Gestational Diabetes | ExpatWoman.com
 

Gestational Diabetes

308
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 August 2013 - 10:30

Hi Ladies,

Looks like I have this, which I am totally surprised about since my diet is pretty good and balanced and I exercise. I do have family history of it though, so have a predisposition.

My posting is to find out if anyone has been through this and what problems and costs can I expect to face? I'm trying not to worry too much about the problems this may cause for the baby, or me (with the baby being big) and I also have visions of the hospital putting the baby in NICU for testing and precautions (since I hear they seem to do this quite readily), which I am not covered for. Just nervous for the baby, me and large bills.

Would be great to hear from anyone who has experienced this, to either allay my fears or let me know what I need to prepare for.

TIA

308
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 25 September 2013 - 12:24
Hi KazSA, All good here thanks. I only track my Glucose now and then and all is fine. I think it's much the same as it was for Big Blue. Hope all is well with you?
548
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EW GURU
Latest post on 24 September 2013 - 10:34
Hello ladies, I was also told I was borderline when I was pregnant although my GTT results were all within the normal range. They sent me to see an endocrinologist who to be honest looked at me, looked at my results and said "why did they send you here, everything is normal". He advised that since I had gone to see him that it might be a good idea to monitor my glucose levels for one week twice a day just to make sure there was no reason for concern, which I did and all the readings were fine. DD was born 39w 5d, 3.550kg and no issues whatsoever thankfully. Although GD can be a serious condition, I do have the feeling Drs here overdo it to make more money out of all the tests etc. As long as you're seeing normal readings and have a reasonable diet and there is no indication from the scans that your baby is getting too big then I'd say don't worry too much about it, getting stressed out about non existent "conditions" is the last thing you need!!!
80
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2013 - 10:06
Hi maxmistry and Jupiter, Hope you are both doing well. Maxmistry, did they take your baby to NICU straight aft the birth? I've been told that they will do this because of the GD? Jupiter- how are you doing? X
94
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 August 2013 - 10:13
Hi-I had GD and was delivering at American hospital-though I was told we wouldn't wait past 38wks in case baby got too large, I only made it to 37wks due to high BP and was induced-my boy arrived 2.84kg so had I have gone full term I doubt he'd have been a chunky monkey!:) Look frwd to a treat after the birth, and a 15min walk after a meal tends to control a fairly good diet-which in turn, doesn't have the baby growing too big. You'll be fine, try not to worry about the size, and enjoy your pregnancy:) wishing you a great 3rd tri x
80
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2013 - 22:14
Hi Jupiter, I think the 36 week scan is routine but then I'm not sure why it isn't included in your antenatal package. Who is your Obs at City? I'm with Dr Anne and very happy with her so far. I have seen the dietitian and honestly, it's rather similar to what I eat anyway but I do find that it's a lot to eat with the three meals and three snacks a day. I don't usually eat this much! How are your sugar levels going? I just don't understand it!! I haven't had a high reading yet, infact they have all been really low! (some below 90 even two hours after eating!) has this happened at all to you? Pregnancy has gone very well so far so I'm grateful that this is the only 'hiccup' I've had. Baby is growing and moving more and more every day and I'm definitely feeling the extra weight at night with trying to roll over and move. How are things going with yours?
308
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 August 2013 - 14:37
Supercare pharmacy has the deal on for the glucometer, not Bin Sana. It's the big pharmacy just by Waitrose on the LG floor of Dubai Mall.
308
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 August 2013 - 14:21
Thanks for the update KazSA and I'm glad my post was helpful :) Sounds like we're in a very similar situation - I"m even 29 weeks myself! From my understanding, you would only need to deliver early if the baby was big (due to the GD). So if you were able to get your GD under control (sounds like you will if you have a balanced diet and can note your trigger foods for higher readings), the baby shouldn't grow much more than normal. My doc has also said I need a 36 week scan, which is not included in the antenatal package ... hmmm. I'm not quite sure why this has even been requested either! Will be speaking to the doc about this at the next apt. Try not to worry about an early delivery (easier said than done, I know), if you can make it to 37 weeks that's 'term' anyway and it wouldn't be too much earlier than this it sounds like. I know that doesn't give much time for planning or perhaps work/maternity leave, but hopefully your work will be OK with this? The other thing to look out for would be how they test the baby when it is born (for glucose) and at what point would they admit it to NICU - probably a discussion for your doc. Then at least you can be prepared and know what to expect with regards to your baby from the outset. How else are you getting on at 29 weeks? All good? :)
80
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2013 - 14:05
