• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Do I even belong here?

M

midori

Newbie
Messages
4
I had Gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy, which had to be insulin controlled and suspect I may have had it in earlier pregnancies too. That baby is now 14 months old and as I know I am now at higher risk of type 2, I do occasionally check my blood glucose.

My fasting levels are between 6.1 and 7.3 and two hours after meals have been more random, but between 7.5 and 10.2.

I do have a GP appointment for something else, so will mention it then as I am due my yearly test anyway.

Am I being paranoid though or do these levels mean I might have pre diabetes or type 2? :? I would like to plan another pregnancy and am already high risk due to other problems, so this is something I need to sort out/be clear about before I try and concieve really.

Thankyou.
 
I am no expert! But I think that the levels you mention might indicate that you need to get professional advice. I am Type 2 and the figures you quote are similar to mine.

15 years ago, I had gestational diabetes ( unfortunately, I miscarried ) but as you are aware , gestational diabetes usually leads to Type 2 eventually. They quote 15 years in many books and hey presto! - it was 15 years for me - from pregnancy to Type 2. But in between I had impaired fasting glycaemia for years ....... pre-diabetes, which I was not really aware of ( i.e. I was not aware that diabetes was almost inevitable and I should have been making efforts to control my BGs a long time ago - I do worry about the damage that I may have sustained over those years).

Basically, starting to look into it as soon as possible can only be a good thing. Certainly don't feel paranoid. Getting clarity and starting to tackle the problem as early as possible is imperative.

Good luck with everything. Hope you get clarity and good advice so that you can keep yourself well and healthy for the babies that you already have xxx
 
Thankyou very much for replying. I am very sorry to hear you had a miscarriage., I have also had miscarriages and also a late loss of twins and this is what makes me (and my husband) anxious about having another baby. I will definitely mention it to the GP tomorrow then. I am rather cross with myself really as I was determined after the GD to change my lifestyle and although I have lost some weight and made small changes, I could have done much better. :oops:

Also, I am breastfeeding still and have read that this can reduce insulin requirements, so is it possible that my readings might actually be higher without breastfeeding? Does anyone have any experience of breastfeeding lowering blood glocuse/insulin requirements?

Thanks again!
 
I had borderline gestational diabetes with two out of my three pregnancies. I was never told that I was at more risk of T2 and wasn't followed up annually as women seem to be these days. It is interesting that you mention 15 years from gestational to T2 Kathy as I was diagnosed T2 when my youngest daughter was 15, although I have a feeling that I had T2 for several years before that.

All I can say midori, is to cut the amount of carbs you eat and see if it makes a difference to your BS levels. The lower they are, the better start for a new pregnancy. Of course this isn't to say that you wouldn't get gestational again.
 
Hi!

I had GD and now have a nearly 12 month old (birthday on Friday!).

I had another GTT when baby was 6 weeks old and I also still have impaired glucose tolerance/pre diabetes.

I am also still breastfeeding and also wonder how much of an effect it has on my levels as I have read that breastfeeding can reduce the levels. Unfortunately I don't have the answer yet so can't offer any advice.

I have read that the best way to delay/prevent it turning into full on Type 2 is to just act like you are already Type 2. So (well, after a few months of denial!!!) I now low carb and am trying to exercise as much as poss although this is hard with a young family but I am doing my best.

Let us know how you get on and keep in touch :thumbup:
 
I've just had one of those moments when I think OMG, I was diagnosed when my son was 15, how very strange. I was never diagnosed with gestational diabetes but pretty much had constant thrush the whole way through the pregnancy (which I had for a while before my diagnosis).

Well well how about that ... it doesn't change things but its kind of revalatory.
 
Back
Top