I have GD, any advice?
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Topic: I have GD, any advice?
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Subject: I have GD, any advice?
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 10:22am
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What usually happens now?
What kinds of things might happen for the birth? What are the diabetes midwives like? What should I expect? This has really thrown me off course.  ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Replies:
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 10:30am
i don't have any experience with GD sorry but robyn (my2angels) has so maybe you could get in touch with her ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 10:34am
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You'll get referred to the High Risk clinic at Auckland hospital. Depending on how bad your GD is, you'll be given a strict diet to follow & have to test your sugar levels before & after each meal & keep a record of them. I had GD but was able to control it by diet. The diabetes midwives are ok - one was nice, the other was a real nazi with sugar levels. I still kept my independant midwife as well & she delivered my son. The diabetes midwives are clinic based only so won't attend the birth or anything like that. You'll have to give birth at Auckland hospital as well. At the clinic, you'll see the diabetes midwives, a dietician, an obstetrician & a paediatrician. There are heaps of appointments & you'll probably have quite a few growth scans too because they like to keep an eye on how big bubs is. If you don't control the GD you can end up with a really large baby. I was really stressed about it when I first got it, but it turned out not to be that bad - apart from making me crave sugary foods & carbs!! It was kind of almost a blessing in disguise as I really had to watch what I ate & my portion sizes & ended up being skinnier a week after giving birth than when I got pregnant! There are a few other things related to the birth - like they won't let you go overdue, but the diabetes midwife should cover all of that when you meet with her. Oh & bubs has to be tested for diabetes after the birth too.
Good luck with it all - it's alot to take in at first, but is actually more common than you'd think! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 10:52am
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What usually happens now?
After I was dianognosed (at 28weeks) I got referred to a Diabetes educator and also to an OB. The diabetes educator was very nice and they check your blood levels etc... then i was refered to a dietian so i knew what foods to eat and what not to eat. i met with them both every 2 weeks until the birth of Rhyley. I also had a growth scan at 35 weeks (Rhyley was esitmated at 7lbs at 35 and was born at 39 weeks 9lb 4oz) What kinds of things might happen for the birth? Nothing really - you have a normal birth as long as size of baby isn't too big. Or like me baby decides to be breeched and you have to have a ceasar. Once baby is born the special care unit checks baby over and blood levels (this is a heal prick) They encourage you to feed baby almost straight away (but they do with any baby) and they will monitor baby blood levels for at least 24 hours. What are the diabetes midwives like? I had the same Midwife I had before. I did get refered to an OB but only met with him once before having baby. What should I expect? You will have to check your bloods before and after foods for a few weeks then after (like an hour) Also beofre you get up (first thing in morn) THE diabetes educator will want to see these every time you see him/her. You will be given a testing machine and needles etc... Its not that bad to do and you get use to it in the end. As long as you control it with diet you won't have to have insulin - I didn't and sometimes my levels would go way up. But I kept it under control most of the time. You will be ok. I know I read alot about it and worried that my baby was goign to be huge and had to have a ceasar. Midwife said I have big babies anyhw so i can do it and could natural birth if i wanted to (thats before we knew he was breeched). Advise is: cut out all sugar, watch your carbohydrates (they break down into glucose) thats like white bread, pizza, burgers etc.... Fruit juice will send you high as well. even Chippies. Sounds like you can't have anything but you can have it just in moderation. It use to get me down when i though t i was being so good and my levels would still be high... but just think its only for max 10 weeks (thats if you go over but they don't normally let GD mothers go over). Just ask every question cause none are stupid ones... anymore questions you can PM me  ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 11:02am
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Nic01 - yeah I didn't put on any weight after I was diagnosed with gd and after birth was back down to pre-regnancy weight. Was a good way to lose some kgs.
Forgot to say at 6 weeks you should get your dr to refer you for a diabetes test to make sure you haven't developed diabetes. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 11:06am
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That was strange. I was just typing my reply saying that i was waiting to find out if i had GB and i got a call confirming i do!
I know how you feel. I have no idea about what happens from now! ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 12:27pm
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Thank you ladies for your advice and helpful answers.
I will sure pm you if anything else comes up to ask. I pretty much just feel like crying coz I too thought I wasn't doing too bad in the food/eating department but I guess my normal weight and family history have just played their cards. The thought of having to cut even more stuff from my diet (which is very restricted anyway) is just depressing. Melln, sorry you have it too and I hope this doesn't sound mean, but it feels so good to know that I'm not the only one (at this point in time!) ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 12:41pm
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Hehe thats ok. Its good to know your not alone huh.
