to induce me and won't let me go past 40 weeks, but they are having me do one more growth scan to check on the placenta's health (like oxygen and blood flow) and weight of the baby - and I have that this Friday (I'll be close to 37 weeks). C-section has been mentioned, but we haven't talked specifics because they want to get the results of my last growth scan.

I haven't had my baby yet. I didn't have GD with my first two, so this is new to me too. With this one, yes, they are going to induce me, and I'll have more answers for you once they get the results from my growth scan from this Friday. That'll be interesting. They said they will induce between 38-40 weeks, but whether it's closer to 38 or 40 will depend on this last scan and the health of my placenta.

Your growth scan is December 8th, so you'll be around 34 weeks - like when I had my first, too. They may just do the one or they may do another one. I would ask your OBG.

I think one of the major fears with GD babies and their weight is the tendency to have larger shoulders as well. My sister had GD and her son was over 9lbs, and he did have Shoulder dystocia and ended up with a C-section. But, again, this is why they are going to monitor you so closely now. I am hoping for a natural birth, as my first two were, but we'll see. LOL.

Don't worry at all! I am glad that I can be here, as I'm slightly ahead of you in this game. LOL.

 

[tabathavm]

Oh my goodness! You wont belive this but i have kaiser too! I go to the panola office and will go to the southwood office for growth scan. Yea he told me i'll have 2 growth scans. I hope they give me pics bc i havent gotten and good clear ones yet. So is taking insulin shots all that bad? Btw when r u due. Im due jan 20. Please update me when your growth scan results and ill update u when i go back to the dr.Thanks!