Can we talk Gestational Diabetes AGAIN? :)

[rubyruby]

I had a m/w appt today and told her I wanted to decline the diabetes test. She was fine with it, but also offered to sub jelly beans for the yucky orange drink. She noted that last pregnancy I did the test and my results were 132. Her cutoff for "above normal" is 140 but said my 132 was on the "high end" and me being 3 years older may make it go up some more this time. Age (33) is my only risk factor (unless you count 132 as being "high").

So...all that being said, who is having the test and who is declining? And why?

She also mentioned a possible problem with the baby having plumeting blood sugar right after birth if gestational diabetes was untreated? Anyone heard of this?

Betsy

[Curlita]

I had never really thought about whether to get tested or not... I did last time and will again this time. Diabetes runs in my family and I have tended to gain too much weight while pregnant (a trend that is continuing for this pregnancy, I'm afraid), so I want to stay on top of my blood sugar. As far as I know -- and I could very well be wrong -- the first course of treatment for GD would be diet and exercise modification. And I can't really argue with the overall benefits of good diet and exercise.

My midwife did tell me that exercise is one of the best ways to control GD, as an aside, but that's the only medical advice on GD that I've received so far.

[GinaRae]

I am a very large mama and have diabetes in my family, but am not getting tested. The midwives are checking my sugar every appointment and monitoring (lightly) what I eat. They're ready with a strict diet if I need it. sometimes GD can be treated and helped and isn't really GD in the strict sense. My midwives would do everything they can to help me control it before considering transfering my care to a doctor. I am not too worried.

And I do believe I have heard about the blood sugar probs with the newborn.

[De-lovely]

I am getting tested even though I swore I wouldnt....havent had GD with any of my other babes but I eat not so hot and diabetes runs on both sides of my family blah blah blah so I would hate to miss it this last time....I say this is the last time I ever have to drink so grin and bear it.

[sorteep]

I am not testing but i have a meter and test semi reg BC I have a long history of pretty severe hypoglycemia , so I feel like I have a good handle on my sugar levels and diet and low carb hi protein intake and lots of water... If I were not already on top of it I would prob do the test with teh 50 gram carb diet before instead of glucola crap (that's what I did last Pg)

I am not sure of what happens to baby born to GD mom's with hi sugar at delivery, I would imagine a sugar crash after birth makes sense??

I'll have to search it..

[Momma Aimee]

I am having it

ONLY risk factor is age -- 35

Did not test with Theodore

I am doing it -- not for any medical reason..... but i don't see it as a fighting issue. just me. I would rather "go along" at this point, i am NOT worried about the results, and then later if i want or need to 'fight" an SOP or routine -- I think we are cool, but you never know -- then not sure how to say it....i don't look like as much of a trouble maker? I see it as give and take with the OB... I give this, and then later i have "credit" to ask him to give on something else.

My diet is not as good as some here on MDC, so while i know it will be a lot of sugar on a fasting tummy -- it is not really THTA much more sugar than i might actually consume : : : (like the bag od mints i was eating when i posted last night, or the ch milk i had for breaskfast) so i don't expect it to upset my system too much -- again save the fasting element.

givien that i know i will pass, and given i don't expect to be too bothered by it, and in the spirit of good feeling at the OB office and not making myself too known unless / untill i have to....... i am taking the test

that being said -- i do feel it is un-needed........i think it is silly to do it as an SOP on ALL pregant woman ... there are 9 risk factors i know of from reading and i have ONE the "lowest" one.......

I think that is, as all testing, shuld be abavaible -- unpon request to anyone with a reason to want it, but should be suggsted only when there is a possible medical need.

As far as I know -- and I could very well be wrong -- the first course of treatment for GD would be diet and exercise modification

this is very true with my OB...he is very natural minded.

I think this is the first responce of ALL HCP unless the numbers are just wacky AND you are having sympotms (blurred vision and so on as SIL did)

[Isaac'sMa]

I will be doing it. I gained 50 lbs last time and am on track to do the same this pg. I have zero risk factors other than "excessive" weight gain (which according to my MW is not excessive). My son was 10 lbs although I did NOT have GD last pregnancy.

My MW wants her patients to choose from a list of real food combinations instead of drinking the glucola. Last time I had 8 oz. (or 16 oz, I can't remember now) of orange juice and half a meduim sized banana. I chose that combo since it's not too far out of the realm of what I'd eat on a normal day. Since it was real food, I didn't think it was a big deal. Plus I'd want to know if I had GD since it can put you at a higher risk for Type II DM later on and I'd want to monitor myself more closely in the future if I knew I had an increased risk.

[crunchywannabe]

I will be getting it.

I have PCOS...and with that insulin resistance
I had GD at the end of my last pregnancy despite a good diet.

[oskie]

I'll do the one hour test, with OJ instead of Glucola. Diabetes runs in my family, but I've been pretty good about diet and exercise, so I'm not anticipating any problems. It's not a huge inconvenience for me, because I drink the juice at home and just have to be there at the office an hour later and I'd be there for a prenatal checkup anyway.

If I fail the one hour though, I don't want the three hour test. My dad's bringing down one of his old blood sugar monitors for me and I'll just test and keep a food record for a week or so and we'll go from there. Like I said, my diet and exercise level are already pretty good, so treatment options for me would likely involve medication and I don't want to start taking drugs based on a test that can be wildly inaccurate.

[Momma Aimee]

and I don't want to start taking drugs based on a test that can be wildly inaccurate.

i guess we are lucky, our OB is not even dreaming I'll fail... but if i do -- he does the 4 hours test, and sometimes twice, then gives you a diet for 2 weeks, then tests again.... then he referes to a diet-a-tion (spelled???) ...... all of this if you are not having symptoms, blurred vision and so on, to make it more emrgent .......and uses medication as a lost poosible option......and never jsut based ont he test results.

A