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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Newly diagnosed probably gestational diabetes, but possibly type 2
- Thread starter Nina_B
- Start date
- Status
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum Nina
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Can you tell us a bit more about how your Diabetes was picked up. What tests they have done and any medication they have given you.
Whatever the type of Diabetes the main focus for all of us is the amount of carbohydrates (not just sugar) that we eat. In whatever form you eat it: pasta, cereal, preprepared meals, fruit, cakes, ... they are turned into glucose, and for that to be processed you need insulin. The more carbs we eat the more insulin you need.
For T2 a lot of people have found the book Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, taking you through things step by step.
A lot of people also find it useful to start to test their own BG levels, in order to get information about how different foods and activity impact on their levels. Very often people with T 2 cannot get test strips on prescription so they use a SD Codfree meter, for which the strips are a lot cheaper than for others.
There are many other resources listed in the top post on the newbies board. Scroll down to get to T2, they are there.
If you have any questions do ask, and remember nothing is considered a silly questions.
People are here tohelp.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Can you tell us a bit more about how your Diabetes was picked up. What tests they have done and any medication they have given you.
Whatever the type of Diabetes the main focus for all of us is the amount of carbohydrates (not just sugar) that we eat. In whatever form you eat it: pasta, cereal, preprepared meals, fruit, cakes, ... they are turned into glucose, and for that to be processed you need insulin. The more carbs we eat the more insulin you need.
For T2 a lot of people have found the book Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, taking you through things step by step.
A lot of people also find it useful to start to test their own BG levels, in order to get information about how different foods and activity impact on their levels. Very often people with T 2 cannot get test strips on prescription so they use a SD Codfree meter, for which the strips are a lot cheaper than for others.
There are many other resources listed in the top post on the newbies board. Scroll down to get to T2, they are there.
If you have any questions do ask, and remember nothing is considered a silly questions.
People are here tohelp.
Mark Parrott
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum.🙂
Hello SB,
I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant. Around 24 weeks I started getting really, really tired. 25 weeks on really giddy. It was also noticeable I was losing weight (which isn't that usual at this stage of pregnancy!) Also really thirsty. Initially most of this was put down to being pregnant and it being hot.
At my 26 week appointment there was sugar in my urine. They usually only test for GD after three occurances of this. But my mum has type 2 and there both type 2 and type 1 in her family (both considered hereditary versions). So I asked for the test and the midwife agreed.
Had the glucose test Friday morning at the hospital (now 28 weeks. I've been struggling with bouts of fatigue for 4 weeks. I've also lost all 5kilos (11lbs) gained during my pregnancy - and another kilo on top. So I currently weigh a kilo less than at the start of my pregnancy. Despite baby and bump continuing to grow and appearing normal on all scans).
Friday afternoon (4pmish) the hospital called to say my results showed diabetes and could I come and see the diabetic nurse in maternity on Tuesday morning. The midwife said my tests were slightly unusual. As the diabetic sugar levels showed in my fasting bloods - whereas the post sugar drink bloods taken two hours later looked more pre-diabetic. She said this result was usually what they'd expect to see from someone with Type 2 not GD. However all previous tests (fasting or otherwise) have shown normal blood sugar levels.
I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant. Around 24 weeks I started getting really, really tired. 25 weeks on really giddy. It was also noticeable I was losing weight (which isn't that usual at this stage of pregnancy!) Also really thirsty. Initially most of this was put down to being pregnant and it being hot.
At my 26 week appointment there was sugar in my urine. They usually only test for GD after three occurances of this. But my mum has type 2 and there both type 2 and type 1 in her family (both considered hereditary versions). So I asked for the test and the midwife agreed.
Had the glucose test Friday morning at the hospital (now 28 weeks. I've been struggling with bouts of fatigue for 4 weeks. I've also lost all 5kilos (11lbs) gained during my pregnancy - and another kilo on top. So I currently weigh a kilo less than at the start of my pregnancy. Despite baby and bump continuing to grow and appearing normal on all scans).
