r/GestationalDiabetes

So I haven’t been on this sub a long time and not officially diagnosed with GD yet although I have been tracking my numbers this week and it doesn’t look promising that I will be within range for the 1 hour glucose screen next week. I just wanted to say that the word failed gives such a negative connotation, like it’s our fault, or there is blame or shame. I personally like the words “within range” or “outside of range.” I could be overly sensitive here but we are literally growing life, our bodies are working overtime to make our little humans. The placenta and hormones are the culprit here.

We aren’t failing or failures here, we are warriors that just have to do a little more to get our tiny humans here safely.

I may feel very different after my 8,000th grilled chicken salad and tracking but for now, this is how I’m choosing to see things.

Carry on you goddesses!

It just seems so high. I started off taking 7 units early in pregnancy as I’m type two and the doctor had me titrate up slowly as my fasting would creep up. I’m 32 weeks now and I think I have to increase to 22 units now because I’m waking up at 97 the last two days…

I’ve read that my insulin needs will soon decrease overtime after 36 weeks? When that does happen, should I worry because I read something about placenta insufficiency? I have twice weekly NSTs.

I’m 34 weeks with my second baby (first time GDM) and was diagnosed around 30 weeks. Today at my normal checkup, my provider was asking if I’d be interested in twice weekly appointments. One for doing an ultrasound just to check on baby and one for a NST. I’m diet controlled and baby has been measuring around the 55th percentile, all measurements at last ultrasound were either exactly at GA or a day or two below or above. My weight has stayed pretty much the same just fluctuating around the same weight for about a month. I’ve been trying to be more active and have added little workouts (instead of the walking I usually did pre pregnancy, just because it’s so hot where I live).

Anyways, I initially said yes to the twice weekly appointments and I got them all scheduled but now i’m second guessing it. I don’t live far from the office but the gas cost to drive there and back is a bit. Plus I will have my 2.5 year old with me probably for most of the appointments because no one can really watch him. He does pretty good during appointments but i’ve found that the later into pregnancy I get, the longer it takes for the appointments to start. So by the time the actual doctor is in, i’ve been waiting for 30 minutes (which I know isn’t very long compared to a lot of people) and my son just is the type that wants to play with EVERYTHING.

I obviously know the risks with GDM but with my last pregnancy I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and wasn’t ever given the idea to have that level of monitoring. Of course GDM probably affects baby and placenta a bit more, but everywhere I was reading said that in most cases diet controlled aren’t usually monitored that closely. My MFM at my last appointment hadn’t mentioned anything about it and was completely okay with just seeing me back in 4 weeks for another ultrasound for growth.

I hope this doesn’t make me come off as careless or selfish, i’m just genuinely curious how many other diet controlled people are going twice weekly.

I failed my 1 hour glucose test and am taking my 3 hour on Friday. I will admit that I've had an awful sweet tooth during this pregnancy and have indulged more than I should have. Even though I know I don't need to make any big changes right now since I haven't officially been diagnosed with GD, I feel like this was a small wake up call that I should be more mindful of what I eat.

When I google options for something sweet to eat to help curb some cravings, fruit is almost always an option and primarily recommended. I am *not* a fruit eater. I've never been a fan of fruit, even as a small child. It's a texture and taste thing. I hate pretty much everything about it. If someone offers me a fruit as part of a dessert, I will decline it every time.

So anyway, if anyone has non-fruit sweet treat options that makes this more bearable, I'm all ears and open for recommendations!

Our baby was measuring around 4 pounds and 43rd percentile at the 32 week scan, jumped to 7 pounds 5 ounces and 91st percentile at 36 week scan. Ob suggested induction at 39 week… wondering if anyone had a similar situation? Currently diet controlled, numbers have been low if anything so they don’t think it’s related to the GD.

Just feeling torn if induction is the right route or a planned c section might be the safer bet if she continues to grow at that rate?

