OT. Gestational Diabetes

Good Morning Everyone.  Just wondering if anyone has any experience with gestational diabetes.  My daughter received a call from her doctor that she failed her glucose tolerance test.  I have been reading all morning about it, but sometimes you learn more from people with actual experience.  She is due in April and it is her first.  Also, please just keep her in your prayers, or swing lizards!

Thanks,
Beverly

Is this her 2nd or 3rd test?  There are tests that are 1 hour and 3 hours - which one did she have?

Most Dr's do 3 tests to decided if it IS gestational diabetes, but Drs may do things different.  My DD's sister in law had it during her first pregnancy, but didn't develop it in her 2nd. 

She had to test her blood sugar a couple times a day.  She didn't have it bad enough to give herself insulin shots, and she had a very restrictive diet....

It was her first test.  I read where they will bring her in for the 3 hr test, so hopefully that test will show better results.  She did gain quite a bit of weight in the past three weeks so that has me a little concerned.  She had a sonogram yesterday and the weight of the baby is 3 lbs and they said it was a little large.

My daughter is very small, only weighing about 110 when she got pregnant.  I am going to think positive and hopefully everything will be fine.

Thanks for the input.
Beverly

I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my son.  I was diagnosed at about 32 weeks and started on insulin injections 4 times a day.  Had to monitor my blood sugar before every meal and 1/2 hour after every meal plus at bedtime before my last insulin injection.  I was scheduled to have an appointment with a doctor that specializes in diabetes when my water broke and I delivered my son by C-section at 35 weeks.
Because I developed the diabetes later on in my pregnancy and my son was born early I did not find much of an adjustment.  Taking the insulin and monitoring my blood sugar was not difficult.  My best advice for your daughter is to follow her doctors advice.  Her doctor may refer her to a nutritionist.
Will be thinking of her and if I remember anything more that could help I will be sure to post.
Oh yeah, once you have gestational diabetes you are at higher risk for developing Type 2 later in life.
And babies of mothers who have GD are usually a higher birth weight.
Elizabeth

Thanks for the information, Elizabeth.  She is calling now to set up her next test to see if she does have it.  She is a worrier so I hope she stays calm through this. 

Beverly

With DD2 my first test came back abnormal but my 3 hour was fine.  My glucose was a little on the high end of normal but I was MO as well.  I'll be swingin for you and her. 

I had GD and pre-eclampsia with baby #2.  I was diagnosed at 24 weeks and did not have insulin shots.  Came close and was hospitalised for a week around 30 weeks.  But strict diet and monitoring seem to keep things at bay.  My son was born at 36 weeks, C Section.  That was 23 years ago, so I am sure things are better monitored now.  He did spend some time in NICU, but more for monitoring than for anything specific. 
Even with all my weight gain in the past 10 years, I never had high blood sugar.  It tooks a few months after the baby was born for things to come down.  My son is a healthy 6'4", 23 year old man.
I wish you daughter all the health and happiness for herself and her baby.

.

Lots of good information.  The first test is a screening, so hopefully her second test will be negative.

If she has gestational diabetes it is important for her to keep good control of her diet and blood sugars.  Glucose crosses the placenta but insulin does not so  baby has to make more insulin to combat the sugar.  Then baby is born and the supply of glucose is gone but baby is still putting out insulin so baby may have problems with low blood sugar.

As was already mentioned anyone who has gestational diabetes is at a higher risk for developing type II diabetes so they should always be careful and make sure to eat a healthy diet and exercise after the pregnancy to combat the risk

Congrats on the grandbaby and hoping your daughter is just fine.

Hi Beverly,
Hope your daughter gets along ok.  My DD had gestational diabetes.  She did not have to do insulin, because she was controling it with diet and medication.  She did have to do the testing and report it to the doctor.

She later developed Preeclampsia about 2 weeks after the gestational diabetes- I don't think they are related.  My DGD was born 7 weeks early

I'll be thinking about her.

Linda