Friday afternoon (4pmish) the hospital called to say my results showed diabetes and could I come and see the diabetic nurse in maternity on Tuesday morning. The midwife said my tests were slightly unusual. As the diabetic sugar levels showed in my fasting bloods - whereas the post sugar drink bloods taken two hours later looked more pre-diabetic. She said this result was usually what they'd expect to see from someone with Type 2 not GD. However all previous tests (fasting or otherwise) have shown normal blood sugar levels.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Nina
I am not familiar with the specific symptoms of gestational Diabetes, but your weight loss, tiredness are all symptoms that I had with T1. GPs frequently assume that if you are over 40 that you must be T2 so I am glad that you in the care of the hospital. Did they tell you what the ‘unusual results’ were. Was this the post sugar drink test?
I think that is unusual for such rapid weight loss to occur with T2, and rings bells for what I experienced when diagnosed with T1. Are you able to test your BG? Are you able to test for ketones? If you feel any worse it would be good to go to A&E and ask for these tests.
If you post on the parenting thread there may be responses from people more familiar with what happens during pregnancy.
I am not familiar with the specific symptoms of gestational Diabetes, but your weight loss, tiredness are all symptoms that I had with T1. GPs frequently assume that if you are over 40 that you must be T2 so I am glad that you in the care of the hospital. Did they tell you what the ‘unusual results’ were. Was this the post sugar drink test?
I think that is unusual for such rapid weight loss to occur with T2, and rings bells for what I experienced when diagnosed with T1. Are you able to test your BG? Are you able to test for ketones? If you feel any worse it would be good to go to A&E and ask for these tests.
If you post on the parenting thread there may be responses from people more familiar with what happens during pregnancy.
Thank you. That's a good idea.
I'm 33 (nearly 34) first time parent.
Family history is pretty extensive:
My mum has type 2, so does her older brother. Her still living younger half brother has type 1. One of her half sisters and half brothers died due to type 1 complications. My mum's grandfather and all his siblings had type 2 (early, 30s onset) though her granddad lived until his late 80s (he was born in the 1880s). My mum's first cousin had gestational diabetes in two pregnancies but has not had any other diabetes diagnosis.
The midwife said the sugar test result showed high diabetic sugar levels in the fasting test (before the sugar drink) and the second test was pre-diabetic rather than diabetic levels. Which she said was unusual.
I am so tired at the moment, it's nuts. I eat pretty healthy. I'm was a bit overweight at the start of pregnancy but my midwife and doctor were unconcerned (I weigh heavy, pre-pregnancy I did a lot of weight lifting. I've also always been on the unusually busty side :/ ) I've been struggling on and off with feeling giddy and tired, with increasingly extreme thirst from about week 19... It's been ramping up in the last month. There's days when I'm struggling to get out of bed, I'm so tired... But I keep losing weight.
I'm 33 (nearly 34) first time parent.
Family history is pretty extensive:
My mum has type 2, so does her older brother. Her still living younger half brother has type 1. One of her half sisters and half brothers died due to type 1 complications. My mum's grandfather and all his siblings had type 2 (early, 30s onset) though her granddad lived until his late 80s (he was born in the 1880s). My mum's first cousin had gestational diabetes in two pregnancies but has not had any other diabetes diagnosis.
The midwife said the sugar test result showed high diabetic sugar levels in the fasting test (before the sugar drink) and the second test was pre-diabetic rather than diabetic levels. Which she said was unusual.
I am so tired at the moment, it's nuts. I eat pretty healthy. I'm was a bit overweight at the start of pregnancy but my midwife and doctor were unconcerned (I weigh heavy, pre-pregnancy I did a lot of weight lifting. I've also always been on the unusually busty side :/ ) I've been struggling on and off with feeling giddy and tired, with increasingly extreme thirst from about week 19... It's been ramping up in the last month. There's days when I'm struggling to get out of bed, I'm so tired... But I keep losing weight.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Nina, I'm very sorry to hear that you are feeling like this. Like @SB2015 I would be concerned that you are actually exhibiting the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes - it's relatively rare, but it can most certainly happen - actress Hannah Waterman was diagnosed at 24 weeks: Given that you have a strong family history of both main types of diabetes would strengthen the possibility.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...ick--I-dying-Hannah-Waterman-weight-loss.html
It is very important that you stress this possibility to those caring for you, in case they are making assumptions. Are your blood sugar levels being regularly tested? Have you been given any medication e.g. insulin? Personally, given your situation, I would be seeking immediate help, possibly going to A&E for an assessment.