Im not too worried about it really, i mean im a bit scared that bubs is going to be huge (shes over 7lb already) but other than that, i only have about 2 or 3 weeks to go. Dont worry too much. My aunty told me theres people that are perfectly healthy and eat really well (im not saying you dont lol) and they still have gotten GB. So obviously, its not really soemthing we can help too much aye? I feel kinda guilty though, cause ive craved so much sugary stuff during my pregnancy and i havnt exactly stopped myself from eating it...  ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 12:55pm
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My aunty got GD with every pregnancy, all I remember is her having to check her sugar levels every few hours. And having to get tested after she had each baby to make sure it hadn't developed into type 1 diabetes. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 4:36pm
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Well i think everything has pretty much been covered but just thought i would add DO NOT STRESS. I know its scary but really its not such a biggy if you are careful and monitored. First time round mine was diet controlled and I didnt even know i had it till a week out from delivering (kobe was 6 weeks prem and weighed 7lb 4oz) With Addison it was diagnosed at 26 weeks and I couldnt control it with diet and was on insulin. My levels were even worse on insulin and I ended up being induced at 38 weeks and Addison was 8lb 7oz. Towards teh end you will get heaps of sizing scans to make sure bubs isnt getting to big, Addisons abdomin circumfrance was almost off the chart on the scans but she was sweet when born. They will monitor baby after its born and thats not easy, seeing them have blood tests all the time, i felt so guilty. If you have to start testing yourself the sides of the fingers are a lot less painful than the tip and make sure you dont have any handcreams or food on your fingers as this will throw the result out majorly. If you have to start injecting then ask for the pen injection, you cant see the needle. I was panicking about having to inject myself cos i have a fear of needles. When the lady came over to show me how to do it I just bawled my eyes out but it was actually better than doing the finger prick tests.
I think at the end of the day its really more a pain in the butt cos you ahve to test all the time but bubs and you will jsut about be living at the hospital wiht all the monitoring they will do (if its anything like here in christchurch anyway) so dont worry to much. oh and yeah the diet thing sucks, its really hard to find the right food. You think things like fruit which you should be eating but they contain so much sugar that you cant have a lot but you will get heaps and heaps of info. Good luck |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 10 August 2007 at 4:56pm
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oh some have said they had heaps of growth scans. i only had the one at 35 weeks and then thats it (except a couple for complete different reason - breeched) So don't worry if you only have one or two.
I probably will get it with any future pregnancies now. I didn't have GD with first 2. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 11 August 2007 at 9:31am
| I had growth scans every two weeks from about 30weeks I think. I felt like i was living at the hospital between that and seeing the diabetes people and obstetrician! |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 11 August 2007 at 1:40pm
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ohI saw the diabetes educator every 2 weeks and Dietian at the same time... That got tiring.
I understand some will have to have more scans than others - espec if they seem to be rather big. I just didnt want ppl to wory if they didn't have heaps of scans either ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 12 August 2007 at 6:31pm
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Ive only got a few weeks left till i have bubs. So would i even get another scan?
I am still waiting on the people at middlemore to ring me about my appointment. Im hoping ill get it next week... ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 9:32am
| There is a pretty good chance you will get one, i think it just depends on the hospital. I went for my last size scan on the monday and was induced on the thursday. When they found out with Kobe they did a size scan even though my waters were leaking but that was also probably cos he was prem. |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 12:22pm
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I did have a scan like last week. That was why they thought i had GD cause she was big.
I am waiting for my appt. at the hospital and have no idea what i should be doing so im pretty confused and just plodding along and waiting... grr. Basically for now, ive been trying to cut out all sugar and eat better. But they never told me anything when they told me i had GD so i thought that was a bit slack. ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 12:34pm
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I have my first hospital appointment with the diabetes midwives tomorrow. I told DH he had to get the morning off work to come with me for support. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 1:42pm
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Do you know which midwife you're seeing, Sunnyhoney? I saw Joy & she was really lovely & helpful. Hope you get a nice one too.
Melln - just try & cut down on sugar, that includes fruit & fruit drinks, & try not to eat too many carbs - things like white bread, potatoes, pasta etc. Things like sweetcorn, pumpkin & kumara should be avoided too. Basically I was told that my meals should consist of meat about the same size as your palm, carbs about the same size as your fist & then the rest of your plate filled with veges. Exercise is also meant to help, so maybe go for a short walk each day if you can. Hopefully you get your next appt soon, so they can give you a bit more info. By the way - it also depends on where in the country you are as to what sugar levels are considered acceptable. Apparently, they don't know exactly what is the 'safe' level. I bought this up with the midwives at Auckland hospital when they told me off because one reading for the day was slightly higher than it should have been. DH's aunt is a midwife in Dunedin & she sent me all the info she had & the levels that were acceptable there were higher than Auckland. So if I'd had that reading in Dunedin, it would have been fine, but in Auckland I got told off! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 2:16pm
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interesting what was the level that you told off for having? ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 4:57pm
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I think her name is Nikki (auckland hosp.) ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 4:59pm
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That is weird about the differing levels.
