Gestational Diabetes Group - Us vs. the Carbs

[babifever]

US - probably is a country thing. However, it is wildly debated here as well. For example, my regular OB doctor wanted me to stop taking it at 12 weeks (I told her I refused) but said it would be up to my high risk doctor. My high risk doctor actually prescribes Metformin for GD - so they were totally fine with me staying on it.

But I have PCOS and I have been on Metformin for many years, so that was also a reason for staying on it.

Babi - just saw your post after I made this one.... wow! Your numbers are up there, but at least you're aware of it now and can manage it. Are you already doing a strict diet and it is still high like that?

I wouldn't let the Metformin thing scare you, the only reason its debated here in the states is that most doctors don't believe it does anything at all for you during pregnancy. Its not that it will hurt your baby or do anything negative... they just think there is no reason to keep taking it. However, I know it is helping me with my weight if nothing else. But, being that I have PCOS - there is a lot of things Metformin does for me besides controlling sugars, so even if they had told me to stop taking it, I wouldn't have listened.

Did you find any of the tips I gave you helpful?

yes I did find to helpful, thanx. Well I'm not totally restricted, but made a lot of changes and still high numbers. I was willing to take the metformin but makes me feel bad last week or so. I guess we will find out tomorrow. Have you ever heard of a ultrasound at 5 weeks?

 

[Amythyst]

Metformin does have side effects if your body isn't used to it. When I first started taking it years ago, I had all sorts of tummy and bowel issues from it but my body just had to adjust. Today, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Are you on the regular pills or the extended release ones?

Yes, I had an ultrasound at 5 weeks. It was transvaginal though. Mostly to confirm pregnancy and make sure it was in the uterus and not in the tubes.

Was your diabetes controlled before you got pregnant? Some people just can't get their numbers good even with a good diet when they are pregnant. On another board, I read about some women that had to be on like 80 units of insulin just to keep their numbers down. Hopefully you get good news tomorrow and you're able to get your sugar under control.

I didn't have diabetes prior to being pregnant, so I'm not sure if it acts differently for someone who just always has it. I'm going to assume yes?

Keep us posted!

 

[AmeliePoulain]

Metformin is on the OK list for pregnancy here - the reason there is a bit of debate about it is it hasn't actually been tested on pregnant women - like lots of drugs aren't.

It is routinely prescribed here in the UK and has been used for a long time to help with GD.

I've heard in GD it takes a good few weeks to start helping if it is going to. Like 2-3 weeks. I'm not sure if that is true.

 

[babifever]

My appt it is soon. I'm going to let you guys know what's going on! I do know that generally Metformin can have long term effects, like any other pill.

I found this article: Metformin is generally considered safe to take during pregnancy. The FDA has classified the drug as a pregnancy Category B medication, meaning that it does not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about metformin before taking the medication.

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I am approaching 3rd tri now and really happy to still be med free

If I make it another 6 days it'll be a month since I last got a high reading.

I am seeing the consultant and having a growth scan on 4th of Feb.

I've never had big babies - 6lb 7oz at 39+3 and 7lb 7oz at 39+5 but I tend to have a lot of fluid. Starting to get a bit nervy.

This baby was the smallest of all of my girls at 20 weeks, my bump isn't that huge I don't think but I know that doesn't mean much.

I am still very open minded about how far I'll go medication free. Getting to the end with DD2 was one of the most exhausting things I've ever done. 3rd tri is where is get hard...eeek.

 

[babifever]

They said they the gestational sac was too small to measure or really see anything in-depth on the ultrasound, they think its probably to early. They are ordering a blood hgc test, a1c (for the diabetes) and referring me to a high risk doctor who's going manage my diabetes. My urine did come back positive. The doctor said at this point they are trying to out weigh 3 things the doctor said: normal developing pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or early miscarriage. Going to see me next week for a second ultrasound. He then came back and said " everything is looking good, its just super early. And we have alot of work to do".

no ultrasound pic, I guess because I wouldn't have seen anything? Was I suppose to ask? They also kept my due date as 9/19/15 until a ultrasound picture can be confirmed. I will say as the ultrasound tech was looking I asked "do you see anything". She said " yes it looks like I see a sac but its too small to measure" I didn't ask anymore questions, something about those techs, they don't really like talking!

also she typed down: two small forbids, two small cysts on left ovary. I only knew about the forbids from November. I didn't even inquire with doc. I'll ask about it next week.

I'm getting little anxiety right now. There going to call me once the results are in.

 

[northern_me]

Hope everything goes okay!

I have to go on insulin. Not happy at all because it is seriously screwing with my chances of having a VBAC. I'm exhausted trying to keep my numbers down though. It is so infuriating to know your carb count is okay, and you're still hungry but won't eat anymore in fear of raising it, and then you still get a high number. I just want to eat with abandon, haha. Baby must be having a growth spurt this week because I am just SO unbelievably hungry. I've done well my whole pregnancy with not gorging on food for the sake of it, and I haven't given myself a free pass to eat what I want, but this week is just unmanageable hunger.

 

[AmeliePoulain]

The raging hunger sucks so much

When do you start on insulin Northern? I guess there is a bit to learn?

