Gestational Diabetes - Lake Bluff,IL

I had gestational diabetes with my first child... but it was borderline so they didn't treat it, so I don't have experience with the insulin. I actually didn't find out until after my child was born.

Anyways, my child was pretty big (almost 9 lbs and I am a very petite woman), which is normal for gestational babies. I was really swollen and had severe carpal tunnel for almost 2 months due to the swelling. So do whatever you can to keep it under control. Good luck!

I had it with my first pregnancy. I had to take insulin. Some people feel like if they have to start using insulin it is because they are doing something wrong- DON'T fall into that trap!

A high fasting blood sugar generally means you ate too many carbs the night before. Watch your carb portions carefully! Now that you are on insulin you will have to be extra careful that you have enough, but not too much!

As my pregnancy progressed, so did my insulin.... you see, the diet restrictions caused me to stop gaining weight, even though I was trying to eat enough... the doctor would tell me to eat more, the dietician would say that I needed more insulin... and so on. Even though I followed my plan to a T (I even was measuring and weighing my portion sizes)- the act of the matter was that my placenta was "eating" a ton of my insulin up... and as it grew, it ate more.

So here is the deal. When I had my baby she was 6lbs 5oz - about 2 weeks before my due date. She was perfectly healthy and her blood sugar was fine. My diabetes went away after pregnancy.

Now here is the kicker- So if you do well controlling your diabetes as well as you can... you have a healthy baby, are proclaimed diabetes-free, and you are free to go about your life right? NO- well only if you want to do this all next time you have a baby, and then ten years after if you become a type 2 diabetic! AFTER you have the baby it is wise to make sure you follow all their advice for helping prevent diabetes in the future. If you have pounds to lose, lose them (that diabetes diet works well for losing weight too... if you just change the portions) If you need to get fit - GET FIT! Do the work, and trust me, you'll be glad you did. See I was told that I would probably have diabetes right from conception if I ever got pregnant again, but 2 years later, 25 lbs thinner starting weight, and a LOT healthier, I was able to carry baby #2 with no gestational diabetes, or other complications for that matter. My doctors were very pleased and told me that they are 100% sure that my work after pregnancy prevented me getting gestational diabetes, and now that I have lost my baby weight again and continue to live as healthily as I can, I have drastically improved my odds of not being a diabetic in 10 years.

I know the word "diabetes" is terrifying... I cried on my way home from that appointment... But this can be a jumping off point for you! Take care of yourself and take care of your baby. If you are having a rough time make sure to TALK to your doctor and dietician. it is their job to help you find solutions, and give you ideas!

Good Luck!
-M.

I had GD with my second. I was insulin dependent but also of course had to monitor food portions and count carbs and caloric intake. He was ____@____.com weeks 6 days weighing in at just under 7lbs and around 19" long. He was perfectly healthy. Years after the fact I'm perfectly fine as well no diabetes to speak of, but I also never had the weight to lose. That's not to say I didn't gain almost 100lbs while pregnant. I wish you the best with your pregnancy and a safe and healthy delivery.

I had it also, but was able to diet control, so I didnt have to take insulin. My baby was 9 lbs and I was induced on my due date. I did not have gd with my other pregnancy, and that baby was huge also, so Im not sure the size had anything to do with the gd. Do you eat a midnight snack?? Sometimes going a really long time without eating can cause your fasting sugar to spike. Try cheese and crackers or some air popped popcorn or even just a glass of milk and spoonful of peanut butter right before bed and see if that helps. If you are already doing this, you will probably need the insulin. Ive heard the nice thing about that is you can eat a little more carbs.
Neither of my kids had any problems after delivery.

I had gestational diabetes and was able to control it with diet and exercise. I followed a very strict diet and ate 6 mini-meals a day to control the spikes. I noticed I did best if I had a small snack before bedtime. Sometimes it was just one graham cracker with peanut butter, or a piece of cheese, etc.

I heard that GD grows big babies - not sure if that is true or not, but my son was 10.8 lbs. Yes, huge. Perfectly healthy.

Good luck!

You should NOT need insulin for that kind of fasting number! There is an oral medication called Gliburide that my doctor had me take just at night. It helped a lot with my fasting numbers and both kids were fine!

I had it with both my children and was extremely insulin dependent. It's kinda hard at first (shots in the stomach) but you get used to it. One thing to be very careful of is to not let your sugar get to low but since your just using it for the fasting number you probably won't need to worry about that. Both my girls were just fine at birth, no diabetes for them, they are both VERY bright, and very healthy. They are now 12 and 6 1/2 years old. You will want to try and eat right and PLEASE be sure to get tested for diabetes regularly after you give birth. I was recently diagnosed with VERY uncontrolled type 2 diabetes which I suspect I've had it since I was preggo almost 7 years ago. Unfortunately, I did NOT follow my own advise and I am paying for it now. Also, from what my doctor told me and from what i've learned since, you cannot take oral diabetes meds with gestational Diabetes, if it can't be diet and exercise controlled you must take insulin shots.

I am a type 1 diabetic. I was (and still am, obviously, Type 1 and all) on insulin with both my children. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. I am not sure how far along you are right now, but if you are in need of insulin, your needs may increase as you get farther and farther along. After delivery you probably will not need any medication anymore, since it is gestational. I know some doctors like insulin better than oral meds, because insulin does not pass from mother to child like oral meds can.

My daughter (4 year old) was perfectly fine after delivery. She had no need to be in the NICU, and her sugar levels were great. My son (2 year old) I had a lot of complications with, some because of diabetes, some not, so he struggled for a while. He spent a night and a day in the NICU being monitored for his sugar levels. He had low sugar levels, as most babies of diabetic mothers do. The better control you have with your sugar levels, the easier it will be on you and your baby. But, I can't stress this enough, DON'T PANIC. Everyone has highs and lows, if they are type 1's, type 2's, or gestational diabetics. Be open with your doctor. If you are having issues, tell them.