Hiya,
I haven't been on for a while, but I have diabetes (type II) and am pregnant (for the second time within a year!).
Anyway, I was diet control prior to my daughter being born - I was put onto metformin at first, then insulin (novorapid at first, then insulatard towards the end).
I found that it was easier to control my changing BG levels during my pregnancy with the insulin than relying on tablets alone.
I know that the aim is to have less medication and to control your GD with as little medication as possible. However, my view is that it's very hard to get your BG under control when the goal posts are constantly changing - your insulin requirements are increasing on a day to day/week to week basis and you know what? To me, keeping my BG levels as near to normal as possible for my baby's sake is more important than being upset about what medication I'm taking to get those results (just re-read that and it sounds harsh - I'm not being harsh, just putting it into perspective
).
I understand how hard it is to get to grips with taking medication as well as monitoring your BG levels, but it's for a greater good iyswim?
I have recently been changed from Insulatard to Glargine as I kept hypo-ing during the night on the Insulatard.
I've noticed that changing my insulin has had an impact on my BG levels (for the better) after an initial blip in getting the dosage right. Again though, I know that this dosage will increase within the next few weeks as the baby grows and develops.
As for diabetes and big babies - my daughter was born and was 6lb 12oz, so not a big baby at all. At 32 weeks, there are 8 weeks to term - at this stage of pregnancy, your baby will put on about 1/2lb per week, which would mean a baby of around 8lbs at term - which is seemingly about average these days.
Re: the friend with GD - diet is a big concern with GD. Basically, the only advice I would give is to make sure to follow information given from the diabetic consultants and ensure she attends her antenatal appoinments. I see an obstetrician and a diabetologist at my antenatal appointments and they then discuss any issues that I have - and of course, treatment.
Biggest tip that I can give about controlling GD, whether diet or medication based is to skip the sugary drinks! They metabolise in a different way to food and raise BG levels very rapidly.
Sorry for the essay
.
Fiona