Gestational Diabetes

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes 3 months into my pregnacy. I was put on insulin to control it and on a strict diet. My baby boy was born in March 08, and is perfectly healthy and was a normal weight at birth.

I was diagnosed as a gestational diabetic as well, yet when I tested my blood sugar every morning, it was never outside the "normal range" except for once--the morning after a vegetarian meal. Worry if the daily sugars are high; don't worry if they aren't.

I had gestational diabetes with my third child and he is just fine. He was a healthy 9 lbs. 11 ounces at birth and is now 9 years old!!

My Aunt had this with both of her pregnancies, and both kids, now in college are fine. They watch their diets and are basically healthy. Also, as soon as they were born, the diabetes left.
Good luck.
M.

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Don't worry, all is well!
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Hi K.,

I have had many family members deal with this. All of the babies were just fine, though some did get to be 10 lbs at birth.

Diabetes can be controled by adding fiber to every meal you eat. The fiber causes the sugar to be slowly released into your bloodstream instead of being dumped in quickly. Dumping the sugar in quickly and allowing it to sit there is what causes the diabetes. Fiber prevents this.

I recommend the Equate brand of fiber from Wal-Mart. You have to use ice cold water or it will get thick. I also recommend Oat Bran from the Vitamin shoppe.

I have actually written a book on this!

Let me know if you want more details.

T.
Office #: ###-###-####

Hi, K..

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with my first child. I carefully followed the recommended diet, and everything was fine. My daughter's sugar was a little high at birth. She was carefully monitored for any additional problems. She was an average size and had no other issues.

In addition to following the appropriate diet, I also exercised every day.

If you are careful and listen to your physicians,you and your baby should make out well.

Good luck.

I had it with my second child. I was on a strict diet but I still needed insulin twice a day. Not exactly fun, but bearable. Exercise is a big deal too. I started walking and swimming. When my daughter was born she weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and she was full term (1 day early). That was about a pound smaller than my first, and I didn't have it with him.
Try not to be nervous or scared. Just follow the diet, get a little exercise if you don't already and go from there. :)

Hi K.,

I had GD with my first daughter. I know it can be really scary, but as long as you control your diet, your baby will be perfectly healthy. I did end up having to have a C Section because I was no where near labor at 40 weeks and they thought my daughter would be 9 pounds. However she ended up only being about 7 1/2 pounds. If you do have to go on insulin...don't worry. I followed the doctor's orders to a T and still had to go on insulin, but even that wasn't too bad. Also, I swelled so bad towards the end, that may have been related to the GD.

Good luck, just rememeber to limit your carbs and sugar...you'll be fine.

First of all, relax. Stress and worry also has a huge impact on GD so try to not stress over it.

I had no problems with my first pregnancy but did have GD with my second. I had it mostly under control with diet but did have to use a slow acting insulin once a day later on. I had issues in the afternoon (after lunch) with my levels but was mostly fine the rest of the time but EVERYONE is different. Just remember that starches (potatoes, rice, etc) turn to sugar so when you want seconds, go for veggies (those recommended by your dietician that you are sure to have).

My daughter was born a week before her due date (they rarely let a GD pregnancy go to full term any way but I went on my own two days before they were scheduled to induce). She had absolutely no problems with weight or any health issues. Very healthy! I no longer have an issue either.

Follow your doctors advice and you and your baby will be fine. Best of luck.

Hi, K.. First, don't worry or stress yourself out over this. Worry and stress can actually elevate your sugar levels. I know how you feel, but this is very common and very controllable. I had gestational diabetes and I delivered beautiful, healthy, twin baby girls. I carried to 37 weeks (which is very unusual for multiples) and had birth weights of 8 lbs 10.5 oz. and 6 lbs 9.25 oz. The most important thing is to control your diet -- eat exactly what the doctor tells you and check your sugar as often as they tell you. I never had to take medication because I did exactly what the doctor told me to do. The wonderful thing is that once you deliver, the diabetes goes away (although it does put you at a higher risk for developing Type II diabetes later in life). Two of my sisters also had gestational diabetes and they followed doctor's orders and delivered healthy babies as well. Good luck and don't stress out too much.

I had GD with both of my pregnancies, and while it's a huge pain, it's manageable. Diet is usually the way they control it in the beginning, and it works for most people. You will likely have to use a glucose meter and test your blood 4 times a day (first thing in the morning, and either one or two hours after each meal). The typical diet includes a protein and a small amount of carbs at each meal, plus snacks in between each meal and before bedtime. I always felt like I was constantly eating, so while I had to cut the carbs, I wasn't hungry all the time. For me, diet didn't control my sugars, so I ended up on medication twice daily to control them. They also sent me for monitoring (ultrasounds) throughout the pregnancy, and every week at the end. Both of my kids were born early, but not significantly. My daughter was born at 38 weeks because the placenta started to deteriorate early (caused by GD), and my son (who is just 3 months old), was born at 36 weeks 4 days due to pre-term labor. I also had to be careful of what I ate because my amniotic fluid levels were on the edge of being high (another issue with GD) but increasing protein intake seemed to help that a bit.

