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gestational diabetes treatment

Read and learn more about gestational diabetes treatment. For more, visit the Diabetes website DiabetesFAQ.org

Q: Gestational diabetes?
My ob/gyn office called me and told me I will have to take a 3 hour glucose test on Monday because the first test came back “a little high” after I took it last week. What happens if I have gestational diabetes? This has never happened before (this is my 3rd pregnancy) and I’m really worried. What is the treatment for gestational diabetes?

A: What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts during pregnancy. If you have diabetes, your body isn’t able to use the sugar (glucose) in your blood as well as it should, so the level of sugar in your blood becomes higher than normal.

Gestational diabetes affects between 1% to 3% of all pregnant women. It usually develops in the second trimester (sometimes as early as the 20th week of pregnancy). Most often, gestational diabetes goes away after the baby is born.

How can gestational diabetes affect me and my baby?
High sugar levels in your blood can be unhealthy for both you and your baby. If the diabetes isn’t treated, your baby may be more likely to have problems at birth. For example, your baby may have a low blood sugar level, jaundice, or your baby may weigh much more than normal. Gestational diabetes can also affect your health. For instance, if your baby is very large, you may have a more difficult delivery or you may need a cesarean section. Gestational diabetes also increases your risk of developing preeclampsia, which is a condition that can be serious if left untreated.

What can I do if I have gestational diabetes?
You will need to follow a diet suggested by your doctor, exercise regularly and have frequent blood tests to check your blood sugar level. You may also need to take medicine to control your blood sugar level.

Q: gestational diabetes treatment in australia ?
i just trying to find out if it is possible to get tablets instead of injections, the lady at the clinic was talking to me about the injections but im just not sure i can do that is there a tablet ? Im have lost anther kg in the last ten days and im eating hardly anything to try to stay under limit, but sugars are getting high again and still have 8 weeks to go !!!
Thanx Rache i am scared cause it is geting to the point i dont even wont to prick my finger to do the sugar test lol and just so dissapointed that i am careful with everything for the sake of my baby and still getting high sugars, my 4 year old is eating more than me lol !!!!!!!!

A: Hi, I’m not sure about being able to get the tablet, but the injections are not really that bad. I had Gestational Diabetes with my last pregnancy (a year ago). I am petrified of needles and when I couldn’t manage my sugar levels and had to be put on insulin I burst into tears. I was sooooooooo scared. But honestly it feels weird at first and as long as you do it properly it doesn’t even hurt. I was really good and did everything I was told but my levels kept getting out of control. It just happens like that.

And I think its really dangerous to barely eat and that may be contributing to your high levels. When I had it the specialists kept stressing the importance of getting my 10-11 carb meals a day. Otherwise it would affect my BSL. So if I were you I’d ring your specialist or the Gestational Diabetes Clinic you see, to check that.

Hope you don’t need the insulin :-)

Q: gestational diabetes?
Hi Ladies,

I was just wondering if you know much about gestational diabetes? i have just been diagnosed and am seeing my doctor about it on thursday but i don’t know a lot about it, i guess i’m kind of worried, i have looked on the internet in regards to it but i would prefer to hear real experiences with it, such as were your babies born extra large, what kind of treatment did your doctor prescribe?? Thanks, any advice would be much appreciated :-)

A: Hi…I know you may be worried. I was too. I had GD with my pregnancy and it entailed meeting with a diabetic counselor so i would know proper portion sizes and she gave me a meal plan. It was important to eat at regular intervals and pair protein with carbohydrates. I was also required to do finger sticks to check my blood sugar at one and two hours after meals, in the mornings, and at bedtime. I had very tight control of my blood sugar and was prescribed a pill called Glyburide. One problem with the glyburide was that if i missed a meal, it would drop my blood sugar too low. My baby was growing very large, and I was required to have nonstress tests 3 times per week (to make sure he was moving enough), and an amniotic fluid index done once per week. My baby was born a little earlier than his due date at 10 lbs 3 oz. A vaginal birth was out of the question, as the dr had already told me of the risks of shoulder dystocia. You will be fine…just be sure to follow your meal plan and don’t be afraid of the finger sticks.

