Gestational diabetes

[bethtanner]

My doctor thinks i had undectected diabeties during both pregancies as the babies were big for my size and i put on alot of weight (7st with Imo) I had a blood test by request of the midwife, althougyh my urine was always clear. The blood came back clear too and the consultant said i was 1 point from the BMI that they usually test from (ie i was fat but not that fat!!) so i did'nt have to doing the fasting and glucose test thankfully (although i did do the fasting as the last doctor told me they would test me the next time so iwent all prepared and hungry!) Hope things go ok, beth xxxx

[KatiesMum07]

Hi,

I've had several glucose tolerance tests, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

When I was pregnant with DD I had to monitor my blood sugar levels 3-4 times a day and record everything I ate. I had to keep them below a certain level otherwise I would be prescribed insulin. I also had HB1AC blood tests which test your long term sugar control.

The diabetes causes the baby to gain too much weight but it can also cause problems after birth as the baby isn't getting the same level of sugar so it can go hypo. It can also cause problems with the placenta towards the end, if you have GD you tend to be induced on or before your due date.

A few after my DD was born they took her off to do a blood sugar test on her - heel prick - and she was fine.

It was me they forgot to feed, I tested my blood at 6pm (I'd not eaten for 12 hours) they were 3.6, which is dangerous any lower and I would have gone hypo - DH sent to see the midwives who checked out my bowel sounds (had a section) and given a egg mayo sandwich (which I detest) but I ate it so fast I didn't taste it. I then raided the DH's food supply because when my blood sugar has been this low I have major munchies for days.

I had a another glucose tolerance test when DD was 6 weeks old, I had to be at the hospital for 8am and didn't leave until noon! with no food from 8pm the night before. There wasn't much food left in the hospital shop by the time I'd finished!

The test came back negative - I'd lost 2 stone before I got pregnant which cleared it up.

I was tested again as my sugar control had been so good, never needed insulin.

I'm making the most of this as I couldn't enjoy food whilst I was pregnant, the up side was that I only gained a stone as had lost that by the time Katie was 4 weeks old!

Katiesmum07

[jules06]

They would be testing how quickly your body gets rid of the sugar and whether your blood sugar level after the sugary drink returned to a normal level.

An ideal range for good sugar control is 3-7. Diabetes is not diagnosed until you have a reading of 9 or above and only then via fasting blood tests. And initially they would try and treat this with changes to your diet.

It's not a case of having lots of sugar and it affecting your reading. If you have something that contains sugar, your levels rise slightly, then return to normal when your body produces insulin. With a diabetic the insulin within your body either does not work or not as well, therefore the sugar level within your body remains higher for longer. This is what they test for during your ante natal appts.

As you have had a big baby they would have checked whether you had a higher than average sugar level. Which can indicate gestational diabetes, but is not always the case. Some people just have a little bigger babies.