Gestational Diabetes - Keuka Park, NY

Hi L.,

I had gestational diabetes with both of my pregnancies. I controlled the first one with diet, but I was insulin dependent with the second one. I assume you are seeing a nutritionist who specializes in gestational diabetes. If not, you should. Follow the diet closely and you should be fine. The only problem is that babies born of gestational diabetic mothers tend to be larger than average, and I had to have c-sections with both of mine. But you might be different. Good luck! --D.

Hi! I had gestational diabetes with both of my pregnancies - when I was first told about this my dr suggested that I go to the Diabetes Clinic at the hospital. This was a great help because they gave me all of the tools I needed to get through this. With my second I ended up on insulin, which wasn't as big of a deal as people make it out to be. The main thing to consider is that with each time you cheat, there could be more and more complications later on down the road. As hard as it was to stick to the diet, the better off I was and my daughters. I will admit that there were times I cheated but try to stick to it as best as you can. The diabetic diet is something that my family is going back to because it is so much healthier. There is actually so much food that you may not feel that you can eat it all. One thing to remember though is that sometimes it may be better to figure out what you can have more of then what you really want. Instead of the 1/4 cup of ice cream you can have a sugar free ice pop or a certain number of grapes. It may be a little overwhelming at first, but it will all fall into place. If you ever have any questions or anything, I'm here! My email address is ____@____.com. After 5 yrs since my 2nd pregnancy I am now being treated with diabetes (it's on both sides of my family) so I feel your pain! Good luck!

I had it with both my pregnancies and it is not too big of a deal. You will probably have to modify your diet, basically staying away from sugar and white flour like diabetics do. Don't eat things like shredded wheat or Mcdonald's which are loaded with carbs. See if you can see a nutritionist through your insurance because that really helped me. You'll have to test your blood throughout the day and you'll have more appointments and tests. You'll have to see an endocrinologist also, and towards the end they do a few extra sonagrams. They want to make sure the baby doesn't get too big. They won't let you wait until the end of your pregnancy so there is a chance you might get induced. The hardest part is not being able to have too much sugar, and of course explaing it to other people. Both of my babies were born perfectly healthy and the diabetes went away.

Hi L.,

You've gotten so much good advice I don't have much to add except to say that I had gd during my pregancy and even though I kept to the very strict diet of 150 carbs a day, I still needed to take insulin, not very much though, just to keep it under control. My doc told me that it's not necessarily within your control, your hormones from the placenta are messing with your pancreas, thereby making you diabetic. Just so you you don't think it's your fault or anything if you do end up having to take insulin. It wasn't bad although it was tough, it was well worth all the effort. You have to have plenty of protein sources around that won't affect your insulin levels so meat, eggs were very important to keep handy when I was really hungry in between meals. Also, for snacks I found the kashi bars great once a day so I didn't feel so deprived. Splenda was my saving grace and so was a decaf latte as a snack. Please feel free to write me if you want any more tips. It's hard but you are going to do fine!

Love,
K.

Oh boy. Same thing happen to me. No family history, I was just eating too many carbs. I had to test my blood sugar 6 times a day and note it. I also had to see an endocronologist weekly to monitor my notes. And I had to see a nutritionist and follow a special diet. 2-3 carbs for breakfast, 1 for snack, 2 for lunch, 1 for snack, 3 for dinner and 1 for a snack. (Something like that) I had to stick with this and eat every 2 hours. It was difficult at first because I was in the grocery store for hours looking at labels. 15g of carbohydrates=1 carb. Good luck. I do suggest a nutritionist to help out. She gave me some really good literature to help me out.

Hi L.,

First don't panic. I too had gestational diabetes. I was referred to a Diabetes Counselor who had me write down my blood sugar numbers that I took several times a day and fax them to her once a week. For me I could not regulate my blood sugar with just diet so I did end up on insulin. The good news is that my beautiful daughter was born healthy (she just turned a year old 2 weeks ago). Other than the diabetes, I had a great pregnancy and labor, about 4 hours of labor 20 minutes of pushing. The diabetes went away when my daughter was delivered. Just monitor what you eat and stay on top of it. If you do have to go on insulin, your baby may extremely low blood sugar when you deliver. This comes from having a source of insulin from you and suddenly not having that source once he/she is born. The doctors will test your baby in the NICU where my daughter was for about an hour until her blood sugar was regulated. The little bunny was back with me right after. We went home from the hospital 2 days later happy and healthy. Please email me if you have any questions, I know the anxiety that this can cause. Be well!

HI L., I too had gestational diabetes when pregnant with my daughter in '05. It doesn't run in my family either...my OBGYN sent me to a diabetes center on Long Island (not sure where youre from) and they were great...they had me pricking my finger to test my blood...and I was able to monitor it myself with t the pricking and diet.....once I gave birth I was back to "normal"......If yoiu'd like more info I believe somewhere I have all the diet info and other stuff from that center.....I could get you more info....