Good luck with everything!
S.

A friend of mine had it with her second child. She stuck to the diet and her baby was a normal (smaller size). Her daughter was only 6.5 lbs or so.

Unrelated as far as I know, her daughter was breech and she had a c-section.

Hi K.,

Contact your local hospital and talk to the dietician.

Get on a diet, exercise and you and the baby should be fine.

Good luck. D.

I just had my first baby and was borderline gestational, I had to control it with Diet, exercise and monitoring with a blood glucose meter two hours after I ate and once when I awoke. My daughter is almost two weeks old she is perfect. Because I stayed on top of my sugar levels she was born at 8lbs .04 ounces. The only complication we had was a low blood sugar for her at birth, we authorized the hospital to give her a it of formula and she was fine (we are exclusively breastfeeding) I highly recommend working with your doctor and checking out the American Diabetes Association Website. I was lucky b/c I was already aware of how o handle everything, thanks to my mom who is a type 1 diabetic for longer then I have been alive. My best advice is to follow what the doctor says. Oh the only other minor item was my doctor did not want me to go too past my due date since we really were pushing for a vag birth, just in case my daughter got big. I hope this helps.

I am a mom of four little girls. My oldest is 19 months and my triplets are 4 months and I had gestational diabetes with both pregnancies. During my 1st pregnancy I was diangosed around 28 weeks and on my 2nd pregnancy it was around 20 weeks. Yes, diet is a huge part of controlling it, in fact the 1st time diet was all I needed to control it. The 2nd time I did need insulin but everything was harder because I had triplets. My specialist for the diabetes was Dr. Ben Phillips... he's great! His partners are really good too, I saw both of them when I was in the hospital the month before I delivered. The 1st thing to do is calm down, yes there are risks but there are risks in any pregnancy. The first time I was diagnosed Dr. Phillips sent me to the Diabetes treatment Center to see a nutritionist about how to eat and check my sugar and that time I found it very easy to maintain. The 2nd time was very hard because it didn't matter what I did I still had to have insulin which ended up being fine. My girls where just fine. My oldes weight 6 lbs. 12 oz., my triplets were 4 lbs. 8 oz., 4 lbs. 14 oz., and 5 lbs which everyone thought was good for triplets. Just do what the doctor tells you and I'm sure everything will work out just fine.

Yes, and my daughter was fine. It's something that needs to be monitored, but don't panic. They'll keep and eye on you and the baby! I hear it's usually controlled with diet. It also usually goes away after you deliver, but they'll have you do another test after that to make sure. And then it's a good idea to watch your diet from now on. They told me that my chances of developing type 2 diabetes is 50% over the next twenty years.

Relax! -S. K

I had GD with my first pregnancy. I am not overweight but have had a history of low blood sugar and diabetes runs in my family. The doctor chose to medicate me with a pill (I can't remember the name of the medicine but I took only one a day) and I modified my diet. I hated the medicine because it would drop my blood sugar dramatically and I had to be very careful about eating a high-carb snack when I took the pill, which seemed to defeat the purpose of the diet and put me and the baby at risk. My blood sugar dropped to 40 the first time I took the pill! My son came two weeks early and weighed in at only 6 lbs. The biggest risk of GD is a high birth weight, obviously not an issue for me, and I didn't even get diagnosed until I was 32 weeks so it couldn't have that profound an effect. I think it depends on how severe your GD is but had I been better informed I think I would have refused the medication and stuck with my diet adjustments. My case was not severe enough to warrant the medication I don't think. Don't be afraid to seek a second or a third opinion. I wish I had.

Hi,
I had it with my third child, born one week late and a very reasonable 7 lb 2 oz. I followed the recommended diet consistently and really made an effort to exercise -- just going for a 10 or 15 minute walk after breakfast and dinner helped a lot. I was much MUCH more tired during my third trimester than with my other two, but other than that (and pricking my finger a lot, which really is no big deal once you get used to it), it was a normal pregnancy. The downside is that our lifetime risk of developing diabetes is pretty high. I worked to get the pregnancy weight off immediately and am still trying to be consistent about diet and exercise.
Good luck!

I too had it with my second pregnancy and not my first. It is scary at first but only until you get used to the routine. The baby will be fine, I'm sure your Dr. will tell you the same thing. My daughter was 7.6 pounds, and perfect. If your Doc doesn't recommend it, ask her/him if you can take a class at the hospital (I took it at Alexandria Hospital) and they can help with diet, showing you how to prick your finger and read your blood sugar etc. It probably all seems overwhelming, but the class will make it as easy as possible for you and your baby. Good luck!