 

[oneway]

I am now on 9 units of insulin in the mornings instead of 6 and 4 units in the evenings. I was also told that if I had a particularly carby dinner then I could take 2 units of rapid acting insulin. But I am going to try the 9 units in the morning and see if that helps. My morning fasting numbers are extremely good. I have trouble after certain meals. I showed the doctor how I ate the same meal two days in a row and had 2 different readings. He then reassured me that it wasn't just diet in play. He said hormones, stress levels and other factors can have an impact, which is why it is important to realize that we are not completely in control of this condition and should not hesitate to seek help if we need it. It is such a womanly tendency we have to blame ourselves when things go wrong with our bodies.

I don't think you will regret starting insulin Northern_me. I feel so much better. I can eat until I am satisfied and have more energy as a result. I have not gained any weight since my diagnosis 2 months ago but baby is growing well which means I am losing weight. So it's going well so far.

Good luck ladies and please post questions if you have any since I am a bit ahead on this game compared to you.

 

[northern_me]

That is what my doctor said yesterday too. I had the same meal 3 days in a row for breakfast, and on the third day I shot up to 9.2. Totally unexplained.

 

[AmeliePoulain]

In this pregnancy and DD2s pregnancy that issue has driven me to madness.

I find stress, lack of sleep, viruses and infections are my worst culprits. With DD2 I had an infected cyst and an ear infection and I had no idea how to control my sugars. It was horrible.

The lack of sleep thing is hard with a 4 y/o and a 23 month old though...

 

[oneway]

Yes, illness and lack of sleep are huge stressors and can wreak havoc on your numbers. I was there in December but luckily my LO and myself have gotten over our various viruses and LO is not waking me as often as he was when he was sick so that helps a lot. Being hungry did not help. But with insulin I can have that little bit extra food that my body is craving this trimester and that helps balance my mood and keep me happier.

 

[babifever]

My bs have been between 145-245. 180 when I wake! when taking met it was more like 145-200. But always 180's when I wake. I hate diabetes. I have been walking twice daily as well. My appt is with the high risk docs tomorrow, we shall see what they say

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I am worried about this final trimester and if I can't gain weight. I know the hospital won't like it.

I find it reassuring that no one seems to HATE insulin, it would be very new to me though.

I also had 2 crappy inductions - 2 vaginal births though - I am petrified of a 38 week induction which is what I would need if on insulin. Just because of my previous experiences.

I can't wait for 4th of Feb for my scan to see how baby is doing in there. I work really hard at this diabetes stuff but you never know how baby is doing really.

 

[northern_me]

Will you get every two week ultrasounds now?

 

[AmeliePoulain]

No, I have them at 28 (I'll be 28+6), 32 and 36 weeks.

They are actually at my request due to my bad experience of a lone late growth scan with DD1 which suggested she would be larger than she was.

I wanted more frequent scans with DD2 and they were very accurate with her.

My bump always measures ahead so I likely would be getting scans for that anyway. I just measure ahead because I'm short more than anything else.

 

[Amythyst]

Hey everyone, how's it going? I leave for one afternoon and you guys are just posting away!

Insulin isn't so bad... I guess I'm really lucky in that I only have to take 12 units before bed. Its still a pain in the (stomach) to do it though cause I always just want to go bed but then I get under the covers and I'm like DAMMIT! And I gotta get up and take the damn insulin.

I hope your high risk appointment goes well tomorrow Babi! Diabetes does suck and I have a much bigger appreciation for people that have to deal with this disease all the time.

I don't have much to report myself... I guess I'm also lucky that I'm diet controlled. I had my high risk appointment today and got to see the little boo on the screen and listen to his heart beat for 20 minutes. My sugars are all still good... I had a few readings that were over the 140 mark ( I test 1 hour after eating) but they weren't concerned about it. I sometimes just go overboard and eat too many potatoes or have too much cereal. We went out to late lunch/early dinner today to a restaurant and I had some yummy thai spring rolls (only 3 pieces cause they were 13 carbs per serving! LOL) and then I had jumbo shrimp skewers with broccoli and zucchini. Was very tasty. I guess I coulda ate more spring rolls cause I was only 91 after an hour!

My fasting numbers are annoying me a little bit as well... I am supposed to be under 90 in the mornings and one day this week I was 91 and then the next day I was 90 and then today I was 78. Its probably what I eat before going to bed...sometimes I don't really snack or have anything before getting to bed and I know that I should.

 

[AmeliePoulain]

Since I went on to lacto free milk my morning number seems to have settled around the 80/4.6 mark which is nice to see.

Amythyst what is the plan for the delivery of your baby? Will they let you go to 40 weeks?

 

[babifever]

Good morning everyone, I have my first appt with maternal fetus specialist today, I'm sure their going to put me on insulin. Praying they do another ultrasound, my doc mentioned their equipment is better. My head has been hurting on and off, I'm assuming its because of the diabetes and pregnancy
.......

 

[northern_me]

My fasting numbers are somewhere between 4.1-5.3 but then I'll get like three morning in a row where they're over 6.