Gestational diabetes?

Question

I just got a phone call from my doctor's office that my results from my blood test were high and I'm going to have to take the 2nd test for gestational diabetes. I'm scared to death. In case I do have it I was wondering what kind of diet they put you on, so that maybe I could just start now. What should I stay away from and what should I eat more of. Any kind of special exercise? I'm really nervous about this. I didn't have it with my first child. Please give me some advice.

Answer 1

Don't panic. (Though I do understand what you are going through and did some panicking myself.)

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and have been diagnosed with GD too.

My doctor had told me to just eat normally prior to the three-hour test, yet I read online to eat a lot of carbs three days prior to the test. The loading up on carbs would challenge your pancreas, so to speak, so I'm not sure that helps your test results. Maybe it helps ensure the three-hour test is most accurate.

Eating normally -- not adjusting your diet at all -- probably makes most sense. If you have GD, you'll know after the Glucose Challenge Test (the three-hour test). Many people who take the one-hour test go on to pass the three-hour test with flying colors -- so you have a chance! The three-hour test is more conclusive. Your blood glucose numbers would have to be considered high for two of the four times they will test your blood in order to receive a diagnosis of GD.

I looked at it this way: It's probably better to barely fail the test than barely pass it, because if you do have GD or are borderline, you'll get the treatment you need that is best for you and for baby. (Now, passing with flying colors is another matter! I do hope you passed.)

Putting yourself on the diet now probably won't help, because the sugary drink you have to have will send your glucose numbers up if you do have GD.

If you do have GD, eating right, and/or rather, properly managing GD, will help your baby be a normal size -- not too large for a natural birth. GD babies do tend to be bigger and sometimes born earlier. Sometimes because the babies are bigger, a c-section is required, or labor is induced sooner than 40 weeks.

If GD is untreated or not managed properly, there are lots of horrible consequences...

If you do have GD, you'll likely meet with a nutritionist who will provide you with a diet that is right for you. I had a hard time finding generic info online about this diet, probably because it is somewhat personalized, which is nice, but a GD diet might look like this (this is what I have to follow): 30 grams of carbs for breakfast, and three snacks per day (with the last snack being before bed) and 50 grams of carbs each for lunch and dinner. Protein is very good. Fiber is very good. Fruit for breakfast is not good. Fruit juice at anytime is not good.

Your doctor will tell you how often to test your blood. Some doctors want you to test one hour after meals, others prefer two hours after meals. I was told my levels one hour after meals should be 140 or less, and my fasting blood sugar level should be 90 or less. (The acceptable numbers for the GTT itself are different.)

I like to look at my cousin's experience with GD: she had it with all three of her pregnancies and gave birth naturally all three times. All three were more than 7 pounds but less than 8 pounds, and all three were born early (in order, by one week, three weeks and four weeks) but completely free from any other complications or health issues. So I'm remaining hopeful. :)

Good luck!

Answer 2

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Answer 4

I had gestational diabetes with my first child, but not the second. They had meet me with a dietician to go over what the diabetic diet was. You can find that almost anywhere. I was on 1800 calories a day so I actually had to eat more, just differently, than I had been. You certainly won't be hungry. What I found, too, was that I felt so, so much better, lots more energy.

No special exercise. You could cut back on any sugary foods until the 2nd test, and try to space your food intake evenly over your waking hours. Even if the second test is positive, the good news is that once the baby is born you won't be diabetic any more, although you will have an increased risk of developing it over your lifetime.

Answer 5

Don't freak out, it's ok, Gestational Diabetes is very common, I had it and mine didn't fo away with a diet so they put me on medication ever since I was 15 weeks pregnant. I had to test my blood sugar 4 times a day until the day i gave birth so it was a long process but I had to make sure my sugar levels were controled and they were with the medication. I was on insuline during labor. But once my baby was born it went away. They will more likely send you to a nutrition class for diabetics and they will show you what to avoid and stuff, it will be ok, in the meantime drink plenty of water and don't worry your test might be fine the second time, i took the glucola test 3 times and the numbers were high 2 times. It will be ok, nothing to worry about. The medication is very mild, my baby is healthy and had a good birth weight, he weighed 7lb. It will be ok, nothing to worry about. They will tell you in the nutrition class that you have to meassure the amount of carbs you have a day which is very overwhelming i never did, i still ate everything i used to eat but in a controlled manner, I only gained 16lbs and like i said baby was born healthy.

It will be ok.

Answer 6

Every pregnancy is totally different from each other. They'll do a quick GTT (glucose tolerance test). If you fail that one they'll make you do a 3 hour GTT. If you fail that one then you'll officially have gestational diabetes. You'll just have to watch what you're eating - less sweets, less carbs, less foods with processed flours. They may put you on a medication to control your sugars but unlikely insulin unless it's really bad.

Answer 7

I had GD with two of my three pregnancies and I work in the medical field. I was able to control it with diet for my first and had to be put on insulin with the other. If your levels are 120 and over after one hour of eating or you have a fasting sugar of 97 and over you have GD. They will try it with diet depending on your readings, but if they are too high you will be put on insulin. You will have to cut out sugars and carbs that full of startch...remember not all carbs are bad. One thing you can do is dramatically increase your protein intake because carbs are immediately broken down in the blood stream where protein is not and eating more protein will slow down how your body breaks down the carbs and your sugar will not be so high. Anyone that says you do not need to exercise is wrong. Exercising, even a little, every day will speed up your metabolism and will help your body get rid of the extra sugar. You really want to do all you can to control with diet because even though being put on insulin is better for the baby then not being put on it you have to remember that insulin is not completely safe for the baby so it is really best overall for the baby if you can control this with diet. My son's blood sugar was extremely low after birth (I was on insulin with him) due to the insulin I was taking and so he had to be closely watched for the first 24 hours until it came back up. Good luck.

Answer 8

thats really funny cuz i was just about the write the same thing you just did... you like took the words right out of my mouth.. I got a phone call last week that my doctor wanted to see me because my test came back positive... I went to the doctors on thursday and they gave me a little kit to check my blood sugar 3 too 4 times a day for a few weeks. I will have to take the second test as well...probably this week or next week. Ive been checking my blood sence and its not very high.... its usualy around 5 in the morning when i wake up and 8 ....about 2 hrs after i eat... i talked to my ob/gyn and he told me that it wasnt bad at all not too worry too much about it just try not too eat anything with too much sugar....ie : candy, pop, deserts things like that... but anyways i would love too keep in contact with you and we can do this together.. im a big time candy freek and im freaking out cuz i cant have any! lol I never had this with my first child either so its a big thing and a big change for me... so please keep in contact... you can email me at [e-mail]

Answer 9

Don't panic and put yourself on a diet. This happens frequently. Most times it is a false positive and that's why the doctor wants to retest you to make sure. Follow the pretesting instructions carefully. If you eat foods that have a carb, high sugar content, it will sometimes give an unusually high reading if you are tested immediately afterwards. You'll probably be fine.

Answer 10

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