Gestational Diabetes this go around?

[Elizabeth_Bailey]

I took the glucose tests with both my children and ended up having to do the three hour test with both of them. Each time I was told that I passed by the skin of my teeth. My oldest didn't have problems with his sugar but my youngest did. He couldn't regulate his sugar after he was born. I am wondering if perhaps the dr will just automatically treat and make preparations for the gestational diabetes due to my youngest issues after birth to be safe. I had to obviously have some form of the g.d. because it took like two days of glucose iv's and sugar checks every 30 minutes for him to regulate his sugar.

[kohlby]

How far along are you? I passed the 3 hour GTT easily both times, but likely did have GD when pg with my DD. (And the dr thinks I may have even had it with DS despite the only issue was he was big). I have insulin resistance, even when not pg, which causes reactive hypoglycemia. So, my OB thinks that it's quite possible for me to pass a 3 hour GTT since all that sugar actually makes me have a hypoglycemia attack when not pg or in earlier stages. DD had the chest pudge of a diabetic baby. Her chest was so big that she couldn't come down. Plus she had dangerously low blood sugar at birth - but breastfeeding just once fixed that. She was 11lb 4oz despite being small boned. DS at 10lb 8oz looked perfect. DD was only 12oz heavier but she was half an inch longer but she looked too pudgy).

They had me skip the 1 hour screen this time around. They also had my do the 3 hour GTT early = at 14 weeks and I'll do it again at the normal time. I'm on a diabetic diet for life due to the insulin issues. (Though so far, they tell me I don't have to test my blood sugar levels). I did go on the GD diet as a just in case when pg with DS - though I technically passed both the 1 hour (barely) and 3 hour (easily) then. (He was 4.5 lbs at 29 weeks and I had excessive gain, so we figured the diet wouldn't hurt).

My 3 hour GTT levels at 14 weeks were 75 (fasting), 119 (one hour), 75 (two hour), 28 (three hour). That last number is in the possible coma/seizure range. And though I got through the hypoglycemia attack without needing meds, it was a bit scary, to say the least. So, even if you have low levels at the start, I'd still recommend getting the three hour test later on. And it won't hurt to do the GD diet even without the testing.

I've heard of many women buying a glucose monitor on their own and testing. So, that's another option if your dr thinks you don't need to test but you want to.

[Elizabeth_Bailey]

I misreably failed both 1 hour tests with both my children which is why I had to take the 3 hour test...which I barely by the skin of my teeth passed. I am wondering however...since my "morning" sickness is so horrible through my pregnancy it is difficult for me to eat alot of food period...so the extras they ask you to eat before the 3 hour test is difficult for me to pull off. Elijah however (my youngest) had a very hard time of regulating his sugar when he was born....I do at times get light headed if I go to long without something salty or sweet to eat...so Im wondering how they will deal with it. I was curious if anyone else had this issue...because I was told I didn't have GD but then after Elijah was born and his issues....then I obviously had it.

[jodyvo]

I also failed the e 1 hour miserably with my DD. I was going to do the 3 hour but didn't want to take the time off of work. The nurse told me I probably have GD and treated it like that. I never needed insulin and I controled my blood sugars beautifully with the help of the diet.
I really liked the diet and it forced me to eat healthier. Regardless of what they chose for you to do I would highly recomend the diabetes diet
Good luck

[michkatz]

Don't know if this may be affecting things but.. I failed the first test because I ate a banana just before hand. It was early in the morning.. and I was on the run. I really didn't think about it until I got the results I failed. Fruit, bagels even, anything you eat before hand can effect the outcome

[SBEE]

Great resource is dLife.com...mainly for people with type 1 and type 2, go to http://www.dlife.com and look on the left bar, click on gestational and heaps of good info. And now, I just love their recipes ... but I'm a recipe nut anyway...good luck ladies and hang in there!!!

[debsmooth]

I failed the 1 hour test with my second. I decided to revamp my diet to see if it would help and it did. I removed all sugar and artificial sweeteners. It really helped a lot. I passed the three hour test no problem and felt a lot better. It's clear I had been redlining my insulin when I ate the sugar and splenda while preg. Thought I would pass this one on. It worked for me.

[Silly]

I had GD just with one of my kids. I hope everything turns out ok. :hug: