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Welcome, and I'm sorry!! I was also shocked by my GD diagnosis and I was devastated. I wrote a couple of blog posts about it that you may find helpful. In the end, it was really NOT bad at all testing my levels daily, and since I was borderline, I was able to keep my levels down with diet and exercise. It also kept my weight gain down like crazy, and my baby was born 100% healthy!

Here are the posts:

http://www.hellobee.com/2012/05/22/living-with-gestational-diabetes-part-1-big-fat-failures/

http://www.hellobee.com/2012/05/23/living-with-gestational-diabetes-5-stages-of-grief/

Welcome to GD. First, it is not your fault. Second, it's manageable. Third, you can still have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

I'm on my second round of GD. With my first pregnancy, my OB induced me due to AMA and GD. I was 37 when my LO was born. My induction did result in an unplanned C-section, but it wasn't related to my GD. My baby was completely healthy with no complications to either of us during or after birth. She's now a more than thriving 3 year old.

My next is due in 3 weeks. I'm having a repeat C-section (my choice). I've been dealing with my GD diagnosis since about 20 weeks.

I'm mostly diet controlled. I do take glyburide (and did in my first pregnancy as well) as my biggest problem is controlling my overnight fasting blood sugar levels.

It's not always fun to monitor all of your food and glucose levels, but it is temporary. My diabetes was completely gone after birth and I expect the same this time as well.

I was totally where you are last year. First, it's not your fault. I was 24 years old and petite/healthy when I was diagnosed. My only risk factor was that I have family history of diabetes. I was super angry for a few days and then I realized that it wasn't too terrible.

I used to hate needles, but quickly got over that fear. The monitoring of blood sugar levels wasn't exactly awesome, but it became second nature after a couple weeks. The diet helped me to stay at a healthy weight and I gained about 25 lbs during my pregnancy.

I did have a big baby (8lb 13oz at 39 weeks), so I ended up with a c-section, which was fine with me. I had monthly growth ultrasounds to check his size because he had been 3-4 weeks ahead almost the entire pregnancy. He was healthy at birth and had no blood sugar issues. My diabetes went away as well after delivery.

Hugs! It's overwhelming, but it is temporary.

Welcome! I was in the same boat last year. I had been running regularly for about three years before getting pregnant, I quit exercising during pregnancy (save for walking the dog), and I got GD. Try not to beat yourself up, because nothing you did contributed to it. I followed the diet, gained about 35 pounds (I lost 8 pounds in the month after starting the diet), and gave birth to a healthy 7lb, 10.5 oz. baby girl.

The diet is not bad at all. I actually felt better once I started on it. Hugs!

I was diagnosed with GD with my 2nd pregnancy and I was so upset. My risk factors were I was over 30 plus a strong family history on my paternal side. I tried to follow the guidelines but I'll be honest - I cheated often. I had my little boy at 37 1/2 weeks due to low fluid (totally unrelated to the GD) and he was 7 lbs 2 oz. His blood sugar levels were fine.

Just want to say that getting the diagnosis sucked but I'm glad for the extra monitoring. I had weekly ultrasounds. I loved checking on my little boy so often and that caught the low fluid levels.

@RacheBon: We are a "meat and potatoes" sort of family. I still eat mostly normal, I just try to limit the carbs. As an example our dinner last night was lima beans, macaroni and cheese and bbq chicken. I ate more chicken and less macaroni. When I first started I would actually measure out my carb heavy food, but I've become more comfortable with what 1/2 cup looks like on my plate (for example). I do stay away as much as possible from desserts and milk. But I still have them in moderation or on special occasions. During this stint of GD we have celebrated all three of our birthdays, our anniversary and my baby shower. All of those of course included cake!

You should find the education class to be very helpful in setting out guidelines. I was given a small book that contained measures for most common foods. And for eating out, I try to plan ahead and look up the menu online.

Welcome! Like others have said GD is totally not your fault. It's the way the placenta is attaching to your body usually, and hindering your processing of carbs/sugar. One of my nurses said that she meets mothers all the time that are super fit that get it and mothers that say they only eat McDs that don't get it. It's really a cr@p shoot.

I didn't have it for my first kid but now I have for my second kid. My mother has type 2 which is why I was tested.

I was definitely overwhelemed at first here are some "rules" I use to help me.

Eating smaller meals but eat more often (I eat pretty much 6-8 times a day now)
2 protein / 1 carb ratio when you eat... especially big meals this will help
Walking after eating

These three things have really helped me keep my number in check.

Also it's not your fault if you need to go on meds... again it's how your body is processing sugar and sometimes no matter what you do... it's going to be hard to combat that. My nurse also said... the further along you are the bigger the placenta gets and the harder it will be to control with diet and exercise.

Good luck!

It's definitely not your fault. I know of so many women who have had it who are very healthy and active.

Lots of hugs!

@RacheBon: I don't really exercise Once I got into the routine it really isn't that bad. Yeah, I totally wish I can binge on everything that I can't have, but is probably regret it when I see my weight shoot up! DYI, my # from the 1 hr was SO bad that they didn't even bother to do the 3 hr and diagnosed me right away so talk about feeling bad for myself! Also, you will see the doc so often that in some ways I am more reassured, I started getting non stress tests at 32 weeks; it's annoying but I like that LO is being monitored closely.