Gestational Diabetes-HELP!!

My only advice is to stop drinking or eating any dairy. Its complicated to explain, but dairy can lead to diabetes and make it worse.

Been there with my first (not my second though). Just stick to your diet and get some kind of exercise daily. Even just a short walk will help. You should be fine. I worked until the end also. The weird thing is that your Gestational diabetes goes away the instant that child is born. Bizarre. Good luck,

Hi, H.! I just had a baby boy January 5, 2007. I developed GD during my pregnancy as well. I took my sugar 4 times a day and followed a diet a nutritionist provided me with. It was over all pretty easy. I of course had to go to the Dr. more frequently but it was not a big deal. I worked until I delivered. I ended up delivering 4 weeks early but my baby was fine. If you have any question feel free to email me ____@____.com Luck ad congrats!

Hi H.,
Congratulations on your first! Where are you planning on delivering, just curious. Have you been to diabetes education, at all, yet? Keeping your blood sugar normal will serve you and your baby well. Also, were you planning on breast feeding? Did you know that by breast feeding, that you lower your chances of developing diabetes later in life? w/b, J. C. Lactation Consultant

H., Congrats my baby was born July 3 2006! I too had gd. It isn't so bad just really watch the carbs. I had to be on insulin too. It is not that bad you get use to it. The dr. will watch you a little more close and watch to make sure your baby is not getting to big. Once I lowered my carb intake I felt much better. I found out at 16 weeks thats when my OB regularly test's for it. I got through it fine my baby was fine and I do not have dieabeties now. Although they did say I need to watch my diet and excersize because I could have it in the future. I met eith a nutricialist who was very helpful. Take Care I am sure you will be fine and your baby, M.

I also had g/d.

I did not have to give myself insulin shots; I took a pill every morning before I ate breakfast. They do have medication that pregnant women can take while pregnant to control their sugar levels. You won’t need it when you are nursing because your levels go back to normal right after you deliver.

I also had to check my blood levels 4 times a day. I also had to see my dr. more and I had a few more ultrasounds. Plus, I had to watch what I ate.

I think a big concern was the size of my baby – but I ended having her 6 weeks early (not from the gestational diabetes) and she was 6 pounds 10 oz.

It seems like a lot of pregnant women get g/d. I think it is very common. My doctor is a Beaumont Dr. and when they told me I had g/d there was a program set up at Troy Beaumont with a nutritionist and a nurse to help me out. It was very helpful.

Plus, I worked up until I had my daughter - the g/d didn't affect that decision.

When you deliver you baby, they will check its sugar levels right away and then they checked mine - which were normal almost immediately.

Good luck and don’t stress out.

H., I am 7 months pregnant with my second baby (due July 10th) and I had GD with my son (he's one years old now). Tomorrow I go in for my second round of tests to see if I have GD again; they say I probably will because if you have it with the first, you will probably have it with the others. However, this is nothing to be freaked out about. From what I have learned, this has nothing to do with the fact that you are healthy and active, it is just something your body either does or doesn't do when you are pregnant. Please do not worry. What I had to do different with my son is just lay off the heavy carbs and sweets. The major inconvenience is going to the doc every week to get a blood test taken to make sure your levels are ok, but you get so used to that, you kind of miss is when you're done (teasing a bit!) At the hospital, I thought it was going to be a big deal when I told them that I had it, but all they did was one test during labor and everything was perfect with my son's delivery. Afterwards, they took blood again and my levels were right on, so I did not have Diabetes, nor did I have any problems with breast feeding or post-partum anything. So, in closing, I was stunned too at the beginning (I actually thought the doc made a mistake), but it's not a huge deal and you'll get through it (even with the crazy diet they'll put you on), but on the bright side, I did lose a bit of my "baby" fat when they put me on that diet and I was in a lot better shape for the delivery! Good luck!

I too had gd - it's really not that big of a deal, you just have to focus a lot more on what you're eating and make sure to get exercise. I had to cut out sodas and sugars, but not completely. I would walk on my treadmill for about 30 minutes every night and that would help keep my sugar levels down. I did have to prick my finger four times a day, and make sure to have snacks about 2 hours after a meal, and make sure I ate more balanced meals. Basically just have a carb, a fruit and a veggie at every meal and you will be fine. They sent me to a nutritionist as soon as I found out I had gd, and she said basically if you want a donut go ahead and have it, but just cut those carbs out from somewhere else for your daily allotment. I was on a pill once a day to keep my sugar levels under control, but I never had to have more appointments or ultrasounds or anything. They do worry about your baby being big, but my girl was born at 36 1/2 weeks (my water broke) and weighed 6lbs 2 oz, so not big at all! I worked right up until a couple days before I had her, but I was only put off work because of blood pressure issues (which has always been a problem for me anyway) and had nothing to do with the gd.

Hope this helps, and really it's not that big of an adjustment. Trust me, I ate lots of junk, and that is the biggest thing you have to deal with - changing your eating habits (at least it was for me). When you are in labor, they will not let you eat anything and will test your sugar levels throughout, then will continue to test after you give birth. My levels were still high for a day or two after, and they talked about putting me on insulin shots, but I was eating JUNK (like cokes and cookies because I hadn't had them in SO long), but it regulated itself in a day or so and I was fine...

