Gestational Diabetes
Me at 30 weeks.
Last week, I took a routine glucose test, and found out that my blood sugar levels were too high. I was given the three hour test soon afterwards, and it turns out that I have Gestational Diabetes. I've never had it before, so it's all new to me. I was not borderline- I was very much above the acceptable levels- for instance, my fasting blood sugar level was 150, and 1 hour after drinking the glucose drink, it was 247 - The acceptable levels are anything below 95 for the fasting levels, and 180 for the 1 hour. So that is quite a difference!
Once I found out about the diabetes, they told me that they would schedule an appointment with a dietician, so that I can know what I can eat and not eat, and whether or not I will have to begin taking insulin shots. The appointment wasn't scheduled for a few days after, so until then, I googled all of the information I could, to try to come up with a new eating plan to help reduce my blood sugar.
My new grocery list contained almost no sugar, and almost no carbs. I went without sugar and started having withdrawal symptoms - mostly fatigue. I napped for a few hours each day for 3 days- and I had extreme cravings for anything with sugar, pasta, potatoes, rice, or corn. The fourth day i was finally feeling much better. That was the day I went to the doctor, and then I found out that they actually WANT me to eat carbs....6 servings a day! (15 grams each). They spoke with me for a few hours, giving me all kinds of information about what I could and couldn't eat, and what amounts are in different things, and how to read the labels, etc.
I have followed their plan today and yesterday perfectly, but have not noticed any positive changes in my blood sugar levels yet. Maybe after more time...I don't know. Apparently, the placenta produces hormones which cause resistance to your insulin, and make it impossible for your body to break down some of the sugars in your body. (Once the baby is born, I should go back to being normal again.) I think that more likely than not, I will probably have to take the insulin shots until birth. I was hoping that my diet would help but I don't think it will be enough.
I have also been trying chromium supplements, which I have read are helpful in reducing blood sugar levels, but so far haven't seen much of an improvement. (I'm testing my blood sugar daily now that I have a monitor and strips).
I am going to be starting a routine of exercising in the evenings, as I heard that can help your morning levels go down (my morning fasting levels today were 205, and they want my levels to go down to below 99 in the morning!)
Has anyone here had experience with Gestational Diabetes? If so, do you have any advice or suggestions? i'm open to hearing anything you have to offer.
Hey Bethany,
Jill sent me the link to your post here. When I was borderline this was pregnancy, I used this list: http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/glycemicfoodchart.htm and it was very helpful. I stuck to the low glycemic foods, many of which were surprising to me. Hope this helps!!
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Kel I will be referring to this list often..thank you!
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oh no! so sorry! i had that with my first born, so i understand! (and because I had it with my first, for my second pregnancy, i was treated as if i would develop it again) uggh. the thing that helped me the most, was eating just as i was told. sounds simple enough, but loving to bake and being a bread and pasta kinda gal, being asked to cut back on carbs was brutal! lol. but, with careful monitoring, testing my sugar and eating small snacks of equal protein and carbs (ex. nuts and raisins) really seemed to help a lot. also, be as in-tune with the way you feel as possible. soon, you may be able to detect if your sugar is too high or low, on the way you feel. (but, don't just rely on that)
take care
i'll keep you in my prayers.
Melinda
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Thanks Melinda! I am a bread and pasta loving girl too, so definitely I feel the same way!
Thanks so much for the advice.
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I was borderline with my 1st but never told
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Are you saying that because you had GD from conception they wanted you to abort your baby?
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That is correct. I was told that the baby would be born with deformities. Of course I'm anti-abortion and now have a wonderful 3 1/2 year old son who I love dearly.
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I read online that doctors will frequently do this when GD is diagnosed early in pregnancy. It is so disgusting and wrong!
This kind of thing is rooted in Eugenics and is the "seek out and destroy the unfit" mentality. They are saying that a child with defomity or illness isn't worth as much as a healthier child. I strongly disagree, and think that kind of thinking is evil.
What makes me sad is that so many women who are not as strong in conviction and informed as Sarah, will succomb to the doctor's pressure and misuse of authority, and abort a child - who probably wouldn't have even had a deformity or problem at all anyway! Not that it would change their humanity one iota if they did.
Sorry for the rant- it really makes me angry that doctors will pressure women into killing their children. It happens so often- I have friends and family members who were given the same advice by their doctors for different reasons. Every single one of those babies turned out to be perfectly healthy in the end, even though they were diagnosed with different illness, the possibility of deformity or disease, etc.
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For all three of my pregnancies where GD was an issue, it was diagnosed at 5-8 weeks. My Doctor never suggested ending the pregnancy. He just had me start on the diet to regulate it. None of my beautiful daughters have any health issues or deformities!
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I'm glad that you've never been faced with this. FWIW the dr who suggested I abort was a perinatologist, not my regular OB, thankfully my regular OB handles all my care including the diabetic side of things since I refuse to see the high risk doctors again. With my son, 3rd pregnancy and early onset, diet was not controlling it and I was on insulin.
