One of my co-workers today was telling me that her daughter was recently diagnosed with “gestational diabetes” and the doctors say it’s a condition of her pregnancy.
I’ve been diagnosed with type two for a few years now and I’ll admit I don’t know all there is to know about diabetes but I’ve never heard of gestational diabetes. I do know there is Type 1, Type 2 and pre-diabetes which some doctors are now saying that there really is no pre-diabetes but an early form of Type 2. I tend to agree with this, I view it as you either are or are not diabetic. If you are then you are either Type 1 or Type 2.
I’m going to have to research gestational diabetes and learn a little more about it. Diabetes has been around for a long time but it seems that we are now starting to understand it more and the research is getting better. Who knows, there may be other forms of diabetes that we haven’t discovered yet and maybe someday, there will be a cure. Although I like to think that the cure is right under our noses in the form of a healthy lifestyle. If we start early in life and continue those good habits we may eventually defeat or at least pack it away in the closet! End the junk food addictions, tell the fast food companies “NO! I will not give in to your temptations and eat things for me that are not good and will hurt me!” and excersize more. Not to the point of becoming a huge body builder or a overly skinny model but a happy weight and lifestyle.
Once we get not only ourselves but our family and friends (especially the children) to follow this, we will make a huge leap forward in putting diabetes into remission.
Yes, gestational diabetes is a condition that some women experience when pregnant. It has been known of for quite a while, my sister had it when her first was born in 1969. She did not experience it with her second and has not problems now.
Yep sir - it is quite a condition. I myself was dxed with it with all three of my children, beginning in 1993. I believe the facts that 1 in 4 women are dxed T2 after being gestational. Genetics play a big role in it, but also, the best way to stave off that T2 diagnosis is to watch your weight, exercise, and watch your carb intake.
I was put on insulin while pregnant - it was the fastest way to control my BG while pregnant - plus I spilled glucose and protein in my urine, and I was pulling keytones, so they knew right away.
It all depends on your doctor as to how you are treated, but I know locally here, unless you go down to the teaching hospital, it’s not insulin.
I was able to keep the dx of T2 away for almost 10 years with strict diet control and exercise, but soon after 40 and the weight coming back on, it was inevitable - my genes got the best of me.
I had this with my last two births. I would inject myself with insulin and check my sugar levels all day long.
The doctor had warned me that one day it just may not go away.
When my daughter was born and both are sugars were normal it was a true blessing.
A year after her birth I started feeling strange, tired and so thirsty.
I knew in my gut I had full blown diabetes. This happened in 2007.
I rather have it than my child.
It’s a very serious thing and if you don’t watch it or change your eating habits or get more acitivity in your life it does return.
Yep, me too. Gestational 3 1/2 years ago. Insulin dependent and many trips to the doctors office and hospital during the last 3 months of pregnancy.
24 hours after birth, both of us normal. 3 years later dx with Type 2, and the doctor admitted yesterday that he thinks I’ll be on insulin again in 6 months or so. He doesn’t like to label anyone type 1.5 because his patients have had insurance issues with that label.
@ All replies so far - Really? wow. Like I said, I had never heard of it before. So is it a temporary thing or does it last forever? From what I’m gathering it sounds like in some cases it is temporary but in others it lasts or blooms into Type 1 or Type 2.
An interesting new study (partially funded by the Am. Diabetes Assoc) was just completed. The study looked into the causes and influencing factors of gestational diabetes. They concluded that gestational diabetes may be brought on by pregnancy itself! That study rings true for many of us on this site who developed type 1/1.5 after pregnancy despite being told “we don’t know why you have gestational diabetes, but don’t worry it will go away right after birth…”
This is really interesting. I can’t remember if my wife (well, now ex wife) had that test. I’ll have to ask her. I asked my new girlfriend and she did have the tests done with her two boys. Thank you guys for the great info! As Sara M said, “everyone’s different” and that is true. So now the geek in me is coming out and I’m wondering why does it happen and in some cases why is it temporary and in others it’s not. The search for knowledge continues!
Gestational diabetes is actually fairly common in pregnancy. Gestational diabetes occurs in about 4% of all pregnancies. It is very manageable with meal plan, blood sugar monitoring and medication (if needed). All pregnant women should be tested for diabetes. Women can have happy, healthy babies with good blood sugar control.
Not always. We had 3 of us (friends) pregnant at the same time.
I drew the short straw. Not manageable at all. Even with insulin and a VERY strict, VERY low carb meal plan. The most miserable 3 months of my life.
One had a high random glucose test and had to go for the 3 hour GTT. Found out she shouldn’t eat a CAN of cranberry sauce before going for blood work.
One able to control with food.
My perinatolgist (sp?), the high risk OB basically, told me to test my fasting BG monthly for a year after pregnancy because it would be a matter of when I developed DM not if. But that may have been because of my family history or the fact that mine was so out of control while pregnant.