Hello and don't panic :) A lot of women get it. I actually am hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and even I developed it with my daughter that I just had 4 months ago! Imagine the shock that was..from 1 extreme to the other! Has your OB referred you to a Diabetes Counselor? They are supposed to set you up with one if you test high. They usually have you go to one at the hospital or perinatal center. There, they will give you the machine & testing supplies so that you can test your sugar at home, before & after meals and also an informative seminar where they give you a specific diet to follow according to your test results. As a guideline until.. stay away from ANY sugar as much as possible and that includes carbs. Also watch out for artificial sweetners like in flavored water, as they can harm the baby. Splenda is safe but, watch your carb intake. You need to be getting more protein than carbs and drink plenty of water (purified, no flavor or additives is best) I'm also a CNA and work Labor & Delivery so, if you have any questions, feel free to email me anytime!
E.

I was a gestational diabetic while I was pregnant with my daughter, and while I do have a family history of diabetes (all Type II), you don't have to have a history to develop gestational diabetes. Your doctor should have either given you a diet to follow or sent you to a gestational diabetes education program (which is what happened for me-I was given a choice between insulin shots or diet,I opted to try the diet first, and it worked beautifully)and prescribed a blood glucose meter for you. The program taught me what diabetes was, how the diet worked, and how to use the blood glucose meter I was prescribed. I had to call in my glucose levels daily, and if I missed a call, they called me. The diet was no big deal, nor was the blood glucose testing. My daughter was born a bit early (not b/c of the diabetes-my OB gave me a really vigorous internal exam the day before), and was all of 5.7 pounds. Untreated, diabetes makes for a big baby. (ow!)

So, ask your doctor to be sent to a diabetes education program, if one is available in your area.

Also, sometime in the year or two after you have your baby, get yourself checked for type II diabetes-being a gestational diabetic raises your risk of developing type II diabetes later.

i had it mildly with my my first pregnancy and controlled it with diet and my second i had to take insulin injections. they start with diet first and they will probably give you a blood glucose monitor to check your blood sugar levels throughout the day. if it looks okay, then that will be it.

I had it with our 3rd child...I met with a nutritionist, and had to check my glucose levels at regular intervals during the day...2 hours after a meal. It's not a big deal, really...the testing is only a little prick and doesn't hurt much...but it is very important you watch what you eat. The nutritionist will help you with all that...I actually lost weight during my pregnancy because I was eating ao healthily!

Best wishes to you!
J.

Hi L.,
When I went for my glucose testing my blood sugar actually crashed to 48...however they still considered me to have gestational diabetes, and I had no family history either...I was actually lucky enough to have a nutrionalist/nurse in my OB group so she helped me out...the diet she gave me to follow was very very similar to Weight Watchers...I did have to get a glucose meter and monitor my glucose 4-5 times a day...usually first thing in the morning,after every meal and then before bed....my levels were never that crazy because I really tried to be good with what I ate...dont get me wrong when those hormones were calling for Ben and Jerry's at 2 a.m. I had it....LOL....But I never had to go to an endocrinologist or anything...so I guess everyones story is different...so dont freak out just yet....just try to be mindful of what you eat and if you can get a sample of the weight watchers diet try to follow that...I had my daughter 1 week early and she was only 5lbs 4ounces...so I guess that myth of having big babies if you have gestational diabetes is not always right!! LOL My daughter just turned 2 and she is still a little peanut!! I wish you the best...feel free to email me if you have any more questions!!
Meg :)

Although I do not have gestational diabetes, the doctors thought I did recently until I received further testing. My doctor had explained it to me a little, and said there is nothing to do but to follow the diet that the doctor's office advises you of. The diet is apparently high protein, low carbs and sugar. Other than that, they said there is not much else you can do. I asked what the diabetes could cause, and they said the only thing that they look out for is a baby large in size. I hope this helps alleviate some of your concerns, but the doctor should be able to make you feel better about it.

I had gestational diabetes while pregnant for my son. My case was bad enough that diet was not enough. I need to check my sugar 4 times a day, and give myself insulin shots in the stomach. It sounds HORRID but it really wasn't all that bad. I would try to exercise lightly (walking is good this time of year). THey say that the baby can grow larger than with a normal pregnancy, and that the shoulders are wider, but Matthew had no shoulder issue, and was a perfectly healthy, lively little boy, who continues to be just that. Good luck and God bless you and yours.