Q: gestational diabetes??? Question.?
What is the consequence to the baby if the mother tests positive for gestational diabetes but receives no treatment for it?

A: Yes, it will add weight to the baby. It’s also been shown that it can add fat cells to the baby that will be there for life, and it increases your child’s chances of developing type 2 diabetes when they are older.

Also, there is a serious complication that can happen at the end of pregnancy where a diabetic’s placenta can start to deteriorate. It happens quickly and it can be deadly for the baby, so the chance of having a stillborn child is higher than a non-diabetic woman.

The diabetic complications are serious but they are PREVENTABLE. Treatment is usually some changes in your diet, possibly some insulin injections. It’s so worth it for the health of your child.

Q: Recipe ideas for someone with gestational diabetes?
Okay, I am now 27 weeks pregnant and got diagnosed with gestational diabetes. That means either insulin treatment or a radical change of my diet.
Of course I’d like to try the diet first but I have no clue what and how much I can/should eat. All I find on websites are sample meal which always contain a lot of food I won’t eat. Maybe you can help me with a diet plan for a very picky eater:
I do NOT like:
*eggs
*peanutbutter
*poultry
*I hardly ever eat other meats
*cereal, pancakes, waffles

I love:
*cheese
*fish/seafood
*potatoes
*bread
*fruit & veggies
*chocolate (which is not helpful)

Thank you for any good meal ideas.

A: You need to rein in the amount of sweets you eat as well as the junk food carbs.
Also, you want to eat healthier with a consistent amount of carbs (sugar and staches) per meal and per day.

Are you testing your glucose? Using a glucometer is a good way to understand how different foods effect your blood sugar.

The general recommendations are
1) Eat healthier (less processes foods and sweets… more whole grains).
2) Have a little protein with your carbs. (Adding protein reduces the spiking in your blood sugar).
3) Eat smaller meals and more often (for example, 5 or 6 meals instead of 3 larger meals. Smaller meals reduce spiking of your blood sugar).
4) Use a meter to check your blood sugar after meals.

Q: Gestational Diabetes and Glucose Test?
Have to go in for my test next week to check for Gestational Diabetes but both my mom and sister had it with all children so I may too – Just wondered how they deal with this for you while you’re pregnant? (i.e. treatment if any, what your body goes through if anything, etc)…

Thanks :)

A: You are considered at risk for gestational diabetes if:
1. you are over 25 (makes me feel old…lol)
2. have a family history of type 2 diabetes
3. you were overweight prior to pregnancy
4. are carrying multiples

If you do test positive for gestational diabetes, they try to control your levels primarily with diet modification & exercise. More severe levels might require insulin or medication to control it.

I have my test tomorrow, so I can let you know how it goes! I am considered at risk for it, so I have been watching my sugars & carbs since the beginning….

Good luck :)

Q: Gestational Diabetes? Induce?
I will be 38 weeks on 8/15/06 and today I just found out I have Gestational Diabetes. My previous OB/GYN that did the test at 6 months didnt tell me my results were abnormal by calling me immediatley. So when I was 32 weeks I got a letter in the mail stating the results were abnormal and to call and make an appt right away. They never called me. So when I was 34 weeks on my next appt asked them about setting up my lab appt and they said they would have to call me with it. So I switched to a new ob/gyn that day after the appt for that and sevral ovr reasons mainly due to unfair treatment. Will when I saw my new ob at 36 weeks I discussed with him the results and he immediatley set me up an appt. with a Diabetes doctor it took almost 2 weeks to get in but they told me I do have Gestational Diabetes. But from what I have been told is with Gestational Diabetes they induce labor at 38 weeks. Is this True? I go tomorrow to a nutrionist and go back on monday to see the diabetes and my ob/gyn.
When I called them about the results they told me a nurse would call back and they never did…..Sorry thought I said that when I was seeing the old ob/gyn……Do you also think that with me finding out this so late in my pregnancy I could sue the old OB/GYN for not telling me the results and the clinic for not responding to my calls and calling for a lab appt?