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Even if you would need a c-section it's not horrible. So many people are dead set against c-sections. It sure beats the alternatives, injuries to the baby, YOU,etc. If you need one, you need one. It's a HUGE pet peeve of mine that so many Christian women vow to never have one. Birth is natural however you have one.
You will probably deliver early, you'll be induced, so that the baby won't get too big.
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Hopefully if I can keep my blood sugar at a good level, the baby will be a good size till the end- I'm planning not to induce this time. I induced with all three of the others before I knew of the risks of induction. Inducing labor caused noah to go into distress and they had to put internal fetal monitoring in me when I was in labor with him- so I just want to be on the safer side this time. The insulin should hopefully help keep things under control.
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Bethany, I am only 5'6", and a normal weight. My first baby was 9-1/2 pounds, 22" long (uncomplicated homebirth). My second baby was nearly 11 pounds, 24" long. Please do not even consider a c-section for reason that the doctors "feel" the baby "may be too big". Especially if they "diagnose" this via ultrasound. I am a childbirth educator, and if I had $1.00 for each time I heard this, I'd be rich. Most of the time, the baby is a HUMONGOUS 8 pounds! Mothers often go on to birth even larger babies, saddened by the fact that they agreed to a c/s with their first child. Seeking midwifery care reduces your chances of an unnecessary c/s, as long as the midwife is not a "MEDwife", an agressive medical-type in midwife's clothing. I wish you the best. BTW, remember to eat lots of good fat--it slows the release of carbs. And, YUM!
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Hi Tia, I want to say that yes, I am a Christian and no I'm not totally against c-sections. My c-section was horrible and I suffered depression for months afterwards because I was forced into something I later found out I didn't need. Injuries to the baby happen all the time during c-section and death is also one of the 'side effects' listed in the consent papers. C-sections are major surgery, not natural. Of course a lot disagree with me on my natural births since I was induced and used epidurals. C-sections have their place but diabetes is not a true reason nor is a big baby - my 2nd baby and 1st VBAC weighed almost 10lbs and my c-section was for a big baby who only weighed in at 8lbs 3 1/2oz.
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Thanks so much for the encouragement, Sarah...I have been very concerned about the possibility of c-section. Noah was 9 lb and 2 oz induced 3 weeks early, so I can only imagine this baby is going to be bigger.
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Bethany, I want you to remember that in the vast majority of cases, YOU WON'T GROW A BABY YOU CAN'T BIRTH! Diabetes makes this a slightly different story, but not terribly. I've attended homebirths with diabetic women--not even gestationally diabetic--"real" diabetics. Everything went just fine
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Thanks so much for the suggestions and help...I appreciate it so much!
As for c-section, I want to do everything in my power not to have a c-section. I know that it is a major surgery which can be life threatening for baby and mother. If there is a way to prevent it from happening, I will do it. No offense to anyone who has had a c-section! I just personally would not want it- it's a very scary thing!
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I agree that a C-section is very scary. My first was born by cesarean, my next was an induction, and my others were all VBACs. Just like all aspects of motherhood, you will probably have a good idea of what is the best choice for you and your precious baby at whatever time you may (or may not) need to make such a decision. Scary as a C-section is, if you know that it is the best or only option (in my case, it was ABSOLUTELY necessary), you will agree without thinking twice, just like doing any other thing that is difficult but in the best interest of your child.
Sorry to ramble, but as a Christian mom who's had a cesarean, I just wanted to offer some encouragement!
I'll be praying for you, Ian, and the rest of your lovely family. God bless!
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I just wanted to chime in here on the c-sections. What above posters have written about the risks is absolutely true.
I'm a Christian and am against c-sections precisely because of the risks (death being a large one) and side effects (poor bonding or nursing relationship d/t anesthetics or complications). So many women act like c-sections are some sort of miracle way to birth, not realizing that it's totally unnatural. I actually just wrote a post about this on my blog the other day.
FWIW - I've had a c-section myself, but it was not elective. I believe c-sections should be reserved for emergency situations only. And the doctor "guesstimating" that your baby is going to be large is not a good enough reason, IMO.
Bethany, so sorry to hear about the GD. Good luck with your search for the best treatment options for you. I don't have anything significant to add, having not dealt with that personally. If you develop gestational hypertension, though, look me up. I'm full of first-hand knowledge about that fun disease.
BTW - you're looking great!
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Thanks, Amanda!
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Hi,
I am not sure if I have ever commented on your blog before but I do read it. When I was pregnant with my daughter, 8-years ago, I was 37 and considered high risk due to my age. I was tested and found to have gestational diabetes and was suddenly scared to death to eat anything. Thankfully I found a wonderful woman, while shopping at a yard sale, that was a dietitian and she showed me how to eat the way I needed. I was very good and followed my diet to the “T” but still ended up needing insulin shots.