Hi L.,

Okay this is early in your pregancy however you can hold off on starting insulin by watching what you eat carefully. I had this but in my 5th to 6th month. I ate like I was on a diet. Not much pasta or bread no sweet drink fruit juices or soda. Sorry :( but this help my daughter she was excellent when she came a month early and weighted in at 6lbs 5 oz not to big at all. This can bring the baby early, but if you lisen to your doctor and eat like you are on a diet, your baby should be just fine. I did end up at my 7th month with having to due the shots once daily. (My family has a history of it)But she is worth it, and she had no signs of sugar. I did have a icecream once a day for my treat. You know those cravings. LOL Good luck! :)

GD was such a blessing for me - I ended up eating so much better for me and my baby than I was before the diagnosis. I had it with both pregnancies (diet controlled, 1st baby boy was 7# 9oz. and 2nd baby girl was 6# 10 oz.) and it does run in my family. Definitely meet up with a counselor - your hospital may have a center or can refer you. Keep track of what food you are eating so you can better understand what's causing your numbers to be high. Exercise helps but I was on bed rest for last 4 months of last pregnancy and pretty much ate the same so as long as you are monitoring your carbs you're golden. Lots of veggies. Watch for hidden fats - they always made my numbers spike. No chinese food. And do not get too hungry b/c that too will make your numbers spike - if you do get super hungry eat something small before the meal (like a 1/2 cup of milk). And my dirty little secret was my bedtime snack of POST HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS - a 1/2 cup is about 3-4 grams of sugar. A tiny bowl of this and a spoonful of almond butter at bedtime was the dietary highlight of my day. And after you've delivered your baby and you're in the recovery room - it will be the best pint of ice cream you've ever had.
Be sure to peruse the ice cream selections before you go into labor so you can tell someone what flavor to bring!
Good luck L.!

Hi L., I saw your message and know of something that has helped other pregnant women with various problems. It's not just for pregnant women but it normalizes and balances homones and overall PH in the body-making you more alkaline instead of more acidic. It's called the Super Greens by Inner Light. Women that have had this during pregnancy have not had morning sickness. It is totally safe and it tastes like green tea. You're supposed to drink 32oz at a time so you get really hydrated. that is also the important part. Even if you don't end up ordering the super greens. GET HYDRATED!
Try your best to get in a gallon of good water a day(gradually). This regulates everything in your body-especially cravings. If you're thirsty-you're dehydrated. If your craving certain foods-you're dehydrated. Also fresh lemon juice is very alkalizing in the body(so put it in your water). It also energizes. Anyway check out these web sites if you're curious about the super greens and The PH Miracle.
www.innerlightinc.com
www.phmiracleliving.com
all my best
S. S

First of all this is quite normal and the earlier it's detected the better. I had gestational diabetes with my first and was borderline with the second. Both were controled by diet and exercise. Although you may need to control it with medication or inculin shots.

Your ob/gyn should have already had you schedule an appointment with a nutritionist. The biggest part of this is changing the way you eat. You'll have to cut out most sugar from your diet, and limit the quantities of many types of food. The nutritionist will also recommend eating several small meals/snacks thoughout the day. I ate 6 times per day: breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack. Of course, you'll be drinking gallons and gallons of water.

You'll also have to check your blood sugar several times a day. It's simple, just poke your finger with a special lancet and put a drop of blood on a strip and insert the strip into a machine. HINT: Always alternate fingers. If you wrap a small rubberband around the end of your finger you won't have a problem getting a large enough blood drop.

This will also be considered a "high risk" pregancy so your ob will be more cautious especially near the end. Expect to have a few more test than your first.

Most importantly.. Don't worry.

Best of luck to you.

Hi L.. I have never had gestational diabetes, but a friend of mine did. She followed a regular diabetic diet, and never had to take any pills or shots. You can find books at the library. Good luck!

Hi L., my name is Cristina, I am 37 and pregnant with my second son due in July. I had gestational diabetes with my first son and now again, diagnosed much earlier, with my second. It is considered a high risk, but it is easily managed with diet. My Dr. sent me to a nutritionist and they really took the time to set me up with an easy plan. My blood must be monitored 4 times daily. It is sometimes challenging to find the time to eat 6 small meals a day, but it is something you will get used to. I had high morning sugar, which the Dr. advised me to take a small amount of glyburide. I was hesistant, but it is working very well. Towards the end of the pregnancy, you will have to be monitored much more closely. They check on the growth of the baby with ultrasounds, and then you will probably have to go for NST (non-stress tests). The only nice thing about all the testing is you get to see your baby much more often, which is nice. Good luck to you and have a happy, wonderful, and healthy pregnancy!!

Ask your OB for a referral to a REGISTERED DIETITIAN ASAP. If the OB does not have one, go to www.eatright.org (the American Dietetic Association website)and look for one in your zip code.
Gestational Diabetes may be the forerunner of Type 2 Diabetes later in life. You will be very glad you did. Many insurance companies do cover RD's.
M.