Feeling very emotional but I understand that it has to be done. Question for yall on insulin. Did yall do an insulin education class? How helpful was it? We are self pay and things keep adding up so im wondering if i really need this. The nurse sounded offended over the phone when i questioned it.

I am 28 (FTM) and currently 27 weeks. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 10 weeks..immediately put on metformin 500 morning and evening. Plus, 4 units night time insulin.

Everything was under control with occasional spikes. But that too never went above 140. But since last week I moved my insulin to 6 units, still my readings are out of control 😭😭😭😭

17 Aug

After breakfast (12:30 pm)- 109

After lunch (4:30 pm)- 137

After dinner (10:45 pm)- 74

18 Aug

Fasting- 102

After breakfast (1:20 pm)- 158

After lunch (4:15 pm)- 102

After dinner (10:47 pm)- 128

19 Aug

Fasting (9:22 am)- 94

After breakfast (12 pm)- 166

After dinner (11 pm)- 163

I am having normal meal and trying to move after every meal. What am I doing wrong? I am not eating junk or having any sugar in any form...

Now even my milk without sugar or normal 2 chapatis are making my sugar level.go crazy.

My NP keeps suggesting 6-8 hr fasting window with a preference of 6 hrs. I barely get any sleep during night and she keeps insisting for 6 hrs “since it’s more accurate”. But from the same office, everyone else keeps suggesting 8-10 hours.

I have also tried everything for my bedtime snack, including the snack she suggested (Barebells protein bar: which did bring some numbers down but never in the range). I looked up in this subreddit and saw people recommending yasso frozen greek yogurt bar. I tried it and only that has given me values under 95 for fasting after trying so many things, I also sometimes add 10 almonds with it. However, when I brought this up, my NP didn’t seem to like it and seemed unhappy about it.

Anyone else’s office suggests 6 hour fasting window over 8 hrs?
I also sometimes just check the time when I wake up and log it in my Dexcom CGM app, but sometimes I go back to sleep for few more minutes or an hour. When I brought this up, she again mentioned just stick to 6 hours without listening to my concerns.

Any similar experiences or suggestions would be really helpful. 🙏

I took metformin with my first pregnancy, no issues at all…

This time, I’ve been on the higher dose for a week and I am in gastrointestinal DISTRESS. I haven’t kept a meal inside for longer than an hour in 2 full days.

The nurse said to tough it out for 3 more days to see if it settles. If it doesn’t, she said it would be on to insulin.

I’ve read online that insulin causes weight gain. I was on a weight loss journey when I fell pregnant and I’m not keen on the idea of excess weight gain if it can be avoided.

Anyone with bad side effects from metformin- did they settle?
Also anyone on insulin find they gained weight?

TIA x

For those who needed to take fasting insulin and had to be induced at 39 weeks, what was your experience like? I'm feeling very increasingly anxious about being induced and im not sure what to expect. I'll be with an ob I've never met. Did you need to be hooked up to an IV the whole time? Continuous fetal monitoring? Did you want to eat during? We're you allowed to eat during?

I'm worried about having a very long labor, getting exhausted and then needing a c section. I already have had problems with getting shaky/weak when I don't have food before exercise, and i don't see how clear liquids/jello would be helpful at all.

I'm on the east coast USA for reference.

As my title states, I'm having to do the 3 hour test tomorrow, at 11 and 6. And I'm truly just dreading it and feel like I'm going to be in a terrible mood all day today.

I did my 1 hour on Monday and it was difficult but made much better by the fact I could eat protein that morning. My morning sickness is in the form of extreme hunger and gagging which leads to throwing up. So, having that protein saved me!!

Well, shockingly (!) my glucose was 194 after the 1 hour. I really did not expect that! However I had been on metformin for having a borderline prediabetic A1C before, but my A1C they drew at my 8 week pregnancy appointment was 5.3, so better than usual. I guess I just naively thought it wouldn't happen to me.

