Gestational Diabetes??

Question

I just got diagnosed with gestational diabetes. So... now what? I meat with a dietician/nutritionalist on Tuesday. What should I expect? What are the risks for me and my baby? I heard it increases the risk of preeclampsia... which I am already at risk of. I see my doctor on Wednesday so I will be asking her too.. just wanted some opinions for now. Thanks

Sorry about spelling.. I was distracted by Blues Clues! lol

Answer 1

I was diagnosed with it and they just had me check my blood sugar levels (real fun) and just watch my diet. I didn't need insulin or anything. My son was fine...he's now 5 and watching Bob the Builder. :)

Now as far as big baby coming early, here's the fun part: According to their ultrasound measurements I was due January 1, 2002. When I counted from first day of last period I came up with December 18, 2001.

My son was born December 16, 2001, weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz. They thought he was a bit early.

My mother and my husband were in the 8-pound range when they were born. So no surprise my son was too.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes with my last child. When you meet with the dietician, he/she will go over a recommended diet that includes how many furits, vegetables, protein, milk, and carbohydrate servings you should have each day. One of the risks is for the baby to be larger than normal which has risks of causing delivery complications. My pregnancy was unusual in that I conceived when I had been on birth control pills for 11 years and our children were 18, 15, and 12. I was 38. I did not find out I was pregnant until I was 17 weeks along. I had been having a hard time eating much other than soup and toast because I had stomach pain. My doctor originally diagnosed me with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I had no pregnancy symptoms, not even missed periods because of the hormones in the Birth Control pills. I was carrying around extra weight at the time and I lost 25 pounds during my pregnancy. My baby was born at 41 weeks and only weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces, the smallest of my babies. She is now 9 years old and my other children are 27, 25, and 22. A risk to a mother who has had Gestational Diabetes is to develop Type 2 Diabetes later in life. I am now 48 and was recently diagnosed with Glucose Intolerance which is a pre-diabetic condition. So, I am back to counting carbs, keeping track of food intake, and trying to eat healthy. You will likely have to monitor your blood glucose levels using a glucose monitor at home. After the birth, you normally are no longer diabetic, although both you and your baby will be tested several times in the hospital to be sure. My prenatal care was transferred to the high risk diabetic clinic at the hospital from my own family practice doctor.

Answer 4

I never heard that there was an increased risk of preeclampsia with GD. Huh! You learn something new every day. I had it with my middle child and it was easily manageable. I had to test my sugar 4 times a day, on waking and 2 hours after each meal. I had to avoid certain foods like pasta, honey and syrup, high sugar items. Just do what the dietician says, and you'll be fine!

Answer 5

I was diagnosed with it when I was about 6 months pregnant with my middle child. The doctor told me to just eat more balanced meals, like eat a piece of whole grain toast along with the orange I was eating in the mornings.

I wound up having a rather large baby though. And that seems to be something that can happen more with GD. So don't be surprised if they want to take another ultrasound later in the pregnancy to determine whether you should have a C-section.
Here is a good site for you to read up on........

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/2058.html

Answer 6

You will have to watch your diet very carefully and have your sugar tested. Diabetes can result in a bigger baby than normal. Many women with diabetes deliver before their due date because of the baby's size. Your doctor will monitor you more closely than a non risky pregnancy.

Answer 7

i had uncontrollable gestational diabities, meanning that i was insulin dependent but they were always changing by insuiln dosage around. my levels were always speratic, also they will most likely schedule you for induction around 38 weeks. they ended up puling my baby out at 37 weeks. also gd usually have big babies however one misconception is that you will have a big baby, sometimes it is the other way around, a smaller baby. my osn was born at 6.4lb my first born was 7.8 with gd too.
the best thing to do is eat a diabetic diet.