But then I truly believe most doctors talk like they know everything but really don't have a clue. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 4:58pm
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Going for a scan tomorrow as both midwives think Bubba isn't growing due to low fundus height...ho hum...
Got my testing kit today. It is quite hard to get past the mental thing of having to prick yourself isn't it. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 5:34pm
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yeah it sure is. just dont think about it. First time round it took me sooo long to actually be able to push the button, I would hold it there and just not be able to do it. My sister is a nurse and i used to get her to come over around meal times so she could do it for me. Finally got sick of my meals going cold and just did it.
My fundus measurement meant nothing, kobe was measuring normal but was 7lb 4oz at 6 weeks early which is why my midwife thought everything was ok. |
Posted By: luna
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 8:49pm
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Hi ladies. Well, as you know and feel, GD sucks. It's totally normal, and ok to feel like that and to have the occasional break-down, teary eyed moment!
I got tested at 5 weeks cos of family history. I wasn't referred to the diabetes nurse until around 20 weeks however, after I asked my m/w what was going on. The experts didn't know if I had GD or Type 2 diabetes as it showed up so early. Anyway, I still have it. Mine wasn't controllable by diet and exercise alone, and from 22 weeks I had to inject insulin after every meal and before bed also. I am now on tablets (after stopping B/Feeding at 6 months). Everyone has given you good advice, and each person is different as to what puts your levels up. I found I could eat pumpkin & basmati rice pretty much ok, in moderation, but potatoes not so well. My advice is to make sure you have your test kit with you at ALL times, and some jellybeans as well. If you have a hypo (low), you will know, and be able to treat it quickly. Jellybeans work quicker than chocolate etc. Feel free to PM me if you want any other advice! And good luck. ------------- Selina http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: luna
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 8:51pm
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I should also add that because I was able to keep a pretty good control on my levels, they let me go to term with Amelia, and I was then induced. My labour was very long however, and I ended up with a C/S and Amelia was 8lb 4oz, so not too big at all. A friend of mine with Type 1 was also induced, had a fairly short labour and a 9lb boy at 38 weeks. So depends on your circumstances as to when they induce you - if you don't go into labour naturally before hand. ------------- Selina http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 15 August 2007 at 8:45am
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AnnC - I got told off when my after meal level went up to about 6.9/7.0. I had to keep it below 6.5 after meals, whereas in the info my Dh's aunt gave me for Dunedin they had to keep it below 8, so quite a difference there really. I tried to keep it under 6.5 & succeeded about 95% of the time because I figured it was better to be safe than sorry, but I also didn't worry if it went up slightly on the odd occassion.
------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 22 August 2007 at 5:16pm
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Ok so I went to the doctors today, and gave them my sugar readings.
They say they are too high! Now mostly they are between 4.3 and 6.9ish. But the doc said first thing in the morning she "likes" the level to be in the 4's and after a meal in the 5's. The guideline they gave me a week ago says between 3.5-5.5 before breakfast and between 3.5-6.5 after a meal. They are changing the rules on me!!! And saying if I don't get my levels "under control" that they will put me on insulin .
How fair is this??? ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 22 August 2007 at 5:59pm
| my levels were the same as you were given, in the 4s is a bit harsh. anything under 3s and i got wicked lows, they are horrible! |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 22 August 2007 at 6:06pm
I was always around the 5 in the morning. After food it was around 7 or 8. The times I got a 'smack on the hand' was when it went to 12 (pizza) and 15 (chickhen burgers). I wil have to look at my results book to rememer what the normal trend was. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Nic01 wrote:Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 22 August 2007 at 7:59pm
| Annc were you on insulin with those levels? I know when i was having to many 8-9s they made me go on insulin. Dont think I ever got past 11 |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 22 August 2007 at 9:31pm
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no they never mentioned going on insulin, they just said if my morning before I get up was up then I would have to but because my levels came down i didn't. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 22 August 2007 at 11:15pm
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O0o the dietician said my levels and diet were great! i was surprised! I am about 4 ish in the morning and it varies around 5 - 6 during the day. Highest ive gotten so far was 9.3 cause i had butter chicken and then caramel cake (best cake ever! couldnt say no!) on my cousins birthday lol.