A: I had Gestational Diabetes we found out at around 29/30 weeks I controlled it with diet no need for insulin. We talked about the possibility of needing to be induced or having a c-section. The problem is that the baby begins to suffer from macrosomia (big baby syndrome) and a vaginal birth at full term could damage the baby’s shoulders and if the baby gets to big there are other risks. Anyway, FOLLOW THE DIET from the nutritionist. I ended up going into labor on my own and had a noncomplicated vaginal delivery, the baby was a healthy 7lb 15.5 oz and his sugar levels were normal. limit carbs no fruit in the morning eat every 2-3 hours nothing high in sugar. and test your blood sugar after every meal. Take a walk after you eat (it makes a HUGE difference in your blood sugar levels) As for suing…I dont know call a lawyer.
Good luck and take care

Q: Gestational Diabetes in pregnancy?
Hi, im 23 weeks on Tuesday and for this past couple of weeks I have been feeling ‘funny’, anyway went to the treatment room and the practive nurse did a finger prick and it was 9.5 which is extremely high.

I had to come back the next morning fasting from the night before, have blood taken, drink a full bottle of lucozade (very hard to do first thing in the morning) and come back 2 hours later and get bloods done again.

I get the results 2moro but im panicking not only for my health but my hospital where I am having my baby transfer you to a different hospital if you have diabetes, I have a choice of 2 hospitals Craigavon or Belfast, neither of which I want to have my baby in as they are both and hour away!!

This is baby no3 for me

Has anyone has gestational diabetes, what happened with your diet, feelings, baby etc???

A: I’ve got type 1 diabetes and it gets harder to control as pregnancy progresses. My babies have all been on the large side, and all were born early. It might mean your stomach is larger than normal as you have a generally bigger bub. a BSL of 9.5 is high, but nothing to be losing sleep over at this stage. I’m just getting over a few weeks where my sugars were at 18mmol/L and sometimes higher.

Your doctor will discuss whether your diabetes can be managed with diet or if you need insulin injections. It has a good chance of subsiding once you give birth, too. Don’t be too stressed at this stage!
Take it easy.
:)

EDIT: BSL readings differ in their measurements from country to country. Australia, and I think the UK etc, measure in mmol/L which mean the normal range is say 4.5-6.0 and the measurement is mmol/L. Readings for folk in the US and other places are in the hundreds, with 200 or more of the unit measurement meaning it is high. Google which measurement your country measures in if this is unclear. :)

Q: Gestational diabetes question?
Ok, I’m 30 weeks pregnant with my first today. Last week, I took the one hour test for gestational diabetes. I took it right after my (early morning) appointment, so I really hadn’t eaten that day at that point. I know that was probably dumb, since it wasn’t the test that you have to fast.
Anyway, the nurse practitioner called me yesterday and said that my numbers were right around 200! She said that that was high enough that in their opinion they wanted to start treatment right away (ie blood glucose monitor and nutrition class) without doing the 3 hour test.
I’m of course a little freaked out, I haven’t had any symptoms other than being very thirsty all the time. I can’t help but wonder if I really don’t have it and if it was just because I hadn’t eaten that I got such a high number.
I guess my question is, do you think that might be the case? Or would the numbers have been abnomal, or at least just high, either way? Any (real) answers would be appreciated.
Thank you
I just want to say thank you to everyone who has answered. I will be giving a best answer, I’m just giving the question a little more time before I do.