Now, tonight I can't eat past 10, and then tomorrow morning am supposed to somehow be able to wake up, get myself to the doctor, have 4 blood draws and wait 3 hours in an uncomfortable space all on an empty stomach?? Are you kidding me?? The longest I've gone in the morning without eating has been about 30 minutes at which point I gagged until I was heaving up bile.

I'm so frustrated! First and foremost, I want my baby to be okay and I'm scared. But right now I am more scared of this 3 hour test than I am of the likely diagnosis behind it.

Thanks for listening to my rant. I know you can understand.

I’ve been formally diagnosed with GD as of today, and I’m spiraling. My first pregnancy ended in preeclampsia with severe features and I was hoping for a redemptive second pregnancy. I wanted four kids but now i’m feeling like that dream is in the process of being quashed.

I feel like I’ve failed my baby - half of my job is to keep my children safe (and the other half is to love them), but my baby isn’t even out of my belly yet and I’m already failing to keep her safe because my body, or the placenta I guess, is not functioning properly.

And then there’s me - this diagnosis changes the trajectory of my life; a higher risk of developing Type II diabetes throughout my lifetime (is my understanding).

This is a heavy, heavy weight and I don’t know how I’m going to walk this road.

I don’t know what to do or think or expect or anything. I feel hopeless. Any advice, positive stories, anything is appreciated.

I had an appointment today at 30w and 6d and my sugars have all been well within range, no issues. My doctor seemed very pleased and said everything is looking great. I mentioned that I read around 32 weeks things can start to change and should I expect some level of insulin resistance to rise. She just said anything is possible, cross that bridge when we get to it but I’m curious…
Has anyone had sugars that were perfect/great after diagnosis and took a downturn at 32 weeks or shortly after? If so what are some immediate changes you made, or things that helped to at least try to keep it under control?

Thanks everyone! This is my first time with this diagnosis and it’s so much different than the way my son’s T1D works, so I’ll take all the info I can get.

When I did my 3 hour glucose test a week ago my fasting was 78. The first few days of testing it was in the 70s and 80s. Now I cannot get it out of the low 90s UGH! The past few days have been 95, 92, 91. Dr says below 95 but prefers below 90.

I was doing yasso bars as my late night snack and was getting the low numbers but then also got the 95 and 92 with them so last night I tried pistachios and a cheese stick and still got 91.

My daytime are totally diet controlled at the moment.

I didn't have GD in my first pregnancy 5 years ago. Fast forward to now, 2nd pregnancy, GTT was normal at 28 weeks. Tested again at 33 weeks, and confirmed I have GD. I'm now at 34+4, so a week and a half into what is currently diet controlled GD. My fasting readings vary - between 4.7 and 5.4 so far. My threshold is 5.2 or less. I'm eating the same thing for breakfast every day - either protein yoghurt with some berries, or 1 slice low carb toast and peanut butter. I don't understand why the readings fluctuate so much after breakfast when it's only ever one of those two meals - there's no pattern to say 1 meal is better than the other. I'm waking up utterly starving, so a small (much smaller than I'm used to!!) breakfast just doesn't cut it, especially when lunch is small too. But then I eat, say, an omelette for lunch (so bored of omelette and eggs already) and then I feel genuinely scared to consider having a yoghurt or a piece of fruit, for fear of getting a bad reading. I just feel like I'm barely eating anything, starving all the time, yet the readings don't seem to reflect it. They're mostly in target - I've had 3 readings since diagnosis that have been about 0.1 / 0.2 over the target. But I just feel confused about how it works, what it means, how I can not be hungry all the time. It's just a minefield - and a full time job! Logistically, thinking of when to eat so that 1 hour later I can do my reading without being in the car, or a meeting, or an appointment - it's insane.

Anyone got any insights into the readings and the impact meals have?

