gestational diabetes
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gestational diabetes during pregnancy

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

Q: Anyone detected with type 2 (not gestational) diabetes during pregnancy?
Anyone detected with type 2 (not gestational) diabetes during pregnancy?
What care did you take during pregnancy?
Did you do special ultrasound sessions?
Wanted to know the outcome of the pregnancy?
Did you deliver a normal baby?
I am 11 weeks pregnant.

A: How do you know its not gestational? The Placenta creates a hormone around 20- 24 weeks that contradicts your insulin. It may be just that! And Type two if its that works the Same way as the Gestational you are not making enough insulin.

I had Gestational Diabetes it went away right after Delivery . I took Glyberide, as the placenta gets bigger it produces more of that hormone and I needed more Glyberide. From about 32 weeks and up i needed an ultrasound every week to check the baby wasn’t growing to fast. I also had to take whats called a non stress test 2 times a week, this checks to make sure the babys heartrate is good and its not under any stress.

I had a healthy baby boy. Because of the diabetes he was producing more insulin than a normal baby so he was a hypoglecemic the first days of his life. He was in NICU for a couple of days on a sugar IV as they weened him off the sugar. Now he has no hypoglacemia and he is happy and healthy. BTW he was only 6 lbs 7 oz so i Delivered Vaginally.

Dont let people tell you because you have diabetes you have to deliver by c-section that is not true! I hope that helped

Q: What do you have to do if you have gestational diabetes during pregnancy?
Will this harm the baby? Is there a dietitian involved? What happens?

A: Gestational diabetes will cause the baby to grow overly large if not treated and kept under control. Depending on the severity of the condition a dietitian could possibly be involved but usually it is controlled by the pregnant women with a specific diet. Out of control gestational diabetes is controlled by use of insulin shots.

Q: How does adaptation and acclimation play a role in gestational diabetes which occurs during pregnancy?
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when the woman develops diabetes but loses it affect birth sometimes or when treated. I want to know how adaptation and acclimation play a part.

A: I got gestational diabetes when I was pregnant and my Dr. said the stress the baby causes on the body, causes you body to function as if you were in your 50s. The stress brings out any future conditions you may get. When the pregnancy was over I was diabetes free. But I will most likely get it again later if I do not control my diet, sugar intake and exercise regime for the rest of my life.

Q: how does a woman develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy?
i was curious to know!

A: I don’t think there is too much you can do to make it happen or to prevent it. If you are going to get it, you are going to get it. It is all about how your body breaks down sugars. You won’t suddenly begin breaking down sugar more efficiently, because you suddenly start eating right and you won’t suddenly break the down the sugars less efficiently, because you started eating more sugar. The major risk factor for getting gestational diabetes is being over 25. Also, having it in your family or having gotten it before can play a part, but you won’t necessarily get it.

Q: Anyone who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy?
Hi just a question for anyone who has suffered from gestational diabetes … during my pregnancy i got gestational diabetes – i was on 36 units of insulin 3 times a day by the end so it was not a pleasant time!! I was just wondering what the chances were of suffering with diabetes in my next pregnancy? Are there any mums out there who got diabetes in one pregnancy and not the next one?? or is it guaranteed that i will get it again?
Does anyone know how to reduce your chances of getting it? (I am not at all overweight and have normal BMI so don’t tell me to lose weight! lol)
Thanks in advance for your answers :)

A: I had gestational diabetes with my daughter and I also work with an obgyn, and I have asked this question directly before, and unfortunately you are more likely to be GD again with your next pregnancy, you will also be tested earlier in your pregnancy too. Sorry to hear you had such a hard time with it, it definitely isn’t fun.

Q: Help, Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy, 28 weeks?
Please help, I don’t know what to do. I’ve been eating very healthy since the beginning. I have 1 glass of 2% milk blended with strawberries, then 2 cups of fruit with yogurt (melon & cantaloupe cantaloupe, sometimes apple, other days i have strawberries and oat meal, i love brocolli, so I pretty much have it everyday, some day, most of the time i use olive oil and red wine vinagrette as dressing, i also have with cheese and red onions. On the weekends i have what i want, mexican, italian etc. I drink 80 ounces of water everyday and sometimes i also drink orange juice and that’s it…….i hate soda, i hate sugar, donuts, i never liked them. I try so hard to be healthy for our baby and I am just so frustrated because I don’t know what I am doing wrong. I failed the 3 hour Glucosa tes, my sugar level came out very high. My Dr. can’t tell what is wrong just to watch my blood everyday at home, so they’ll teach me at the hospital how to do it, if I don’t get better they’ll put me on insulin. This is not generic because when they did my tests everything came back normal, gestational diabetes is something I developed during pregnancy but they can’t tell what’s causing it. My Dr. frustrates me because he doesn’t help me much, but I’m only 2 months away from labor and I don’t want to change Drs. If you experiences anything similar please share it with me, any advise will be helpful. I appreciate your help.