Please let us know how things go for you, I hope you can get the treatment you need to stop the weight loss and tiredness.
Thank you. I think that's a good idea. No insulin or medication yet. I don't get blood monitoring kit until Tuesday (and my mum is away with my dad, so I can't borrow her kit). Until sugar in urine at 26 weeks and the blood results on Friday I've always had very normal blood sugar results. I have an annual blood test that checks blood sugars, thyroid, iron, kidneys etc. My 12 week bloods were also normal. So all the change has only happened in recent weeks. Week 16 to 19 I was on a belated honeymoon in Japan with my husband and we were walking 25,000 to 30,000 steps a day with no issue. Now I struggle to do more than a 15 minute walk.
A pharmacy should also be able to test you for ketones and do a fingers tick bg test if you can get to one easier today than getting to A&E. In the meantime drink lots of water and avoid sugary foods, make sure you get taken seriously. Please let us know how you get on
Hi Mark - I don't know what MODY is? And yes. I'm the oldest of three. My sister is 18 months younger than me and my brother 2 years, 9 months younger .
My dad and mum did say to make sure they know that although my mum was never diagnosed with GD when I came home from hospital (I was late, big and very poorly initially) my urine smelt of sugar for the first two weeks.
My dad and mum did say to make sure they know that although my mum was never diagnosed with GD when I came home from hospital (I was late, big and very poorly initially) my urine smelt of sugar for the first two weeks.
Mark T
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
MODY is a rare, but not as rare as you might think types of diabeties that is down to a single gene. See [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maturity_onset_diabetes_of_the_young] and [https://www.diabetesgenes.org/] for more information.
Hopefully it isn't that. But your brother and sister would be well advised to get a HbA1c from their GP, now and maybe ever few years or so as a precaution.
Hopefully it isn't that. But your brother and sister would be well advised to get a HbA1c from their GP, now and maybe ever few years or so as a precaution.
Hello everyone, went to doctor, bloods were okay that afternoon. Had appointment with diabetic nurse yesterday and I've been asked to monitor six times a day. They're looking to see if there's a pattern.
Been told my diet is good and low GI. Because of tiredness I'd cut back a lot on walking. Was advised to go for a short walk after food (the dog was very happy about this and managed to turn 10 minutes into nearer 30... As dogs do).
Post food tests after walking show okay readings (higher end, but within acceptable levels).
However, just tested fasting levels and they're the same as my hour after dinner ones from last night - 6.7 - which is high. When they tested me two hours after breakfast (without a dog walk in between) yesterday they were 7.8. but the rest of my readings were okay.
Don't have enough data yet to establish a pattern - but this does tie with me being really, really tired in the mornings and really thirsty. But feel okayish mis-afternoon.
Been told my diet is good and low GI. Because of tiredness I'd cut back a lot on walking. Was advised to go for a short walk after food (the dog was very happy about this and managed to turn 10 minutes into nearer 30... As dogs do).
Post food tests after walking show okay readings (higher end, but within acceptable levels).
However, just tested fasting levels and they're the same as my hour after dinner ones from last night - 6.7 - which is high. When they tested me two hours after breakfast (without a dog walk in between) yesterday they were 7.8. but the rest of my readings were okay.
Don't have enough data yet to establish a pattern - but this does tie with me being really, really tired in the mornings and really thirsty. But feel okayish mis-afternoon.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Those readings don't look unreasonable Nina, even the slightly higher ones, so it looks promising 🙂
Hi Nina, glad to hear that you have had more support from your nurse and they are seeking answers to resolve the issue for you. As @Northerner has said though, those levels sound good so hopefully you will begin to feel some improvements 🙂
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