Newly pregnant, GD returning already?

cloudedskies

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Gestational
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello,

I have just stumbled across this forum whilst on a google-a-thon.

I am newly pregnant, just 6 weeks, with much wanted baby number 5.

My first 3 pregnancies were normal with no GD, but it was discovered late on in pregnancy number 4, at 35 weeks, that I had it, after sugar (Or something, I forget!) in urine prompted further testing at a routine appointment. I just over 35 weeks, and I had my baby, by planned c-section, at exactly 38 weeks. I was due to have a section anyway but it was bought forward due to the GD. In those few short weeks I really struggled with my numbers and was thankful I was so close to the end.

Now I am pregnant again, and I understand there is a high chance the GD will return. I still have my testing kit from my last pregnancy and I started testing myself last week, fasting in the morning, and 1 hour after evening meals, occasionally other meals too, but I only had a limited number of test strips left and I have now ran out! I think my numbers were high
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The few fastings I took were between 4.8 and 5.6, which I think is OK?

And my 1 hr after meals readings, have been 9.8, 11.9, 8.9, 8.6, 8.0 and 10.0, this is high I think?

I saw my GP on Tuesday and took along the meter and my readings, he was rather rude and told me if I continued to be overweight (Which I am, but not massively so) I was guaranteed Type 2 in the future, and as I had failed to lose weight since my last pregnancy, it was a given that I would have GD this time
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He sent me for HbA1c and a GTT yesterday, and it will be a couple of days before I hear anything.

I asked what can I do now, and should I be worried etc, and he told me to avoid "Pasta, rice, noodles and anything carby and filling" and that was pretty much it.

I dont know what to think, or what to do. I feel like being so early in my pregnancy that they will not be prepared to do much with me and I will have to wait until I am over 12 weeks, but what can I do now? And what damage is happening to my baby?
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I feel a bit lost and unbelievably confused & overwhelmed.

Lise
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C

catherinecherub

Guest
Hi,

I know this is a worrying time for you and you want to do the best for your baby.

If your Dr. has told you to cut back on the obvious carbohydrates then it should make a difference. You seem to have caught him on a bad day but there is no excuse for upsetting you. You don't need that .

NICE guidelines suggest individual targets so I really cannot comment on your levels. Have you been given a target? I know that during pregnancy you have to test at the one hour mark but what is your target?

http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathway...:nodes-information-and-advice-after-diagnosis

Have you read the advice for newly diagnosed diabetics? Although you are not diabetic it will help you lower your blood sugars.

I hope someone will reply who has been where you are now.

Keep asking questions and people here will try and help.

((((hugs))))

CC.
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
Hi,

.....

Have you read the advice for newly diagnosed diabetics? Although you are not diabetic it will help you lower your blood sugars.

I hope someone will reply who has been where you are now.

Keep asking questions and people here will try and help.

((((hugs))))

CC.

Here is the information which Catherine mentioned and recommended that you read. It should set you on the right path.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find well over 70,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.