Gestational Diabetes

[Mama Batty]

Hi!

I'm 31 weeks, and was told I had GD. I find it strange that the doc said that I probably had it before. No one in my family has history of diabetes. Before I got pregnant, I did lose 80 lbs last year with extreme workouts and mostly vegetarian (and some protein) diet. And I had a diabetic friend who always gave me pointers on food and cooking. I was seeing a Cardiologist/Internal Medicine doc when I had insurance, who suggested a more active lifestyle and I would see changes in my health. Which I did notice. (I started getting my period regularly...after being told I also had PCOS) Anyway, both times that I was tested for sugar at the OB, me and the daddy went to grab something to eat before the appointment. My error of course was grabbing something quick, which contains lots of calories. The first time, we had mc donalds. I didnt know the doc was sending me to get a glucose test. I told the nurses that I had eaten earlier, but they didn't seem to care. This was on July 28th.

A week later, I went to the ER on 8/10 for a bad respiratory infection, and the whole time I was there, they did blood tests for sugar and my sugar was fine. This is due to me not having eaten all day (and night). I told this to my OB and he ignored me. Then he scheduled me to a specialist, which mind you I told them to 'eff off', when their scheduling girl called me to give me crap about my insurance. I changed doctors.

My new OB tested my urine last week on the 4th. Said there was sugar in there. I had just enjoyed a nice lunch buffet with my partner (again), and they told me eating or not, my sugar should be leveled. I'm being sent to get the glucose test (fasting) this time. And then to a dietitian on Wed. He said I might need insulin. I don't want this.

I know my eating habits changed when I got pregnant. I couldn't get full on just veggies. Then I started really craving protein. I didn't have a lot of meat in my diet before preg, but now I do. Its the only thing that fills me up and is satisfying.

The things I thought would trigger diabetes are the things I DON'T touch: candy, soda, or anything with high fructose corn syrup. I don't even put sugar in my tea. And I drink tons of water. And I live for cinnamon. I thought it controlled blood sugar, according to what I've read. So how come this happened?

I dont want a large baby. I don't want complications. I don't want a c-section. I don't want to be on insulin/poking my finger to test my blood. And I don't know what the heck to eat anymore without being hungry again an hour later. This has me very low emotionally...

[wright1212]

OK first of all GD is not the end of everything wonderful. I was diagnosed at 28 weeks, now at almost 39 weeks I have survived, a little sad I am missing cravings but everything is fine! Second your doctor sounds crazy. You must fast to get accurate blood sugar test, also dont stress or be active while your waiting to have your blood checked because that can spike your blood sugar. Also cinnamon has a lot of carbs, only protein keeps blood sugar in check. Finally on a nutrition note, no matter how good or bad you eat if you have GD your blood sugars will not be in the healthy range if you eat more carbs then allowed on the actual diet.
Now as soon as I got dx I did TONS of research on why, how, what to do, about baby, everything!! It is NOT likely you ever had it before. Especially with your obviously healthy lifestyle. During pregnancy while the baby is taking all your nutrients it can in some people make it too hard to produce enough insulin for the body to process blood sugar. Thus the need for a special restricted diet. The avg GD diet is to eat 6x a day with a 45 carb limit at every meal. With the 3 major meals must check blood and in the am. Its truly not that bad with the new testing equipment out there. Even on the strict diet my bloodsugar still stayed high so I went on medication-no injections! I just a tiny half a pill in the am and pm and I found I cant have milk. Other than that I got used to reading labels and finding joy in Lean Cuisines and Slim Fast candy bars! Eating meat is not easy for me but I do enjoy cheese and eggs! My nurse in charge of my diet said something to make it so easy "this is not your fault and if you cant do it on diet online, thats ok, thats not your fault either!" I do have to now go in 2x a week for nst test, but I just sit there on a fetal monitor and watch tv-not so bad. I had 2 babies without having GD and they were huge babies (9+) and so is this one. SO I am having a csection anyways. But csection is truly the only huge risk with gd. I slightly fear the baby having hypoglycemia at birth but as long as I can nurse asap it should be good!
I wish you the best of luck on an accurate test, just ask for a retest if you truly feel its wrong. And if it comes back you do have it I will try to provide lots more good links and tips that got me through it.
PS My other 2 pregnancies where I passed the test, i always had sugar in my pee test, but not GD!