I was recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes (last week) when I was about 29 and a half weeks pregnant. I have not met with the dietitian yet, it is the weekend here and my appointment is scheduled for this week. I know that I’m probably just driving myself crazy until I meet with the dietitian and get some expert advice and input, but I am feeling very overwhelmed with this diagnosis. I was not expecting it…prior to the testing was told it is not overly common, but now that I have it, knowing that it isn’t very common and that I am that one woman in however many that has it is not comforting.
I am still very emotional over this as I’m feeling a lot of things…discouraged, sad, worried, overwhelmed, etc…I am concerned firstly with the health of this baby. At my last OB appointment at over 29 weeks I was told I was measuring at 29 weeks, not too large, so it seems that his growth is okay for now. But I still worry, of course, that he may grow larger than he should or there could be other complications.
I’m discouraged that because I have it it will be more likely that I will also have gestational diabetes with future pregnancies. This is my first pregnancy. I feel like this is already casting concern on having more children and future pregnancies for me, even though I very much want more children.
I’m feeling overwhelmed with it all, including the impact on my life. I’m only 25. I’m worried about the health of this and future babies and just dealing with gestational diabetes during future pregnancies–whatever I have to do as far as adjusting my diet, I will do. I, of course, would not be selfish to ignore something within my control that could impact my baby. If it’s truly gestational diabetes it’s just short term until the baby is born and my body can produce enough insulin again, but I also know women with gestational diabetes are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. So that’s a concern in the back of my mind as well, that this could be actually be or turn into type 2 diabetes and be a lifelong concern.
I feel like I don’t have anyone to talk to except my husband, but obviously neither of us have any previous experience with it. He reassures me that everything will be fine, I just worry. No one in our immediate families has diabetes, and no family members (that we know of) have had gestational diabetes. However, it’s not exactly something I want to share via social media either–so I can see why I don’t know anyone who has or has had it…it’s something people deal with but don’t exactly advertise.
Thank you for letting me get my emotions out and rant here 
Please keep us posted how it goes with the dietitian. I’m sad to hear that you’ve gotten diagnosed with gestational diabetes. [name_f]My[/name_f] cousin’s wife had gestational diabetes with her last pregnancy and was able to control it with diet. Her baby is completely healthy and wasn’t too large with no complications.
I know it’s tough when facing something like this. [name_f]My[/name_f] thoughts are with you and your little one! 
It’ll be ok! I promise! I was prediabetic when I got pregnant so I’ve been put on insulin starting at 10 weeks. [name_f]My[/name_f] sugars are actually really good for someone with my family history and being pregnant. It isn’t too hard to deal with as long as you listen to your dietician, eat with purpose, and know that sometimes your body is crazy and decides not cooperate every once in awhile. Sleep is very, very important. It can seriously effect your sugars, so try to find ways to de-stress and get some good sleep. I got about 4 hours of sleep last night and my sugars were about 15 points higher than normal this morning. Hydration is also very, very important. Dehydration can also seriously effect your sugars. The good news is, it is totally doable and you and baby will be fine after birth. Good luck!
I know many people who have had gestational diabetes so don’t feel like it’s something super rare. Most of the people I know were able to control it with diet and exercise and didn’t need insulin. Good luck!
[name_m]Hi[/name_m],
I had GD with my second pregnancy (but I was borderline with my first pregnancy, so I sort of expected it the second time around.) Lots of people get it, so please don’t feel like you are the only one. I can only share with you about my experience, which was very frustrating. Most pregnant ladies will not be given insulin. (I’m not sure why, but that is what I learned in my class on GD.) I followed the recommend eating and exercise guidelines, but I was never able to fully control my numbers, so I was given medication. (They started me on the lowest dose possible, and that worked well for me, so that was it-I took the medicine throughout the rest of my pregnancy, while continuing to follow the food plan.) Everyone thought my baby was going to be HUGE, and I was measuring almost two weeks ahead of schedule, but it turned out to be a lot of extra fluid, and my baby was born a healthy 7 lbs. and 11 oz. The medicine wasn’t bad either, no awful side effects for me or baby. The worst part was finding out right before Thanksgiving and having to follow the food plan over the holidays. [name_f]My[/name_f] point in sharing is to say this: even if you do everything they tell you to do, sometimes it still doesn’t go as you would plan. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t let this diagnosis ruin the last part of a very special time in your life. Good luck!
I would say that GD is fairly common. Many of the women I know personally have had it. It isn’t something you did wrong, it just happens.
If you normally share things about your pregnancy on social media, share this, too! You probably know women who have hone through this [name_m]IRL[/name_m], but if you tell no one, then no one will know. And if you share this with your friends, they can help you stay on the dietary restrictions and so forth.
Try not to worry, just follow the doctor’s orders. All of the women I know who have had GD have delivered healthy babies, and none of them has developed DM1 or DM2 outside of pregnancy.
I saw the dietitian earlier this week, and the meeting went well. She gave me information on a meal plan to follow, and we practiced testing my blood. I was very nervous about pricking my fingers, and doing it four times a day. I’ve only been doing it for a few days, but the meal plan hasn’t been bad–I like being in control, and I can still have things, I just have to look at what is “worth it” to me for the calories and carbs (i.e. I could have pop–I drank it before I was pregnant fairly often–but now I consciously make the choice to pick something more filling for the calories/carbs like eating crackers and drinking water). [name_f]My[/name_f] husband has been helpful with making suggestions and following the meal plans when we eat meals together (mainly the evening meal), and it doesn’t bother me that we still have things in the house that are not good choices for me or that he sometimes eats them. Testing my blood has been about as good as you can expect pricking yourself can be, it is interesting to see the numbers each time I do it–so far they’ve been below my goal numbers, but the dietitian did say sometimes they could be high for whatever reason, sometimes our bodies are just weird…As long as they are not higher than they should be for an extended time I won’t need medication.
I did feel relief after meeting with the dietitian to just KNOW things…what foods to eat, what amounts I should eat, where my blood sugar levels should be, etc.
It has also been nice hearing from you all Thank you.
On a side note: I haven’t shared a lot about this pregnancy on social media (I don’t mind when other people do it) but for me, right now, it’s something my husband and I are experiencing for the first time and it seems personal, although we talk and share with close friends and family. But you’re right, tarynkay there probably are people I know [name_m]IRL[/name_m] with GD and that would share their experiences with me if I shared that I have it.