While on my special diet I counted carbs and learned to identify portions (this is the secret) I still ate normal food and watched how much sweets and fats were in my diet. My main source of sweets were in the form of fruit and only eaten occasionally and at the proper time. I ate 3 meals and 3 snacks each day and I stopped eating after 7 each evening. If I remember correctly I took the number of carbs allowed and divided them into a daily chart. I was allowed meat with each meal and I believe I was allowed 1 or 2 fats each day. I found a carb counting chart online, don’t remember where, and used the chart to judge how many carbs each food item was. I used a printed template (that I created on the computer) at the start of each day so I knew just what I ate and wouldn’t go over my recommended carb numbers.
I hope this helps some and isn’t too confusing; having gestational diabetes is very scary but it isn’t the “end of the world”.
Good luck, I am sure you will catch on quickly and do just fine.
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Thanks for the encouragement, Pam. It sounds like you had a very good ending!
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I am diabetic,but my blood sugar is well controlled on meds. I did have to go on insulin while I was pregnant, but my morning b/s was only around the 140's. I developed pre-eclampsia late in my pregnancy, but my baby was a 4-pounder. My half sister developed gestational diabetes during her first pregnancy, and it continued after the pregnancy because her father was diabetic. She had two large babies (most, not all diabetics usually do)one was 9 1/2 pounds, the other was 10 pounds 4 oz. We both had c-sections, but for different reasons. I generally try to stay away from anything 'white' flour, sugar, pasta, potatoes.
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I'm sorry to hear about the pre-eclampsia that you and your little one had to go through-
Thank you for the tips! I will try my best to stay away from anything 'white'.
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I have never been pregnant (although we are trying!). I just read this: http://community.livejournal.com/pregnant/15286114.html#cutid1 Hopefully that will help answer some of your questions!
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I had GD, but mine did not go away, which means that I more than likely actually had it before I got preggo! I was told to start eating more cinnamon on everything or in your coffee. Anything that you could stand to eat cinnamon on, put it on it! I got a bit tired of it, so I started taking cinnamon capsules. It helped alittle, but what really helps is to just keep moving (walking, swimming, if you can get to an indoor pool this time of year) and just watch your sugars. My doc said that they would rather me eat two or three apples at a time instead of eating a candy bar! But some days it is soooo hard. Hang in there! Praying for you and little blessing!
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I had this with both of my pregancies. Diet controled mine completely. I delivered 2 healthy babies without any complications and I was fine after each delivery. I just followed the diabetic diet and ate 3 meals and 3 snacks each day which proved hard on my 2nd pregancy - I just was not that hungary. I hope and pray this works for you.
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I had Gestational Diabetes with all 3 of my girls. For some reason it was never an issue with my 2 boys.
What helped me with the tiredness was having a snack in between breakfast and lunch, between lunch and dinner and between dinner and bedtime. My bedtime snack was usually a small bowl of 20 carbs or less per serving cereal with milk. The evening snack is very, very important. It helps your morning number to be where it needs to be. Spacing out your meals and snacks during the entire day helps keep your blood sugar regulated and your energy up! My dietician, who was a diabetic herself, said to stay away from fruit juice (too much sugar) and do not drink milk until luchtime and after. Milk has sugar in it and will make you tired if drunk before lunch. I know that you are getting so many wonderful tips from everyone, but these are things that helped me-especially with the tiredness.
My girls weighed 6-12, 6-13 and 7-11. The 6-13 and 7-11 were c-section.
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The key is to finding what works for your body. I could drink 8oz of milk which I think was 12 carbs and then a packet of instant oatmeal to get me to 45 carbs for breakfast and I didn't have issues with tiredness or high blood sugars. Try it and if it doesn't work for you change it, I'm one that has to have milk at breakfast because I enjoy milk. My dietician worked it in my eating plan so that I could have milk at each meal or fit it with my snack
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Sarah, Kira, Missy, Valerie, and April, thanks so much for the advice and support!
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I had borderline GD this last pregnancy (baby was born Jan 5th). My doctor didn't make me eat the GD diet, but I majorly modified my diet because I felt better with a different diet. I also exercised every day. Yes it was yoga, but it got me sweating.
A big thing, is if you are really into carbs, invest in the 'low carb' breads and tortillas and wraps. The regular stuff will be off limits.
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Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had the most medicalized birth imaginable [minus my water breaking] and I think it really makes a difference with breastfeeding! I had such a hard time having my milk come in! Has any other mother noticed this?
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Bethany, I was just diagnosed with GD earlier this week, and I'm going for my education on eating and using a monitor today. Someone left a link on my blog to yours, and I am so glad to find someone who is in a similar situation that I am. I was very surprised to find out I have GD, since I have eaten reasonably healthy and exercised through my entire pregnancy so far (30 weeks). However, now I am excited to learn more about what is going on in my body and how to make it function better. I've really been encouraged reading how your dietary changes have made such an amazing positive impact in your GD -- I'm hoping the same will be true for me!
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