Dear K.,
I am so sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis of gestational diabetes. You are so totally on the right track in your belief that diet makes a differnece!
K., I have to tell you what I know!!! I am a rep for a company which has learned how to place juiced fruits and vegetables (F/V) in capsules, chewables and gummies, making the eating of F/V convenient, cost-effective and efficient.
That may not be so remarkable to you (though I believe that it is), but I simply have to tell you that this same product (Juice Plus+) has been researched and found to lessen the odds of getting gestational diabetes!!!
What is also remarkable is that Juice Plus+ is backed by 12 medical-journal published research studies, most of which are gold-standard!
Send me your email address and I'll send you a copy of the research regarding gestational diabetes and JP+. In the meantime, feel free to visit my website, www.jpjenn.com.

My best to you and your baby!
J. F.

HI, I had this condition...out of 5 pregnancies, happened only once with my 2nd...Mine was minimal...didnt really have to change too much of my diet...dont really like sugary things anyway...LOTS of water is IMPORTANT....keep those kidneys flushed..cranberry juice not so much but good 4u...my son came out healthy at 8.8 lbs( he was also the easiest baby I had)...he was my largest baby and is very large now 6'2" 290 lbs...all my other boys are thin and average hieght I have heard taht children born to GD moms tend to be larger, some docs disagree but ALL the ones(kids) I have met prove the theory...your baby will be fine as well as you...if he/she is big...don't be surprised...just be happy for health good luck , S.

Hi K.:

I'm sure you are worried w/ gestational diabetes, but you are correct, diet is the absolutely the best way to control it. Have you ever heard of Mona Vie? It contains 19 different fruits, has no added sugar, stimulants or water. The main ingredient is the acai berry. Just 4 oz per day = 13 servings of organic fruits and vegetables. The 4oz only has 12 g of sugar! Perfect for diabetics. This juice is loaded with antioxidants and phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals, all of which would be great for you and your baby. My husband, 3 kids and I all drink it and love the way it helps with sleeping, focus, energy, and minor aches and pains associated with exercise, over-exertion and simply aging. Plus, it is a whole food, not a supplement.

P. M.

I've never had gestational diabetes, but my first child was 9 lbs, 3 oz; then my second was 11 lbs, 1/2 oz. I'm afraid to try for a third! ;) I know it can be scary when there's something not quite right about a pregnancy, but there are ways to keep things under control and the baby is fine. My sister had it with all three and followed doctor's orders, and her children are all just fine. My advice is to take it seriously, but don't fret... stress won't help. Focus on the vision of your beautiful healthy baby girl. Congratulations!

Hi K., don't worry too much. I had gestational diabetes with both my babies. Dieting alone didn't work for me so I had to start injecting insulin at bedtime. You can request to go to a nutritionist who can help you with a diet plan. That helped me a lot. Most gestational diabetics aren't allowed to carry their babies all the way to 40 weeks. I delivered my son at 39 weeks and he was 8lbs 7oz and now he's a wonderful almost 3 year old. My daughter was delivered at 38 weeks and was 7lbs 5.4 oz and she's a happy, beautiful girl and 16 months old. Your doctor will start monitoring you more and you'll have to do finger sticks to check your glucose levels after meals. Look online for books on Managing gestational diabetes. Knowledge is power and you'll start to feel less helpless when you understand your condition better. Hang in there. I've also heard that high stress levels do not help with keeping the blood sugar down.

I had it also with my last child. My baby was a large baby and after pregancy it goes away. I did have an amniocentis and it
was normal. You have to be careful because the dr. told me
I could develop diabetes in the near future, which to this date, I haven't.

B.

I had gestational diabetes with my baby. I was able to keep it undercontrol without insulin but I had to be very serious about my diet. I was induced at 37 weeks and she was a bit small 5lbs 3oz but absolutely perfectly healthy in every way. She will be 6 months on the 9th and is developing fine. No diabetes or any health concerns. The one thing I found out later is that gestational diabetes can slow down lactation at first so keep that in mind. Also the baby will not get to big if you keep your blood sugar in control.

Just do what you know is right for your baby and yourself and everything will be fine. Stay positive

I had gestational diabetes during my first pregnancy with my son. I didn't find out until week 32 so I had a late start. I was able to keep mine under control with diet and exercise. It takes time to adjust to the sugar checks four times a day but it is well worth it to keep the diabetes under control. My son was 8 lbs 12 oz and they took him by C-section at 40 weeks because he wasn't ready to come out on his own but he was getting too big for my body to handle. I never allowed my sugar to get too high. Some people do require other treatments but I was lucky to control it with diet and exercise. My son is now 2 and he is a perfectly healthy boy. He always has been in the 90-95th percentile for height and weight but his dad is 6'3" so he is going to be tall. You and your child are at an increased risk for getting diabetes later in life but you can minimize that risk by diet and exercise. I have maintained the diet for the past two years and have never felt better. Good luck!