But seeing as im having her on sunday the midwife told me to not bother testing. Although i have still done it cause im curious to see what it is now hehe ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 11:36am
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right got my book. My educator said the levels should be under these:
Fasting 5.5 after food 1hr 8.0 2hr 7.0 So thats probably why they weren't too overly concerned with my levels (except when I went over) I did get told that if my levels didn't come down after food then thats a concern so say I was 8.0 1 hr after meal and still 8.0 after 2hrs and so on then they would of put me on Insulin. Good luck Melln for sunday ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 2:35pm
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Sunnyhoney - that sounds a bit harsh that they're talking about insulin when your levels are pretty much within the range they say. Maybe they're just trying to scare you into really sticking hard out to the diet & lowering your levels further? Honestly, I never saw the same doctor twice at that clinic, so you'll probably get someone different next time who says that you're doing well! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 2:52pm
| wow my doctors would have freaked at those levels Ann! I would have only been up around 8 about 5-10 times in total and they made me go on insulin! |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 5:12pm
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I'm getting quite emotional about it all really. I am eating such bland boring meals and still only getting results around the 6.4 mark two hours later. I'm within the guidelines on the paper they gave me but not good enough for the doctor. Quite depressing and frustrating. It's no wonder really, when they say that some ladies cheat and write fake recordings etc.. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 5:28pm
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Only 7 more weeks sunnyhoney, oh no only 6 more weeks tomorrow according to your ticker, keep smiling
I can imagine your frustrations  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 5:30pm
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generally you cant cheat though, i know the hospital used to plug my machine in to give them the readings.
It is frustrating, i found it horrible when i went onto insulin because my results went all over the place yet i was eating the same. I couldnt understand why i was on it when the results were worse and htey just kept saying its my body getting worse as the pregnancy progressed. The oddest thing is my morning levels were always good if i had had ice cream the night before, probably a coincidence but hey worked for me. Try not to get to down about it, if your eating what you should be then there is nothing you can do |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 24 August 2007 at 9:11am
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My midwife said my levels were really good. Thank god!
I dont have to test anymore, but i have to 2 hourly once im in the hospital. Which SUCKS cause i was planning on getting my family to bring me in snacks! lol! ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: luna
Date Posted: 24 August 2007 at 10:38pm
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The levels I was given (I am in the Waikato) were
Before meals: 4.5 - 5.5 2 hours after meals: 5.5 - 6.5 So Sunnyhoney, you seem to be within those guidelines. The thing is that if you are pregnant ... as you are ... they will be really strict with you. If you haven't seen a dietician, ask to see one and see what they say about your meals and where you could be doing better (if possible). As your pregnancy progresses your body naturally becomes more resistant to the insulin you naturally produce, so your levels will rise and/or go all over the place. I think when I got to about 36 weeks I had a week where I just couldn't seem to control my levels, and it was pretty depressing. The diabetes nurse, who I had to be in contact with on a daily basis at that point, said to me that I could be doing everything right in regards to food, but it was just my body doing its thing and not to get too down about it. Once you have your baby, your levels will either go back to normal, or if they don't you won't need to be quite so strict with your diet. Also, if you have GD, you are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life, so it pays to continue on with being careful with what you eat and how much exercise you get.... sorry, not trying to scare any of you there. ------------- Selina http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 25 August 2007 at 11:35am
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it does get depressing when you have (or thought you had) been so good and your levels are still up there. I used to get so down cause i was eating 'boring' foods just to keep my levels down and they still weren't good.But its only a little part of your life and its helping baby (and yourself).
besides i lost wieght after baby due to it so just think of that positive Pre pregnancy weigh straight after baby - gotta be good ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: luna
Date Posted: 26 August 2007 at 8:46pm
AnnC ... hehe .. that is an upside .. the weight loss. I was back to pre-pregnancy weight, and back in my jeans 2 weeks after Amelia was born, and now weigh 8kg LESS than when I got pregnant .. although everyone keeps telling me I need to put ON weight now ... you can never win!  ------------- Selina http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 21 September 2007 at 1:01pm
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My midwife at the hospital wants to download the readings from my sugar testing machine. Anyone know how far they can go back? ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 21 September 2007 at 1:25pm
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all the way! it does graphs and things but i think they would only be looking and each week or couple of weeks to see how things have been happening most recently
mine was plugged in everytime i went (weekly) |
Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 30 October 2007 at 10:27am
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Bump for Aimee ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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