Freshly diagnosed

[cairnsmummy]

Hi, I've just been told this afternoon I have GD and am booked in for a Disbetes Education class on Tues. I just have a couple of questions...Will I have to start using one of those pinprick blood sugar testers? Do the hospital provide these? How strict a diet will I have to follow?
I've a good idea that the reason I've ended up with GD is due to cravings for sweet things as normally I can't stand them, fingers crossed my blood sugar will go right down if I cut all the 'naughty' things out!

[boordinda]

Hi, I've just been told this afternoon I have GD and am booked in for a Disbetes Education class on Tues. I just have a couple of questions...Will I have to start using one of those pinprick blood sugar testers? Do the hospital provide these? How strict a diet will I have to follow?
I've a good idea that the reason I've ended up with GD is due to cravings for sweet things as normally I can't stand them, fingers crossed my blood sugar will go right down if I cut all the 'naughty' things out!

Hi Cairnsmum2b,

It has also been confirmed that I have GD. My levels were 14.9 so they were very high. I had GD with my previous pregnancy too. They will start you off with a diet and you should try to increase your exercise. You will need to be monitored closely and it is very likley that they will lend ( my hospital will lend me one) you a blood tester so you can check your levels everyday.

Unfortunaley because my levels are so high and I was on insulin last time, I am staring insulin next week.

You should get all the information at your education class but basically try eating small regular meals which are more low gi and avoid sugar until your class.

Good luck!

[cairnsmummy]

Thanks boordinda! I went to the education class and am sticking to the diet. Only trouble is I find myself obsessing if the results are high. I had a multigrain ham and cheese toastie for lunch today and my levels were 7.2 so I started thinking I should cut out carbs tonight but I know that's wrong. I think I need to stop treating it as a 'diet' and more like a healthy eating guide. Sorry to hear you're back on insulin... Dies this mean you need to be induced? Up here I was told if I go on insulin I need to have the baby monitored 3xweek from 36 weeks and will be induced at 38 so am trying to avoid that.

[boordinda]

I know what you mean about being tempted to cut the crabs out to lower the readings but the nurse educator told me that this is the worst thing for the baby and not to do it. The baby needs the carbs esp if our body is not processing it correctly.

My levels have been high every reading but we have not started the insulin yet. I have it all ready to go, they are just monitoring the levels for a few days first.

I will definaltley not go over my due date so I am be induced if I do not go into natural labour. There is talk about a cs due to previous big baby ( 4.75kg) and complicated birth.

I am just taking one day at a time but I am impatient and just want to know what is happening all the time - hehe

Good luck with your new eating plan, once you are in a routine it will get easier.

Take care.

[Bekk]

Thanks boordinda! I went to the education class and am sticking to the diet. Only trouble is I find myself obsessing if the results are high. I had a multigrain ham and cheese toastie for lunch today and my levels were 7.2 so I started thinking I should cut out carbs tonight but I know that's wrong. I think I need to stop treating it as a 'diet' and more like a healthy eating guide. Sorry to hear you're back on insulin... Dies this mean you need to be induced? Up here I was told if I go on insulin I need to have the baby monitored 3xweek from 36 weeks and will be induced at 38 so am trying to avoid that.

Cutting out your carbs is a bad idea, you need them for energy ect. I'm not sure what your info is but i've been told to have 3-4 serves of carbs in a meal and 1-2 serves in a snack, all spread out across the day.

I get high levels when I have bread (even if it fits into the 3-4 serves ratio), so when i have a meal say lunch, I'll only have say 2 serves of bread and maybe a glass of milk or a piece of fruit so that my carbs are made up of different types.