I’m 28 weeks pregnant, a boy
I’m 5′ 1″, i was 120 pound, I’ve gained 26 pounds so far.
(just in case this info is needed)

A: I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 16 weeks, so trust me, i know how you feel :S

The way to keep your sugars down is to watch your carbohydrate intake. Bearing in mind that nearly ALL foods contain carbs, and sugar is nearly pure carbs. (NO MORE FRUIT JUICE- have an orange instead!).

http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/Living-with-Diabetes/Gestational-Diabetes/Managing-Gestational-Diabetes/

Your doctor should be sending you to a diabetes centre so that you can learn about what foods you can/can’t have, and HOW MUCH of them you are able to have. It’s very complex and would take far too long for me to explain it all.

My basic diet lately has been
1 average size banana for brekky, and an instant coffee (minimal milk)
morning snack- yoghurt or cappucino
lunch- 1 multi grain roll with salad
afternoon snack- yogurt or cappucino, or 2 slices of burgen wholemeal and grain toast (this bread is only 1/2 carb per slice).
dinner- 2/3 cup pasta with bolognaise. or 2/3 cup doongara clever rice with stir fry
evening snack- yogurt or toast or fruit.

Try not to feel bad that you have gestational diabetes- it is not in anyway your fault. The placenta creates lots of hormones which in some women interferes with the way your insulin works. :S Nothing you can do about it. this is one of the suckiest things in the world. Because you can be being 100% good, and your readings can keep getting worse- because your hormones increase. and some women will end up on insulin NO MATTER what they do. Also, even with being 100% good with your diet/sugars/insulin/exercise you still have a 30% increased chance of ending up with a bigger baby!

The important thing is to get to the end of the pregnancy knowing you did everything you could to help your baby come out healthy. It is important to listen to your diabetes educators because if you don’t manage it well, your baby is at significantly increased risk of all sorts of things.

It’s important that you go to a dietician who is specifically trained in managing gestational diabetes with diet.

I’m sorry that you have to deal with all this. It really really sucks. I have been really good, and at 36 weeks pregnant, my baby is still on the 80th%ile for size. But i’ve only put on 7 kilos during my pregnancy (about 15 pounds) and at least 5 kilos of that is baby/placenta etc. Eating like this is really good for you. Try to minimize weight gain, so that you’re less likely to develop diabetes later in life. Also, risk for things goes up for every 10 pounds you gain during pregnancy.

Q: Gestational Diabetes during Pregnancy?
I went through the Glucose test and my doctor just called to tell me that my sugar level is at 160 and she would like me to go for a 3 hour test this time. I want to know how many women had gestational diabetes and is it really dangerous for the baby. I have been craving alot of sweets, fruits and fruit juices but now I’m scared to consume any of that. Any suggestions or alternatives to help calm my cravings and still not elevate my diabetes?

A: Depending on what you ate the day of your first Glucose test. That can make a difference. Before you have your 3 hour test you have to fast overnight, then drink the stuff again and start your 3 hour blood draws. Since you will have nothing in your system you could be fine. If your sugar is still high, then you will be counseled on what to eat, and nutrition. gestational diabetes is highly common in pregnancy. As long as you learn what to eat and proper nutrition, your sugar will be under control, and everything should be fine.

Q: Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy?
I am 27 weeks pregnant and recently was told that my GTT (gestational diabetes screen) came back that my sugar level was higher than normal. I have only gained about 15lbs total. And I don’t look any different. I am worried that I have diabetes. What are the chances and would my body change drastically that I would know something is wrong? Should i now just watch my sugar intake? Which food besides candy has the most sugar in it that I should stay away from? I’ll ask these questions at my next doc appoint. But curious to know some answers now. Thanks!

A: It is not uncommon for pregnant women to have high levels at their first GTT. I’m assuming it was the one hour test. Usually, your OB will request you take the longer, three hour test to assess for actual gestational diabetes (GD) due to the frequency of women failing the one hour test.