Also, the thought of having to inject insulin myself literally terrifies me. Basically I'm just an emotional mess! 🙈

My OB is recommending another 3 hr GTT. They said it’s “office policy” to offer it due to baby measuring at 95% at 34w2d. I took an early 1hr GTT due to my BMI and passed. Took another at 28 weeks, I passed by lab standards but failed by office standards - their cutout was 135 and I got 139. I did the 3hr GTT at 32w4d and passed, 3 out of 4 values were in normal range, the first non fasting value was 182 and the cutoff was 180. I’m getting ultrasounds at this point for separate issue, they just happened to get a measurement because I was at MFM.

I really don’t want to do another 3hr, I feel like it’s overkill. But there is a part of me that is already spiraling about what it if I do actually have GD and I don’t treat it and then this baby is even bigger and I have a labor and delivery I’m not hoping for, etc. They said I can do nothing, I can do finger sticks for 2 weeks, or I can just adjust my diet and add in walks after meals - basically act like I have GD even thought I’ve passed all the diagnostic tests. I’m leaning towards just adjusting my diet and letting it go.

Partial rant, partial looking for any personal experience with a similar recommendation - what you did, how baby did after birth, etc.

TLDR; OB is recommending another 3hr GTT due to baby’s size, would you do it?

37 +2 weeks now, preparing for baby to come whenever he wants to at this point! Bags are packed, etc EXCEPT for snacks... I'm diet controlled and my numbers have always been pretty good about being in range. I know for a fact I'm going to want to eat something but nothing sounds good. What snacks should I bring?? I'm a savory over sweets person anyway, so possibly like cheese/salami and crackers? Veggie sticks? I'd love to have at least one solid meal before things get too intense. Help me!

Officially failed my 1 hr ogtt at 16 weeks with a result of 203. I knew this was going to happen and yesterday my doctor said I am probably insulin resistant, but in her message today said I “have GDM and more likely pre pregnancy diabetes due to insulin resistance”.

I’m so shocked and confused. I had gdm with my first but passed my pp ogtt. My A1c has always been normal. The only thing is my fasting numbers outside of pregnancy are in the prediabetic range, but my post meal numbers outside of pregnancy were always good.

Now I’m just going to worry the next 24 weeks that I’m a type 2 diabetic. Does this sound right? I really like this doctor but I’m shocked she would say this especially after just saying insulin resistance yesterday.

In 35 and a half weeks, diagnosed with GD early around week 12 (was tested early due to family hx) and on nighttime insulin since around week 15. As others have written here, my numbers started jumping up again at 32 weeks, I have had a few postprandial spikes lately, but those numbers are mostly within range absent fast acting insulin. My fasting numbers just keep climbing though. I am up to 74 units at night now. My practice wants them below 90, so under the instructions of my endocrinologist, I keep increasing.

Anyway, at my OB appt this morning the doctor told me that he thinks this is the most insulin he's seen anyone on. I just feel like a failure, even though I know this is not my fault and I cannot stop crying. This was on top of finding out I need a c section yestersay due to placenta not moving enough. I was really hoping for a 39 w induction and now we will be having a 37 week C section. He went on to list reasons other than the previa why I would need to deliver earlier anyway including my age and insulin (all of which i am aware of but hearing this made me feel like further crap) , stating with my current amount they may have actually bumped me to a 38 week induction anyway "because it's so high."

Im just feeling so demoralized. I follow the diet, I've walked all summer everyday in the heat, I've tried so hard. At the end of the day, I know what matters is my baby coming out healthy. We went through so much to get here (IVF), and im so grateful for this baby. Im just really emotional today and I guess need to hear that everything will be okay.

My son has measured above the 90th percentile since 20 weeks. I have another growth scan tomorrow (33 weeks) to see how he's doing but my Dr said if he's still measuring that big we might want to start seriously considering induction (past 37 weeks). If you had to induce for similar reasons, when was that decision made? I am not on insulin at the moment and my fasting and post meal numbers have been pretty good. Obviously I know everyone's circumstances are different, I'm just curious what others have experienced.