Another thing, one mom said to cut out dairy, but my nutritionist had me drinking a glass of 2% milk about 4 times a day. The protein in it helps regulate your sugar levels, so I totally disagree with cutting it out. Also cheese, cottage cheese, etc. are really good sources of protein. The BALANCE in your diet is what's most important.

Feel free to e-mail me if any questions! ____@____.com

C.

hi,
I been g/diabetic with 2 of my children and it has nothing to do with been health. I worked till almost the end, but that was by choice! you will have to see the Dr. more often than normal, deppending on how high your glocose level get's you will need to take insule shots cause one is not able to take the insule pills while pregnant or brest feeding. watch your carb intake and trust me is not hard just a lil of getting used to!! if you have a good Dr, your not stock in your ways, and you good support (HONEY YOU GOT IT) if you have any Q feel free to email me. take care

What treatment did the doctor suggest? You will have to follow a diabetic diet which mainly cuts out or limits carbs and cut out sugar. You will also have to test your blood sugar 4 times a day and keep a record of them. If the diet doesnt stablize your sugar you may have to take oral medication. If your sugars are signifigant you will need injectable meds. i have had GD with 3 of my six pregnancies only one where I took oral meds. I had onlarge baby due to GD she was 10 lbs. For the most part GD is completly manageable, dont worry yourself too much, once you get used to the changes in your diet its not a big deal. Just be carful if you do start meds I would suggest starting on a weekend because it can be hardt o adjust to the sugar drops. If you do take meds make sure you eat before and keep snacks with you, in case you have a sugar drop.
best of luck to you

Hi H.,

No worries, Okay? When I was pregnant with my son I developed GD and had a wonderful pregnancy. I went to a dietician to teach me how to eat and regulate my blood sugar without meds. I was able to keep my insulin under control with just diet for 2 months and then 1 month before I delivered they put me on Glyburide. After I changed my diet I didn't gain anymore weight but had started with a few extra pounds so the dr didn't worry and the baby kept getting bigger. I was able to work until the day before I delivered. My Dr did decide to induce me on my due date just so the baby wouldn't get too big and we had a healthy 8lb 4oz boy. My insulin also went back to normal right after I delivered. Hope this helps:)

Hi H. -

First of all, congratulations!!! I am also 28 and just had my first baby on January 2. It is truly a blessing and so much fun...(we won't talk about sleepless nights just yet ;-)).

Anyways, I do not have first hand experience with gestational diabetes, but one of my close friends had it with her first. Like you, she was slim, healthy and active...the last person I would have imagined to be diagnosed with it. But, I have heard much of it is genetic. Anyways, they were able to control hers through her diet. She did have to follow a strict eating plan and test her blood sugar periodically. If diet doesn't control, I know another person who had to do the shots. But, it sounds like you should be able to control it through the diet.

Like you, she planned to work full-time until her due date, but unfortunately, she was put on bed rest around the 8th month..I think that was more due to the low level of amniotic fluid and I am not sure if the diabetes and the fluid levels had anything to do with one another. She did not stay strictly on bedrest and delivered a very healthy and happy 7 lb. little girl. The diabetes did go away after the pregnancy and she is back to her old self!

I know it is not the most motivating story, but the ending is all that matters...that you and the baby are healthy and safe!!! I know it sounds scary, but I think you will do great through it all. If you have any questions at all, I would be happy to ask her for you.

Best of luck!!!

M., 1st time Mom of 4 month old Nolan

Hi H.,

First of all congrats on your first baby! That's very exciting. I have a 16 month old son and am also 30 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I found out in my first pregnancy, around the same time as you that I too had Gestational Diabetes. I had no health problems and was shocked and sad when I found out. I also have it this time too. With my first pregnancy I ended up having to go on insulin several weeks after I found out I had GD. Before that I controlled my sugars by eaiting 4 times a day and counting carbs. The bigger your baby gets and the bigger the placenta gets the more hormones are released so the harder it is to control it. I started on insulin in this pregnancy...and it's truly not bad. I think the finger pricks four times a day are worse.

I worked in my first pregnancy up until the day I had my son. Having Gest. Diabetes did not change anything other then my diet. They worry about large babys but my son was 7lbs 9 oz. which is considered completley normal...I know it can be scary, especially not knowing what to expect, but I promise you things will be okay. Don't stress yourself out over it and just be sure to ask your doc any questions you have. One exciting thing about having this at 32 weeks you will start having non stress test and ultra sounds weekly- which are just to keep an eye on the fluid and babys movements. But you will see your baby once a week :) I always thought that was exciting. You will have a lot more people in the delivery room but that's okay too- just to be sure the babys sugar is okay. Please, if you have any specific questions or concerns and want to email me feel free too. My email is ____@____.com. I know and understand what you are going through ...I went through it 16 months ago and am again now...so please let me know if you want to talk or have questions.

Be happy- things will be fine. S.