GD doesn’t necessarily cause any body changes, and it doesn’t mean you’ll have diabetes in its regular form. Generally, if you do have GD, it goes away after the baby is born. Weight gain is not necessarily an indicator of GD, either.

Mild GD is treated with diet and exercise. Avoid refined sugars – anything with corn syrup, table sugar, etc. Sodas, sweetened tea or coffee, candy, cookies, cake, etc should be avoided or in light moderation. Increase your fruits and vegetables and proteins, but keep in mind that fruit juice has high levels of natural sugar (not entirely good for you) as well as many brands having added corn syrup or sweeteners.

Q: Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy (with Twins) plz advice?
I’m 28 weeks pregnant with twins and recently was told that i have high glucose level and that is 159. is this really high. i’m gonna go this weekend for my 3 hour test with 8 hours fasting.I’m so worried about my babies. can you provide me the list what i can eat and what i can not and how much sugar (grams) we can take everyday. i’m not totally vegetarain but i only eat eggs and if chicken is good for diabetes i can start eating that too.Thanks
so far i gained 30 pounds.

A: The first step is to make lifestyle changes that can prevent or reverse both [gestational diabetes mellitus] GDM and type 2 diabetes. These measures include nutritional therapy – which is best accomplished with the help of a dietitian – to achieve what’s called euglycemia, or blood glucose balance. It’s important to ensure appropriate weight gain, but not weight loss, and adequate nutritional intake for both mother and baby. Exercise is encouraged, with the frequency and intensity of activity decided with your doctor based on your risk.

If reductions in blood glucose do not reach the recommended levels within two weeks with lifestyle changes, then certain types of insulin can be safely used in pregnancy.

• Follow a healthy lifestyle.
• Be screened regularly for the development of type 2 diabetes, or impaired glucose tolerance, also known as “prediabetes”.
• Consult their physician when planning their next pregnancy to check blood glucose levels, and consider taking a folic acid supplement to ensure the best outcomes.

Q: where would you find the glucose solution used when testing for gestational diabetes during pregnancy?
when you are about 24-28 weeks pregnant you have to drink a glucose solution usually found in the three flavors, cola, orange, or lime. the solution contains 50 grams of glucose.
the doctor said for me to feel free on looking and if i can find the flavor i like to bring it along, so im trying my hardest

A: At the lab that draws the blood after you drink the stuff. It’s not over the counter!

Q: Low blood pressure, anemia, gestational diabetes during pregnancy?
Hi all! I am 29 weeks, and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes last week. I didn’t have it with my other two, and the nurse told me my numbers weren’t far off, but were a little too high for normal. I’ve been taking my blood sugar four times a day and it hasn’t been too high yet. If anything it’s been low. I was also told I’m anemic, but I’m taking my prenatal vitamins. I was also told I have low blood pressure, but it’s normal for young women.

To make a long story short, Friday morning I passed out in the kitchen floor. As soon as I came to I took my blood sugar, and it was in the 70’s. After that, I started feeling faint, weak, and dizzy several times a day and couldn’t stand for more than 30 seconds at a time without feeling like I would pass out. Anyone had this feeling? Then last night I started having contractions that lasted for about two hours, fifteen minutes apart. They went away around bedtime and I’ve felt fine since. Could it be the blood pressure, anemia, or gb? I have an appointment tomorrow morning, but can’t shake the feeling I’m being a bit of a hypochondriac.

A: Hi, I had issues with this but was `just`under the line and had to watch my intake carefully. I did feel weak and dizzy sometimes and made sure to have my little snack right away. You may want to take a look at 5-6 mini meals a day for now rather than the 3 regular ones we normally eat.
Protein seemed to help me as well. Try to up that intake a bit. Also, watch your carbs as they turn to sugars in the body. Yogurt is really good for you, small handful of nuts 1 TBS or some hard cheeses 1 oz.
Ask your dr. about the contractions, some are normal, body getting ready while growing. But, ask to be certain.
best of luck!

Q: May be a dumb question, but can eating too much sugar during pregnancy cause gestational diabetes?
I’m 26 weeks now and I have the glucose test coming up in a week or so. I couldn’t help eating a bag of sour gummy worms. I don’t really eat to much sugar, but I drink a lot of oj, and grape juice. What causes gestational diabetes?

A: If you have the predisposition for gestational diabetes, your diet will absolutely affect whether you get it. If you don’t have that predisposition, you could eat ice cream all day and it wouldn’t “cause” it. But you don’t know if you are likely to get it unless you had it in an earlier pregnancy, or it runs in your family. So until you’re tested, it’s a good idea to avoid big loads of sugar just in case you do have glucose intolerance.

