I've been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.?

Question

every since my doctor diagnosed me with this condition I've been having a hard time coping with it. I'm am now 32 weeks and my craving for food has increased. I'm more on the edge and sad about it because diabetes runs in my family so I'm almost sure I will develop it later in my life if it goes away after my delivery. I have been given a very difficult diet to go by that is not easy to do while pregnant. I have to stick myself two hours after I eat to check my glucose level, which has the tip of my fingers sore... Also I have to check my urine every morning when I wake up. I'm only 24 and I'm usually god with dealing with anything that comes my way but this is a major challenge for me. My fiancee, family, friends, and co-workers are trying to be supportive by telling me what I can and can't eat which is very annoying.....! It's already normal for a mother to worry about her unborn child but i'm almost on the edge of a panic attack. Does anyone else have this problem?

Answer 1

Freddie, you should do your research, you don't die from gestational diabetes (if it's controlled). Do you even know what it is?.

ANYWAYS, I do know exactly what you're going through sweetie. I'm 33 weeks pregnant and was diagnosed with it last month after doing the 3 hour glucose testing.

They sent me to a dietican, and she informed me of the diet I have to be on, which is basically a Low Carb one, I assume it's the same for you? I have to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with a snack a couple hours after each meal (snacks after poking myself).

I too have to poke myself 2 hours after each meal. I also have to check my urine for ketones every morning. I do have my blood sugar under control though, it's never been higher than the range that they gave me, and have mostly been in the late 80s and 90s as of lately.

Remember you can still eat like everyone else, you just have to portion it as they taught you to. Like a few days ago, one of my snacks I'm supposed to have 2 carbohydrates and I had a small lowfat brownie as opposed to the suggested (for me) 3 graham cracker squares and a cup of milk. Another day, we were out and it was my lunchtime, so we had to pull into McDonald's, now usually I would've gotten a value meal, but instead I just got a cheeseburger and medium fries. I checked my blood sugar 2 hours later, and it was just fine. Obviously you don't want to do that everyday though.

Did they give you an Exchange Lists booklet? If not, ask them to give you one or find out where you can get one for someone with diabetes, because they gave me one and it really comes in handy. It has lists of all foods and how many carbs they count as as well as the serving size.

It's not easy, I know, but just think that you must do it for your baby! Then after you give birth, it will more and likely go away and you can have your hubby or boyfriend go to Dairy Queeen (or where ever) and get you what you've been craving for for so long! That's what I'm going to do! lol

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

I am also 32 weeks pregnant and have GD. I am on the strict 1 starch a meal diet and have to do the finger pricking 4 times a day. Best to stick the sides of your fingertips instead of straight on. My numbers have been good according to the doctor, I have to call them in every week. I got diagnosed at 8 weeks after failing the 3 hour GTT miserably. I had steroid shots at 30 weeks so that messed up my sugars some, but now they are back on track pretty much. I don't take insulin at all, just diet controlled. I lost 10 lbs in the first 2 weeks and have only gained about 6-7 lbs of that back, so I am still in the negative for pregnancy weight gain. Doctor's are actually pleased with that. I can pretty much eat what I want at this point, I just eat less of it, if it's a carb mostly.

You can do it, only a few more weeks.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I have insulin resistance which is basically pre-diabetes. Both my parents are diabetic. When i became pregnant, the doctors immediately put be on the diet you have mentioned to ward of a potential GD and prevent getting on insulin. As a result I started on the diet when i was about 13 weeks pregnant. I felt exactly like you but even more so because 3 months before that pregnancy, i had had a miscarriage.

It was the hardest thing i had ever had to do to stay on that diet cos i have never been good at dieting. Since i am vegetarian it was even harder for me to have a high protein/low carb diet. I would be racked with guilt and fear if i didnt follow it perfectly. But as the months went along and my numbers showed that i was doing good, the fear eased. Because of the miscarriage i was determined to do everything in my power to have a healthy baby. I got so used to the diet that even after having the baby i loosely follow the diet and have lost weight so i can put off having type 2 diabetes even longer.

Everyone kept warning me that if my sugars got out of control i'd have a huge baby and would have a c-section. Turns out my lil girl tied a knot in the cord so she didnt get all i ate and turned out low birth weight at 4.10 lbs! I had a normal delivery and she is perfectly healthy.

You have only 8 weeks to go. I recommend meditation and praying when you get panicky. Thats what i did. I would visualize my baby in my belly and see her healthy and happy and talk to her. Do the best you can on the diet. The key is spreading your meals apart. If you are hungry tell yourself you can have some more in a hour or 2. Make sure you have a bunch of protein with every little carb you have. Pick one craving that you have most and indulge just a little. I picked pancakes but i would add extra eggs and make it whole wheat pancakes and use fat free whipped cream instead of syrup.

The good thing is the blood sugar returns to normal a day or 2 after the baby is born but this 8 weeks will help you start eating in a way that will help postpone type 2 D if you practise it loosely. The hardest part is the blood testing. Not only do the pricks hurt when you do it 7 times a day, initially i used to be so scared what the result would be. When i started doing better i negotiated with the doctor to reduce testing to 4 times a day. It still sucked though. Just grit your teeth for the next 8 weeks, focus on your beautiful baby and he/she will be here and healthy before you know it.

I will keep you in my prayers. Good luck and Congratulations!

P.S. I bought whey protein powder and added it to my milk to increase protein. I even added it to water. Remember the more protein you eat with your carb the slower your blood sugar will be released.

Answer 7

See this website for some good information
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/gestational/?s_kwcid=520045700000001851&clicksource=standard

You've made it to 32 weeks, which is good. It sounds like your doc is keeping a close watch on you. All the restrictions and blood testing are pretty miserable I'm sure, but it won't be forever, just another couple months. You can do it. And they're important both for your health and for that of your baby - you'll get through it.

Don't take the first answer to your question seriously. Doesn't seem to track with any reputable source.

Good luck.

Answer 8

I had gestional diabetis. When the doc told me, I was so upset. I was scared. I was about 4 months along when I found out. I went on the diabetic diet. I kept losing weight while I was pregnant. And yes, I had to do the 2 hour testing as well. When I was 7 months pregnant I had to go on insulin with the needle.. and I had to have a c- section because of that, (not to stress the baby). If you follow that diet, you will be fine.. you will feel great.. Please feel free to email me ok??? I might be able to help you. I have 2 kids now.. teenagers.. but I been where you are.. :)

Answer 9

I am sorry you are feeling so panicky... I would be too. I never had GD but with my last pregnancy my midwives warned that it could possibly happen. Have you check out the blue ribbon diet? This is a good diet that is supposed to help with prevention of GD and other common pregnancy induced ailments.

Hang in there, I know it is hard but there are only 8 more weeks left.

Answer 10

Don't worry. You will be free of it after your child is born. I never had it but I have type 2 diabetes and mine is not going away. Just follow your Doctors instructions and once the baby is born; you;ll be as good as new! Good Luck!