Hi Jupiter, Thanks so much for all the info - so helpful! I saw the other Endo at City and he was really nice and explained everything to me. However, similarly to you, I do wonder if they blow this out of proportion - more $$ for them. My insurance cover isn't great either, so I know I will end up paying quite a bit for this. (AED 600 yesterday, AED200 tomorrow for the dietitian, and then another appointment with the Endo next week to give him my results.) He has told me that he doesn't think I will need medication and should be able to control it with my diet. I do eat a healthy and balanced diet so unsure what the dietitian will change tomorrow. Thanks you for the details on the glucose monitor as I do need to go get one now and was hoping that I wouldn't be paying a fortune for it. When the Endo tested me yesterday, I was higher than the 'normal' again so the next few days should be interesting! How far in your pregnancy are you? I am now 29 weeks but starting to worry about if I'll have to deliver early due to this GD. My doctor has said that she will only be able to tell me at 36 weeks if this will need to happen which doesn't give me much notice. Thanks again for all the info!
308
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 August 2013 - 10:45
Just noticed the date and that your post was yesterday! Sorry I missed this . Did it all go well with the Endo?
308
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 August 2013 - 10:44
Hi Kazsa, The Endo I saw (Dr. Baha) was very nice. He was clear and explained everything and particularly that diet is the best course of action and only after an unsuccessful attempt at that will they proceed with medication. I think my reading was similar to yours and the Endo said I do not have GD, but a very slight leaning towards this (I have family history of it) so can probably be controlled by diet. The diet he explained is pretty much bang on what I eat anyway, so I am now just glucose monitoring for 10 days and so far every reading has been normal (if anything it's on the lower side, definitely not higher). With hindsight and with everything explained to me (when the nurse called me up and made the apt with the Endo, I did ask her questions and email plenty to her, but was left thinking I actually had GD) I really don't feel I even needed this apt given my readings were so borderline. The doc could have just told me to glucose monitor and no Endo apt needed (which is an additional expense to me and more money to the hospital). I am very skeptical about all these added extras that I'm sure elsewhere would not happen given the cost. My insurance doesn't cover much, hence me keeping such a close eye on it all. The medical intervention escalation is a concern. Sorry for the long winded response! In summary :) the Endo apt will be fine and it can easily be controlled with diet in the first instance or followed up with medication. I hope it all goes well - let me know how you get on. Happy to answer any more questions if I can. :) PS If the City H pharmacy doesn't have the glucometer (they didn't when I needed to purchase) Bin Sana pharmacy (Dubai Mall) have a deal on for AED199 for both the strips and glucometer.
80
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2013 - 11:04
Hi Jupiter, I have also just been diagnosed with GD. if you don't mind me asking, what were your glucose readings? My first and second readings were well below what they needed to be but then peaked with the third reading to 162. I'm also at City and seeing the Endo today. Hoping that it can just be controlled with diet and no medication needed.
308
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 August 2013 - 08:31
Thanks so much for all your replies. Good to hear normal delivery can still happen and there were no complications for you or the baby. You've put my mind at ease and it's good to know what's ahead :)
29
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 August 2013 - 20:14
Hi Jupiter, I was in the same boat as Gilly3, fairly mild GD but it really caught me by surprise! My OB is at City, so he referred me to an endocrinologist there, who in turn suggested I see the dietician at Dubai Mall medical clinic. Just like Gilly3, it was controlled by diet (no fun at all for me cutting out the carbs, or for anyone else around me, lol!) and I had to email a weekly record of blood glucose readings to the endocrinologist. In the end, I had a normal delivery at 38 1/2 weeks with a healthy girl weighing 2.77kg (6lbs1oz) so don't worry too much about gargantuan babies! I know it's not much fun, but at least by knowing about the condition, you'll be able to take control of it and manage it. My blood glucose returned to normal after the birth, although I'm expecting again now and really hoping I don't get diagnosed any earlier this time around! Hope this helps x
242
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 August 2013 - 19:56
Hi, I was hounded by the diabetes nurses in the UK even though they never got a high reading for me when I was tested. My BMI is quite high and they were determined to stay on my case. The information I was given was that they induce at around 38 weeks and they will test the baby's sugar levels after the birth to check they haven't been affected. I was signed off after the 2nd GD test but I don't remember them mentioning the NICU etc so try not to worry to much and ask your obs. They should give you some information to read.
174
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 August 2013 - 16:28
Hi Jupiter, I had the same surprise when I was pregnant with DS. The statistics seem to vary & treatment/ medication really depends how high your readings were. I had fairly mild GD so I had to measure my blood sugar before & after every meal. Mine was diet controlled ie being wary of portion sizes of carbs, sugar etc, I didn't struggle with the diet change as carbs are my nemesis anyway ;) My DS was a healthy 3.85kgs and my delivery was fine (as fine as it can be!) I know it's stressful & hugs to you maybe talk to your Dr about your concerns and ask for a diet plan x
 
 

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