A: oh girl! The same thing happened to me! (I could have written your question myself!) I thought, “it has to be wrong” but no, its not. and as soon as you realize that, and also realize that it is NOT the end of the world, you will feel so much better! I got above 200…it was like 212, so I didn’t even have to take the three hour test either (there is no point in taking it…if you have that high of numbers that is it! you have it!) but like I said it is no big deal. I was COMPLETLY diet controlled, so no drugs or insulin. that makes it a lot better. and I had to test four times a day, which I did get used to. I learn how to eat better and now I feel healthier as a person anyway! (I still eat like I have GD, but it DOES go away after birth!) I am actually glad I did get it, cuz I learned about nutruition and feel better, and can now feed my family better. (We were not like unhealthy or fat or anything, GD can happen to ANYONE!). anyway. if you have any questions feel FREE to email me. I also visited the BABYCENTER.COM message boards they have one specifically for gestational diabetes. It was a real lifesaver for me, the women on there will answer any question you have and make you feel so much better! no worries girl! you can do it! you can still enjoy your pregnancy and new baby!

Q: did you get gestational diabetes?
if so what effects did it have on you and the baby? and what treatment did you require?
is it insulin injections you needed?

A: Yes I did. My blood sugar was extremely high so I was put on insulin for the rest of my pregnancy. There was no harm to the baby. And once I delivered my blood sugar returned to the normal range within a week after delivery.I would try not to worry the stress is not good for either one of you.Good luck and I hope everything turns out well.

Q: gestational diabetes what to expect?
i had taken my 3 hr clucose test late last week and my dr called and said that the results were “abnormal” that 2 of the 5 samples they took were high. i guess not very high but higher than they would like to see. and over the next week i have what seems like a million appts with a diabetes dietician, a diabetes nurse and an endocronologist.
and to be honest the only time i ever even felt ill or dizzy or anything were on the 2 occassions that i took the glucose tests.
anyway i was just wondering what i should expect. what is going to happen at all these appts and what the treatment will be like.
thanks

A: i have gestational diabetes with this pregnancy. First i went in to meet with the nutritionist and explained what gestational diabetes was. we were told what is good to eat and what to avoid. Given a special diet plan. we were given a glucose monitor and now have to check blood sugar 3-4 times a day, before and after meals on alternate days.
Every Monday i go in to be weighed ( make sure you don’t loose or gain to much weigh) and then sent to gyno/obst. to check sugar levels. if to high they will prescribe insulin.
I was panicked to when i found out but so far so good. no insulin. it got controlled by diet alone.
gl to you. relax it will be fine

Q: 35wks Preggers, PCOS sufferer w/Gestational Diabetes & not allowed passed EDD.?
I am 35wks preggers and got pregnant with self injection for fertility treatment as I have PCOS. I have GD and it is diet controlled. I have been told by ob that he wont allow me 1 day passed my edd June1….How many of you went into labor early anyhow with similar kind of scenario or even if you just went in on your own I would love to hear your stories of when you went into labor and how it was for you. This is my first baby also so any of you deliver early with Bub #1 for what ever reason??? I hear pre eclampsia is a common one but any with normal GD readings or PCOS sufferes???? ANYONE.

Does your mucus become thicker towards the end or at like 35wks or am I to assume I am slowly loosing my plug??? there is no blood tinge with it, just clear and stringy.

A: I have PCOS and had GD with my first pregnancy. I had to take insulin for the month before my delivery and my Dr. scheduled inducement at 37wks. I ended up with a C-section because i have an unsually small pelvis and the baby would have been in danger if it came out the old fashioned way. I am so happy that I had the section, no regrets at all. My son was a healthy 6lbs. 10oz and 19.5″ long. they did the tests for jaundice and tested his sugars several times and all was fine.
I am prego with my second at 12 wks and had 2 ultra sounds already. I was taking metformin before I got pregnant and they want to test me for diabetes already.
I wasn’t taking any fertility drugs to get pregnant for both of my pregnancies. I changed my diet and exercised, and drank gallons of brewed green tea. I say this is my fertility elixir having tried for years to get pregnant with PCOS. I was at the point of trying the fertility drugs and possibly adoption. Then I thought I’d relax and not try any more and focused on changing my health. and now I am on #2.
As long as you are 36 weeks you can deliver a healthy full term baby. I can only have c- sections so I am hoping to have my baby scheduled early too. I am due Nov 5 and I would like to have the baby around the 18thof Oct..
Labor sucks! I am so glad that I don’t have to endure that again. Drugs are the best and the epidural was amazing! If you have to have a C, don’t worry, i recovered quickly and the best part is the my Privates are in the same condition as the have always been and will always be. i have heard horror stories from my friends who had vaginal births and no matter what , It never goes back to the way it was. You may be a candidate for a C because babies to moms with GD can get very fat and cant fit through the pelvis or they tear the labia. You should probably ask about another ultrasound to find out if it is a biggie. Your Dr. will then discuss the possibility of a C.
I wish you luck and I hope this helped you in some way.