OJ and grape juice are two of the most hard-hitting fast sugars that you can ingest. That’s what they prescribe diabetics whose blood sugars are falling into coma level because it can raise them so quickly. If you have reason to think you might end up with gestational diabetes then you’d want to cut those out of your diet, but unless you have reason to think that, I would just keep the treats and sweets to an occasional thing and not all the time.

Q: Ladies who developed Gestational diabetes during pregnancy…?
I was wondering if you could please tell me if you had symptoms of diabetes before you tested positive for it? Im feeling awful at the moment. Im 12 weeks pregnant and for various reasons have been told im high risk of developing diabetes. I will of course go to the doctors just as soon as I can get an appointment but wondered in the meantime if you had symptoms and if so what were they? Thanks guys x

A: No, I really did not know I had it the 1st time around. There are no major symptoms with it. Since you are in your 1st trimester if may not show up, unless you have had it before. Like me this is my 2nd pregnancy and I was tested at 8wks and I already had it. I am now on insulin for it. Now you could start to feel dizzy and have the shakes or sweats when your sugar is dropping. But that usually doesn’t occur very often in gest diabetes. Make sure you are watching your carbs, not the sugar in things you eat. Do not drink any fruit juices at all, they will mess up your sugar quick. If you do have it, they will set you up with a dietitian and she will give you all kinds of things to read. Read them all.. it will help ALOT! When your sugar is up.. there a minimal symptoms. Good luck and all will work out.. just follow the diet/

Q: Gestational diabetes during pregnancy?
Hello,
I am about 31 weeks pregnant. I went in for the glucose test yesterday, they gave me this liquid and i waited for one hour before they took the blood. Now i got a call from doctor’s that i will have to go for another one because the first one was a little higher. So this time they say i wait for 2 hours before they take the blood. I am just worried what is it? I haven’t had any problems in my first 2 pregnancies, this is the third one. Why are they taking it twice ? and what do they mean by the results that are higher this time? How does it affect the pregnancy?
Thank you so much everyone for detailed answers .. :)

A: I “failed” my one hour test too (with my first pregnancy, yet to take it with my second), and I had to go in for a THREE HOUR test. I was definitely worried. I had to drink twice the sugar and get my blood drawn 4 times throughout the 3 hours. I passed it though! I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to eat anything for 8 hours before the first test and that’s why I failed, but I’m told a lot of people fail the first one. If it’s just a little high than it could be for a lot of reasons, and they do the longer test to rule out gestational diabetes, seeing how your blood sugar reacts over more time.

I haven’t done the research in a while, but if you have G.D. I think you just have to be careful how you eat for the remainder of the pregnancy, and I think you have to monitor your blood sugar, because if it’s not managed you can have a larger-than-otherwise baby with its own blood sugar related health problems. That’s why they check for it, because when managed, everyone turns out just fine!

Good luck on your second test. Hope you passed like I did! Here’s a little reading about G.D.

Q: Did you develop gestational diabetes during your pregnancy?
What did you do to take care of it?

A: Yes I did and it really surprised me since no one in my family is diabetic and I’m not overweight. Perhaps actually those two things have nothing to do with developing gestational diabetes….but I digress….
Luckily for me I could control my diabetes with diet alone. I had to test my blood two times a day (although sometimes I did it more often) and basically followed a no sugar, reduced carb diet. I must admit, it was challenging for me. There were times when I wanted to cry because I missed a little dessert after dinner. I purchased a Diabetic cookbook and made some reduced sugar desserts. If I was really hurting for some sugar, I’d go out and by the artificially sweetened candy for diabetics (although I didn’t do this often). You also must limit your fruit intake too so for me, an apple became dessert and I really looked forward to eating it when I could. It obviously got easier as my pregnancy progressed. I gained little weight (20 pounds in total at 9 months) and felt absolutely FANTASTIC. I had the energy of a young child. While other friends complained at 9 months of feeling awful, I felt great. Truly a benefit fo the diabetic diet and I’ll be honest, I’m pretty close to maintaining it now too. After I gave birth, my levels were restored back to normal and I could enjoy desserts again. I weighed myself two weeks after I gave birth. I was 6 pounds over my NORMAL weight. I was in jeans in no time. Yes, I most likely have gestational diabetes if I get pregnant again but now I know what I have to do. I have a beautiful, healthy daughter so its all worth it. Good luck!

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