gestational diabetes: what's it all about?

Jessica - posted on 07/24/2010

How high was the 1 hour? I was 24 also when I was preggers and I was only a tiny bit over on the one hour and then failed the three hour. Gestationial Diabetes occurs because the placenta gives off a hormone causes it.
My case was easily controlled by diet. I also had to prick my finger 4 x a day to make sure my blood sugar levels were ok.

If your 3 hour comes back high they will probably check the baby to make sure he or she isnt too big and then they will put you on a diabetic diet which consists of counting carbs and eating a certain amount of them at certain times of the day. It is important that your levels are under control when you give birth because it can be dangerous to the baby if your levels are super high. If you need any more info message me anytime!! Hopefully you wont have to worry about it but even if it does end up that you have it.....its not too bad

JoAnna - posted on 07/24/2010

I had Gestational Diabetes. I was on a very high dose of Glyburide and my sugars were still out of control. The last week of my pregnancy (I delivered at 36 weeks) my sugars went from running too high all of the time to bottoming out. Because of the issues I had my preemie was still 7 pounds 12 ounces! It is possible that you do not have it, however, if you do please be careful and follow your doctors orders to the T. It is not necessarily a health issue for you as it is your baby. They can be born very large and could have issues with their blood sugar after birth.

Tasha - posted on 07/22/2010

Hi there, i got gestational diabetes in the last 3mnths of my pregnancy wen i was preggers with my 1st i didnt knw what it was or anything only that i must b a diabetic? So once i got diagnosed i had 2 keep my sugar levels dwn and i had 2 prick myself twice a day 2 see waht my sugars were like i controlled mine with a diet i still had sugar jst not alot then wld check it. But it went away after i gave birth 2 my son and i had a lil girl last year and didnt get it at all. I had 2 9lb babies one with gestational diabetes and one without it. Must breed them big say haha.

Bridget - posted on 07/22/2010

If you do have Gestational Diabetes, don't panic. It usually goes away after the pregnancy ends. It really just means that the pregnancy hormone is battling your ablilty to break down the sugars (and starches) you consume. You can still eat just about all the meat and cheese you want. You'll need to lay off of sugary drinks and if you eat yogurt you can switch to light yogurt. It won't affect your blood sugars as much and it will still give you calcium.
Don't worry about it alot but remember that if you allow your blood sugar to run high regularly it can cause you to have a very large baby, and it can cause your baby to be born with low blood sugar. (which they will probably just give him/her a little sugar water for.
Best of luck to you.

Am - posted on 07/22/2010

If you do have the gestational diabetes then good news is you are almost done, so you only have to watch for a few more weeks. It will go away after you deliver. There really isn't much to worry about, a lot of people get it. It sucks but like I said you are almost done so hang in there. Congratulations on the pregnancy and good luck through your labor!

Jenna - posted on 07/22/2010

First of all, good luck to you. Who knows, maybe your first glucose test, you could have been under the weather or eaten something before hand that triggered your sugar to spike. Relax. Gestational diabetes may not sound fun, but it is totally manageable.

Gestational diabetes isn't really triggered by family history, so much as it is triggered by your body and its response to the pregnancy. You could have eaten the perfect, healthy pregnancy diet ( i.e. my first pregnancy) , and/or have no family history of Diabetes, and still develop Gestational Diabetes.

There are several factors that determine how Gestational Diabetes will affect you. With being at 36 weeks, even if it becomes extreme enough for any type of insulin supplement or injection, you only have a few more weeks left. If it does come back with any type of abnormalities, the doctor may have you retest, or just begin testing your blood sugar up to about 4 times a day so you can help monitor your own levels.

I was tested very early in mmy pregnancy because I have had instances of diabetes and stress related diabetes in the family. At first my 3 hour glucose tests were not that severe and all I did was learn to control my sugar with a better spaced diet. I was already eating the right things, I just needed to add mroe fiber and eat smaller meals. That worked out fine. Then when I was around 32 weeks, I had to begin supplementing with a small dosage of medication, twice a day, to help control my sugar levels during my fasting and pre-bedtime area. Most doctors will set you up with a nutritionist to help you with your diet options, as well as explaining how the Gestational Diabetes will affect you and the baby.

My first son was very large, and because of the Gestational Diabetes, my doctor suggested a scheduled c-section a few days before my due date. The c-section went perfect fine and my son's sugar levels were completely normal. My sugar levels immediately went back to normal after the delivery.

Now this is my second pregnany, I am currently 35 weeks, and i have yet to develop any hint of Gestational Diabetes. You ar emore likely to develop it in subsequent pregnancies, but not always. Every pregnancy is different. Honestly, I'm glad that I had Gestational Diabetes in my first pregnancy, because the education I received from my OB, and my nutritonist was very, very helpful. I know can see when my blood sugars are too high or too low, just based on the way my body feels. I still continue to test myself every month or so, just once or twice, or when I feel like my sugar is too high or too low. It helps to keep me aware of my body and its reponse to the sugar levels in my body.

Anita - posted on 07/22/2010

You might find it comes back clear, I was high on all my tests, but I found it came back fine after the 3 hour test. It could be something as simple as having jam on your toast or sugar on your weetabix before you went for the test! (I got told off quite alot)
I think if it does come back with the gestational diabetes its a simple case of monitoring you and adjusting your diet.
Here's a link I think should help - http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/co...

Fingers crossed for you x x