Gestational Diabetes - McKinney, TX

C.
I had gestational diabetes in my 2 pregnacies. I can tell you everything about !!!! I did the diet and the finger testing 5 times a day.....If you want you can call me and we can talk, I live in Mckinney too.
____@____.com
Good Luck
L.

I have type one diabetes and have an 11 month old girl. The problems that can occur have to do with your blood sugar levels. My daughter was two months early because my levels shot up to extremely high levels. The doctors tried everything but my bad blood sugars were going to my daughter and she was becoming extremely sick and I had to have an emergency c section. The good thing for you is that gestational diabetes is only when you are pregnant so when you have your baby your levels should turn back to normal shortly after. Your son will be completly fine as long as you keep your levels under control. Pricking your finger isnt easy. I have had type one for seven years so I have a glucometer that i check on my arm. Some doctors will say that it is not as accurate and for your situation it is safer to check on your finger. The only tip i could give would be that my middle finger hurt the least. And prick on the side not in the middle or the top. I hope that you have a wonderfull easy pregnancy!

I found the American Diabetes Association website pretty helpful when I was going through this: www.diabetes.org (look under "All About Diabetes" then find GD). It gives you an overview of what can happen now and in the future without totally bogging you down in medical jargon.

On the finger pricking thing -- try to hit the side of your finger not the center and most of the time you won't even feel it. In looking for a picture I was reminded that it also helps to use a different finger and side each time -- 10 fingers times 2 sides each gets you 20 places to choose from and each one will have more time to heal. I do remember certain fingers being more painful than others but the majority of the the hits were painfree. Here's an illustration: http://www.sunad.com/archive/pubs/2006-08-24/photos/focus...

Good luck to you!

Hi C.!

It is not so bad. I had it and a slew of other problems, so you are doing good. I eventually ended up in the hospital at my 32 weeks due to my preeclampsia and high protein in my urine, so...my GD was lesser of all of that. I had my fingers pricked up to 9 times a day and then given 6 shots of insulin because what I needed they could not fill up in 1 syringe. So, honey it was tough, but I made it. I have had a 3 year long infertility journey, (like yourself) so shots, pricks and other forms of pain, are a bit blase for me now. I just grin and bear it!! Girl, after all you go through w/ all the infertility stuff, this is a piece of cake!

Yes, Matthew was a big boy (7 lbs.), but he was put in the NICU because his lungs were not developed, so he was a big baby, but couldn't breathe very well. He did well and came out 2 weeks later and is now about to turn 4!!

That was 3 years ago and I do hear that the sugar monitoring kits are much better now, but when I was in the hospital, the nurses came and did it. I was wishing they would start on my toes after awhile. I was there for 6 weeks before having my baby (he was 4 weeks early) and then he was in the NICU for 2 weeks, but he is now a healthy growing boy.

My GD left once I had him, but I have suffered other complications and my Diabetes has come back, but I do maintain it with a good diet and exercise program.

Just stick with it and know it is for the good of your baby. You can do it!! Email me if you have specific questions at ____@____.com

Good Luck and Many Blessing!

G. B.

Hi C.!!!
I am so sorry that you are having to deal with dumb ole diabetes!!! I developed gd when I was pregnant with my 2 year old daughter. I am pregnant again (boy, due Aug. 6) and the gd is back with a vengence!!!
The first time around, we tried to manage it with diet and exercise--didn't work and I REALLY tried!!! I ended up taking oral meds and everything was fine. My doctor made me deliver 2 weeks early and the huge baby that I was suppossed to have weighed in at a whopping 6lbs 5ozs.! LOL She was tiny but very healthy and her sugars were great!
This pregnancy we tried the oral meds again. They didn't work. I now have to take insulin shots 3 times a day (in my stomach!!! I thought that they must have lost their mind and then they told me I was also going to need the longer needle!!!) and I test at least 4 times a day b/c with the insulin if I don't eat exactly what I am supossed to when I am supossed to my sugars get too low, which is AWFUL!!!
Actually, the eating part is the hardest part of gd for me. I am nauseous about 90% of the time and very rarely am I hungry. I have started drinking either Boost High Protein or SlimFast High Protein. I find that liquid is a little easier to handle than solids and they do keep me from getting too low.
I don't know a whole lot about why gd is so dangerous b/c I have tried to pretend that it isn't that big of a deal BUT I do know that high blood sugar causes damage to blood vessels. That is why it effects vision (all those tiny blood vessels) and feet (lack of good circulation.) During pregnancy, the reason that it causes chubby babies is because our bodies aren't breaking down the sugar which leaves it floating around in our blood stream to be absorbed by the baby. The damage to the blood vessels takes an important role in pregnany, too. Lack of good blood supply to the placenta causes it to calcify. Which of course is super dangerous! That is why you will probably get a sonogram every 2 weeks towards the end of your pregnancy. I had so many with my daughter I actually got tired of them!!!
I read that someone recommended testing on your arm, it really is painless but, they told me to always test on my finger tips b/c it is the most accurate. I also HIGHLY recommend the diabetes educators that are located in McKinney at the old hospital. At least I think it is an old hospital. It is the red brick building on the west side of 75 just south of...Virginia, I think. If you contact me, I have their number.
I hope that this helps a little!!!
Congratulations on your baby boy!!!!
Hugs,
C.

Hi C.,

I also had gestational diabetes when i was pregnant with my daughter.
That was three years ago and we are both fine. I was shocked when i
found out because i was a personal trainer and was in excellant shape.
But it happens. I also had gestational hypertension(high blood pressure) I had to stay in bed for the last three months.Be sure to
follow a strict diet and get as much rest as possible. When you deliver the doc will check the babys sugar and yours also. Mine was
back to normal the same day i delivered and taylor (now three) was fine.Just keep pricking knowing in a few months everything will be fine. The doc thought Taylor would be very large so we went in 3weeks early to deliver she was 7lbs 4oz.

Good luck,
J.

Also, get a glucose meter than needs the least amount of blood, they are the ones that say you can prink on the forearm, etc. Those will prick to the least depth and so at the least painful. I had GD with my 1st and 3rd pregnancies and the new meter made a big difference.

Be aware of your diet and be sure to eat variety. A little (and I mean even a tiny walk around the block) walking after eating will make a great difference on your post-meal sugars... then you can plan to have a little indulgence if you find you can handle it. Both my babies were not big because I had a good understanding of my meals and affect on my sugar levels. The exercise makes a big difference.

Good luck!

Gestational diabetes can be very serious. I am currently a nutrition student at Texas Woman's University. I have not had any personal experience with gestational diabetes, but I do know that there can be complications for you and your baby. It is important to follow a strict diet to help guarantee that you and your baby are healthy after delivery. I hope that you have talked to a Registered Dietitian, because they can give you the necessary information that will help you. If you have not you should and you can call the hospital that you will be delivering at and ask for the dietitian office. You should also be concerned about having Type 2 diabetes sometime after having your baby, because a large percent of women with gestational diabetes end up with Type 2 diabetes. I know this may not have been what you were asking, but I just want to strongly suggest that you talk with a dietitian.