I had gestatioanl diabetes, but wasn't diagnosed until 5-6 months. You are so lucky to know early so you can take preventive steps. Best advice I got from my MD was to walk vigorously after each meal to burn the carbs/sugars. Immediately after dinner, I would do a brisk walk or laps around my house with my arms pumping hard - comical to watch but it worked! the few times i swam laps in a pool also dramatically lowered my sugars...and let me indulge slightly in a juicy piece of fruit. most important for the pregnancy is to have a balanced diet so by spreading out your carbs and sugars in small doses helps. like 1/2 an orange at a time, or any 100 calorie pack salty snacks. i tested my sugars 4 times a day, which actually was admitteddly fun as i tried to guess the # based on consumption. i ended up needing insulin since i couldn't control my morning #s, but it was easy and painless. at first i freaked and was so frightened for the baby...happy to report that i was induced at 39 weeks, baby was 6.12 and healthy. we are both diabetic free. good luck!!!

I had it with my fourth (and last!) - I didn't need insulin so it was not so bad. I had to do finger sticks 3 times a day, urine dip in the a.m. and eat six times a day - which was the hardest part, all combining protein and carbs. It is hard on the run (which I always was)to actually eat that often and I felt like I was going to turn into an almond (good protein on the run). Drank lots of water, walked a lot and followed all the nutritionists directions. My beautiful son grew perfectly, wasn't overly big and had no signs of my GD at birth (babies can have low blood sugar if they had to make their own insulin). Right after delivery, I was fine and so was my blood sugar! Good luck.

no big deal, just monitor your foods.
and try and excersize more

just a bit of my story,
the doc's said my baby would be, 10 lbs
and all of them were born at 7 lbs

my sister in law was told the same and her baby was born at 5 lbs

so trust your gut, take your vitamins, go to all your appointments,

and eat healthy,

M

Hi Mama!! I had gestational diabetes with my last one. it was'nt soo bad. I watched what I ate and took my insulin. See a nutritionist they are there to help. Also as you get furhter along your insulin intake will rise and that is because your body is needing it for two. My best advice if they put you on insulin is to give yourself the injection in the belly area. Pinch a fold and insert needle. do not be afraid or go to slow and go around your belly button for every shot. if you start at the top then go clockwise for the other hsots until yoou get back to starting position. the reason I am telling you this is because it avoids bruising and it hurts way less when you pinch a fold of skin. Another thing f youare to finger stick yourself to check sugars be very diligent to record the times you eat. DO NOT do the finger stick on the tip of your finger it hurts like the dickens there, do it on the side of finger. make sure your hands are warm too, blood flows easier. Any other questions feel free to email me. I know a bit because I have a daughter you has type 1 diabetes and I learned everything I could.

O.

Hi L.,

I am a mom to three beautiful children and I had gestational diabetes with all my pregnancies. The best advice I can give you is to watch what you eat and eat frequent small meals. What I was told by the specialists was to look at the total Carbohydrates on the food and have a total of 30 carbs for breakfast, 30 for a snack 2 1/2 hrs later and 45 for lunch another 30 for a snack 2 1/2 hrs later and 45 for dinner. This is something you should speak with your doctor about of course and if they have a diabetes clinic at your local hospital you can try to schedule an appointment. My insurance covered this for me (I had Aetna or MVP at the time). The biggest concern the doctor had is that when you have gestational diabetes the baby will be larger at birth, so they watch the weight gain - also, that the baby will have a blood sugar problem - they will check this after delivery. Honestly I was not worried about my kids during the pregnancies, as I was very careful to stay on the eating schedule - small frequent meals - remember to try not to skip meals either, because that makes the insulin levels worse. I should mention that they require you to test your blood level numerous times daily - if you get one of the newer monitors it is not painful and you want to prick your finger on the side, not the middle! Word from experience!

Best of luck!!
S. :-)

It's not just what you eat its how much CARBs you eat. Carbs are what change your blood sugar. I had to check my sugar by finger prick 4 times a day. Before I ate anything then 2 hours after every meal. For breakfast I was allowed 30 carbs and 45 each for dinner and lunch. 15 for each snack. You can subtract the number of fiber from the carbs to get your total carb count. So if you eat something that has 20 carbs and 3g of fiber it's really only 17 carbs. Also, exercise can help your body digest your sugar better. I never had to really exercise to control mine. And as long as I watched what I ate it was easy. You just have to put it in your head now that you have to do this. For you and the health of your child you will do this. I knew it wasn't only about me and if I didn't control myself it was about my child and his health. So not doing it wasn't an option. If you don't take care of yourself the what can happen to you and the child are not worth it. So, just put it in your head that you can do this. You can eat what you want, within reason. Fruits are o.k. and lots of veggies. Ice cream and that stuff too. Most fast food have their menus online so you can plan ahead and get excited about what you can have. Just learn to read the labels.