https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 05:12:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1109918 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 10:37:29 +0000 Happygal 1109918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Yin and @ShootingStar: thank you both for sharing all this good information! It's a little overwhelming, but learning a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1107181 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 09:44:01 +0000 ShootingStar 1107181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: I found out when I was TTC. I came off BC and after the first month I never went back to getting real cycles. After a few months of needing to induce a period, I went to see an RE who did preliminary blood work. Based on my A1c of 6.0 and fasting blood sugar of ~120, she diagnosed me as being pre-diabetic (in addition to diagnosing me with PCOS). </p> <p>It is common for a pregnancy woman to stop responding to metformin. Some doctors will let you stay on it your entire pregnancy, some don't like it. I did the research and talked to people here who stayed on it and I felt comfortable with the risks because it worked so well for me. When you're pregnant the placenta can interfere with how your body handles insulin, and it gets worse as pregnancy gets further and further on. You're actually much more likely to fail the glucose challenge the later in pregnancy you take it. </p> <p>I really really wish I'd understood the implications of what being pre-diabetic was going to mean to being pregnant. My RE told me that I had a higher chance of getting GD, but I don't think there's anyway I could have passed the testing. There's no pre-GD, you either pass or fail. For a long time I think I was in the range I had been pre-pregnancy - sugars a little elevated if I ate way too many carbs, but if I ate reasonably and was taking Metformin, not too much of an issue. But now that I'm 31 weeks, off Metformin and still trying to find the right insulin dose, most of my numbers are high. I wish I'd taken the time to get things more under control before getting pregnant. Although, it's possible the same things would've happened, since I have PCOS and insulin resistance.</p> <p>Let me know if you have more questions I can answer :). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1106591 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 21:25:11 +0000 yin 1106591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had gestational diabetes with my first (diagnosed at 28 weeks) and again with my second (diagnosed at 18 weeks). With my second the doctors required me to have lab work (blood and 24 hour urine) done to determine whether or not I was pre-diabetic, and I was not. </p> <p>Every doctor's requirements are different. I prick my finger 4x a day - fasting and 1 hour after each meal (timing starts as soon as I start my meal). I have to keep my fasting score 90 or under, and after meal scores have to be 130 or under. More lenient doctors will allow a fasting score of 95 or under and a score of 120 or lower 2 hours after meals. With both pregnancies I have been able to control my diabetes with diet. When diabetes is detected earlier in the pregnancy, most doctors will expect you to go on medication since it will be harder for your body to keep up as your pregnancy progresses. I have to go in for an ultrasound every month to check on the baby and make sure he is growing healthy and strong.</p> <p>I am pretty strict with myself and stick to a diet that is very low in carbs. My meals consist of a protein and lots of vegetables, no grains. In between meals is when I can drink my glass of milk, eat fruit, and indulge if I have a sweet tooth. What I have learned is that metabolism plays a huge role in your sugar scores. The key is to keep your metabolism going throughout the day and not to let it drop. The best way to maintain your metabolism is to eat every 2 hours. I find it best to consume carbs in between meals when my metabolism is high. That way the carbs will not spike my sugar scores, and usually it lowers my scores.</p> <p>While I haven't been the biggest fan of having GD, I have learned to live with in during my pregnancy. I am forced to be in charge of my health and eat a well balanced, nutritious diet. I gained about 15 lbs with my first and have only gained 8 lbs with my second (currently 33 weeks along). I am in the best shape of my life, and yet I have this huge belly sticking out. It is very easy to lose the weight after baby arrives. The hardest part for me was to maintain it since I was given the freedom to eat to my heart's content. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1106532 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 20:44:45 +0000 Happygal 1106532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Hope you don't mind some questions....how did they find out you were pre-diabetic in the first place? Were you showing signs? Is that common for a person to stop responding to metformin? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1106302 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:51:07 +0000 ShootingStar 1106302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was pre-diabetic before pregnancy, and I now have gestational diabetes. I test 4 times a day - fasting, and two hours after meals. I was on metformin, which worked great for a long time. Then I started having high fasting levels. My doctor said it was time for insulin, but we're still trying to figure out the dosage. I take it once at night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1106278 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:31:18 +0000 Happygal 1106278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Marionberry: thanks for the support. The finger prick doesn't hurt that much, but I still can't help but to flinch! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1105289 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:23:29 +0000 marionberry 1105289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not diabetic, but my husband is an insulin dependent Type II. Just want to give you some support. It can be difficult in watching what you eat and finger pricking often but most of the time it's pretty easy to deal with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1104990 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 10:18:07 +0000 Happygal 1104990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@EvansJamie: thanks for sharing. I'm glad it's turned into a positive experience for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1104713 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 08:50:18 +0000 avivoca 1104713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: I check my fasting glucose, then have a glass of OJ with my vitamin, get ready for work, and then I eat my breakfast. I count two hours after I finish eating. So for breakfast, I stopped eating at 8:06 this morning, which means I'll check my blood sugar somewhere in the neighborhood of 10:15-10:30 unless I have a meeting. Then I'll eat my snack. </p> <p>I should be able to go off the diet once I deliver if my glucose levels are good once I give birth. I'm much more aware of how I eat now though, so I hope the healthier habits will stick. Once I started the diet, I lost about 6-8 pounds, but I've gained it back now at 38 weeks, 3 days. When I'm pregnant again, I will start counting from the start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1104692 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 08:42:55 +0000 Happygal 1104692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@EvansJamie: I'm a slow eater, hence this question....do you count two hours after a meal to start when you have completed eating, or does that start after you've taken your first bite of food? </p> <p>When will you be able to go off the calorie restricted diet? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1104680 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 08:36:21 +0000 avivoca 1104680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have gestational diabetes, but my husband is a Type 1 diabetic and I have a family history of Type 2 diabetes. What my doctor has me do is record my fasting glucose levels and then record my glucose 2 hours after each meal. I'm on an 1800 calorie diet (honestly, I eat more calories than that, but I watch my carb intake). I record everything in a Moleskine notebook and my midwife looks at my glucose levels at every appointment. It was a pain in the butt at first, but I honestly feel better on the diet and watching my carb intake. It definitely makes me appreciate sweets a lot more now that I can't have them all the time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diabetes-anyone#post-1104646 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 08:22:48 +0000 Happygal 1104646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anybody dealing with diabetes? Share your story--diabetes type, management, etc. </p> <p>I'm just at the beginning of trying to figure out what is going on with my body. Two A1Cs reading of 5.7, not too bad, but have high fasting levels, placing me in the prediabetic category. </p> <p>The doctor asked me to record blood sugar levels for 4 weeks and come back to discuss. He suggested just 2-3 times randomly throughout the week, but my inner type-A has come out and I'm trying to be more methodical in tracking fasting and post meal levels. </p> <p>I'm trying to learn as much as possible! </p>