Gestational Diabetes

[hans2009]

I am currently 31 weeks 3 days. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at week 29. I see the doctor again Tuesday but I'm worried I'll forget to ask some questions..

I recently started going to the gym to walk (with doctors approval) when I am finished my blood sugar drops below 75. Is this normal? Today I started getting dizzy so I ate a yogurt then had a piece of laffy taffy and it seemed to help for a little bit. Now I'm sitting here eating caramel popcorn because I'm feeling lightheaded. Doctor told me if it drops below 50 to call right away and if it drops below 70 and I start feeling shaky to eat a sandwich or drink a glass of milk and test again.

He started me on Glyburide last night and when I woke up, my blood sugar was higher than normal for my fasting number. It was 97 and it is typically 92-95. My fasting number is his biggest concern, my 2 hr numbers are all good.

Also, with being on the Glyburide, he wants me to get a stress test done every week. What does this entail?

 

[FeistyMom]

I also have GD but I'm just first controlled right now so haven't had to worry about lows. The faint number is usually the one that indicates medication is useful so it makes sense that goes is high. Our numbers continue to feel up as pregnancy progresses so don't be too alarmed if they keep getting higher and your doctor increases dosage or adds meds.

Not sure about stress test although I've had the non stress test in previous pregnancies.

 

[Whitesoxfan41]

Anything under 95 is considered a good fasting number, I wouldn't be overly concerned about a 97. I have been told it is the trending of highs or lows that is much more important than a single number. If you're consistently between 92 and 95 for fasting, I'd say the glyburide is doing very well. I've been diagnosed since 28 weeks and have had a horrible time controlling my numbers.

According to my diabetes nurse, you're not considered to be too low unless you're getting below 60. Also, she recommends a glass of milk or 5 saltines if you do get too low, then retest 15 minutes later. You can have a rebound effect from candy or juice that will send your sugars too high.

As for the non stress tests, I have them twice a week, they hook baby up to the monitor for 30 minutes and I push the button with kicks and movement and they make sure the baby's heartbeat is all good. Non invasive and nice to check on the bub.

These are just things MY nurses and doctor have told me about GD, not trying to sound like an expert in any way. I've been switched to 2 kinds of insulin as of last week as the glyburide wasn't doing the job and I have had weeks of crap numbers while eating exactly as instructed, so it's been a very frustrating ride.

Best of luck!

 

[dvc2012]

I had Gestational Diabetes during my pregnancy and I had the occasional dips or rises in blood sugar. I saw a specialist when I was diagnosed and the week before I went in, he had me track my numbers so he could look at them and they also did an ultrasound to check on baby's growth (GD babies can get pretty big). He told me to call L&D if a number was too high so I could go in and get insulin. I never really had a big problem with my blood sugar getting low except on one or two occasions where I didn't have a chance to stop and eat when I was supposed.

I also went twice a week for non-stress tests. They put two belts with monitors on your belly. One monitors the baby's heartbeat and the other measures contractions (if any). You also get a "clicker" and you push the button whenever you feel the baby move. My son always failed these tests (he liked to take a nap during the times we had them scheduled) which means that they didn't see enough dips and rises in his heartbeat during the 30 minutes I was there so I always got sent to the hospital for more monitoring during which time he would decide to do what the doctors wanted him to do and then we'd go home. I actually didn't mind them because it was kind of relaxing to sit there and listen to his heartbeat.

The doctors scheduled me for an induction on my due date exactly. Luckily, he came 3 days before that so I didn't have to be induced.

My GD was controlled with medication (Metformin), not diet.

 

[krissie328]

I am also on Glyburide for fasting numbers. I have to eat something with carbs/protein before bed. I have been eating Greek yogurt and find that helps. Otherwise I drop to low in the night and rebound and end up with high numbers.