Q: Anyone ever had gestational diabetes?
I would like to hear similar stories with people who had it. Like what were the effects……the treatments? Will my baby be ok? Did you have your baby early? Did you take insulin shots?

please inform me. I’m nervous about it.

A: I know how ya feel. I’m at 31 weeks and have been testing my blood sugar 4X daily. So far it sounds like I’ll be able to manage it completely through diet — no pills, no shots. It’s hard to find specific info about what YOU need to do until you see your doctor and probably a nutritionist. My best guess for you will be that you’ll start by having to limit your carbs. My specific guidelines are 30 grams of carbs for breakfast, plus 30 grams of carbs per snack, three times daily — one after each meal (with the last a before-bed snack) and 50 grams of carbs for lunch and dinner. YOUR guidelines may be different from mine. I’d found 45|15 45|15 45|15 somewhere online before I met with my nutritionist.

My cousin had GD with all three of her pregnancies and delivered naturally 7-pounders. One was a week early, the next three weeks and the last four weeks — all healthy and zero complications. So I’m hopeful. :)

Good luck! (PS: They say stress aggravates your blood sugar too!)

Q: Regular insulin injections are the usual treatment for?
A.type 1 diabetes.
B.type 2 diabetes.
C.gestational diabetes.

A: it’s A Toby, and you need to be doing your own homework, or take your questions to the homework section of YA, not here.

Q: 36 weeks pregnant long time since I’ve seen a doctor?
Im pregnant for the first time and scared because I haven’t been seeing a doctor regularly, I saw a doctor regularly for the first 20 weeks. After that I had some insurance and money issues and the doctor discharged me as a client… so I went 12 weeks without seeing a doctor. Finally I filed for medicaid and started seeing another doctor, this doctor didn’t do much he measured my belly checked the fetal heartbeat and urine and sent me on my way. I saw him for 2 weeks and did my gestational diabetes test, which was elivated so I had to do the second one… mean while before I could get my doctor to give me the results they discharged me too because I still have 20 days before my medicaid case is approved, my medicaid is still pending.

The baby is due on 2-1-09 and I wont be able to see a doctor till the end of all this when Im in labor, Im upset and worried… its been a slightly complicated pregnancy in the first place, I had a kidney infection in week 21 and had to go to the hospital because I started contracting I was given a shot to stop the contractions and sent home with medication. I have had severe depression and mood swings, I have a problem keeping myself hydrated, and I just don’t know what to do and I want my baby to be okay.

Lately I’ve been having back pains, contractions here and there and been losing my mucus plug… what if I go into labor early? will my baby be okay? and what if I have gestational diabetes and get no treatment? How important is the strep b test and how can I take it? I don’t know how big the baby is yet either and Im concerned about her size.

Baby Alysha moves around alot, so I figure shes okay since shes active… but I need something more concrete! can anyone suggest what I should do?

A: Firstly, it’s normal for a doctor’s check up to only be just a fundal height measurement, and checking the heart rate, so that doctor your medicaid covered was doing the norm.

I do agree, it is not normal policy for a doctor to discharge you, without care, if your pregnancy was classified by him as ‘high risk’

I would seek another doctor, even if you have to pay out of pocket for it yourself.
Or even a midwife, they are an option to consider.

The strep b test is essential.
Your doctor, or hospital, has to take a vaginal and or anal swab, to determine whether you have the bacteria Strep B in your system,
If you do, you need anti-biotics during labour.

I agree With the poster above me, thank the lord for equal healthcare in Australia!

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