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Questions about Impaired Fasting Glucose

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MrsZeeBee

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Gestational
Hi everyone,

I just registered and have posted in the 'hello' section and now need to offload and hopefully get some support and have some questions answered.

Ok so... will try and keep this brief as possible.

I just had a baby 5 weeks ago. I had a GTT at 28 weeks as I am overweight and had a large baby first time round. My fasting was 6.7 and two hours after the sugar drink my level was 7.7. I was classed as borderline so they decided to treat me as having gestational diabetes.

I controlled it with diet initially but could never get my fasting level below 6 so at 30 weeks I was started on insulin. I ended up on 30 units before breakfast and 48 units before my dinner which I was told is quite high levels.

I just about sorted my dose out and got it perfectly under control and then I had my baby! I was told that due to my weight and the fact that I ended up on high levels of insulin if I also had a parent with Type II diabetes (my parents don't) they would expect me to develop it within 1-2 years.

My baby is 5 weeks old now and today I had my post natal appointment with the diabetic clinic at the hospital. It is still the fasting readings that I am struggling with. I can get them to 5.5 ish if I have no carbs or no sugar but if I have carbs or sugar the day before then they are more like 6.5 on average. After eating they never go too crazy even if I have something sweet. If I am careful then they are fine (mainly in the 6's).

So today I have been signed off by the hospital and told my care now transfers to my GP but it doesn't sound like I get any support really and I suppose my first question is whether this is right or if there is any support or tests I should be getting? I was basically told to lose some weight and keep an eye on it.

I have some test strips left over so I can monitor myself for a while although I was testing alot when I was pregnant so I do have a pretty good idea of what foods affect me.

I asked the doctor today whether I should focus on weight loss *or* keep my blood sugars down and he said weight loss but I have read elsewhere that the most important thing is to keep the blood sugars down? Any thoughts on this?

II have had eating issues all my life and if I do lose weight I usually end up putting it back on again so to be perfectly honest I don't feel that hopeful about losing weight although I know that must sound a bit defeatist.

Ok I will stop waffling now because this is a long message, but I just wondered if anyone has any experience of this or advice for me? Just feeling a bit overwhelmed and confused at the moment 😱(

Many thanks xxx
 
Are you still on insulin? Your numbers still fall within the 'normal' non-diabetic range of between 4 and 7. I would say that the best option for you would be to lose weight by eating a diabetes-friendly diet - try and get a copy of The GL Diet for Dummies as an introduction. What you want is to eat meals that release glucose slowly and steadily so the effect on your blood sugar levels is smoothed and not 'spiking'. From the little knowledge I have of gestational diabetes, the need for insulin in the later stages is due to increased insulin resistance, hence the high doses you need as the pregnancy progresses. Insulin resistance is also associated with Type 2 diabetes. One of the best ways of improving your insulin sensitivity (whether injected or from your own lovely pancreas) is to lose any excess weight and to maintain a good exercise programme - this combination will most likely help to bring your fasting and therefore your overall blood sugar levels down 🙂

Keeping a food diary is also an excellent way of spotting things or situations that might be improved, like snacking on fruit instead of biscuits (for example), or having more green veg instead of potatoes.
 
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Northerner said:
Are you still on insulin? Your numbers still fall within the 'normal' non-diabetic range of between 4 and 7. I would say that the best option for you would be to lose weight by eating a diabetes-friendly diet - try and get a copy of The GL Diet for Dummies as an introduction. What you want is to eat meals that release glucose slowly and steadily so the effect on your blood sugar levels is smoothed and not 'spiking'. From the little knowledge I have of gestational diabetes, the need for insulin in the later stages is due to increased insulin resistance, hence the high doses you need as the pregnancy progresses. Insulin resistance is also associated with Type 2 diabetes. One of the best ways of improving your insulin sensitivity (whether injected or from your own lovely pancreas) is to lose any excess weight and to maintain a good exercise programme - this combination will most likely help to bring your fasting and therefore your overall blood sugar levels down 🙂

Keeping a food diary is also an excellent way of spotting things or situations that might be improved, like snacking on fruit instead of biscuits (for example), or having more green veg instead of potatoes.
Click to expand...

Hiya, thanks for the reply 😱) No not on insulin anymore, I literally stopped it the day I had my baby which was a bit strange to go from lots to none!

I have recieved today the 'Diabetes Revolution' by Charles Clark (which I saw recommended on here) and also just ordered the 'What to expect in your first year as a Type II' as I still feel like I don't really understand how it all works. Might stick with those two books for now.

I am doing more walking now which I do enjoy so need to try and increase that a bit more.
 
MrsZeeBee said:
Hiya, thanks for the reply 😱) No not on insulin anymore, I literally stopped it the day I had my baby which was a bit strange to go from lots to none!

I have recieved today the 'Diabetes Revolution' by Charles Clark (which I saw recommended on here) and also just ordered the 'What to expect in your first year as a Type II' as I still feel like I don't really understand how it all works. Might stick with those two books for now.

I am doing more walking now which I do enjoy so need to try and increase that a bit more.
Click to expand...

That's enough to be going on with - I imagine you have a lot of other things to think of right now - congratulations on your baby! 🙂 The walking is a great way to maintain a good exercise regime - how about getting a pedometer/step counter to measure how much you do?
 
Hi Mrs Zeebee

Congratulations on your new baby, you must be thrilled!! I am a relative newbie to this site where I have found no end of support and advice. I was diagnosed in May with Impaired Glucose Tolerance and your numbers look pretty similar to mine (fasting around 6 and below 8 after meals). I was told categorically that I do not have diabetes but impaired glucose tolerance. This diagnosis was made after an oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c. I have managed to lose 2 stone and have incorporated more exercise into my day. I eat a low fat/gi diet and test my bg to monitor the effects of foods on my glucose levels. If I were you I would return to the GP for further advice. As Northerner says, your bg levels fall within the normal range (albeit like mine on the high side) and you may be able, with some adjustments to diet and exercise, to maintain and even improve your bg levels. I appreciate that this is even more difficult with the demands of new motherhood! Enjoy, they grow up all too soon as I well know! The best of luck with everything and keep us posted. Katieb🙂
 
Northerner said:
That's enough to be going on with - I imagine you have a lot of other things to think of right now - congratulations on your baby! 🙂 The walking is a great way to maintain a good exercise regime - how about getting a pedometer/step counter to measure how much you do?
Click to expand...

Yes I might do, in fact I think I have one somewhere! Thanks for the congrats - yes I am quite busy right now but also need to tackle all this too!
 
Hi Katie, thanks for the reply!
Have you found the weight loss has made much of a difference to your levels? I have found that if I am really strict with diet (low carb) and also exercise then my levels are around 5.5 on waking and 5/6 during the day (before and after meals). So I am interested to see if losing weight will help them come down. I am overweight so do have quite a bit to lose to be honest.

I have an 8 week post natal check so will talk about it then and see what's what. I currently have testing strips on a repeat prescription from when I was pregnant so I am hoping I can get away with ordering some more and stashing them away before they notice I don't officially need them anymore. (I mean, I do need them but I know they wouldn't usually be prescribed to me).

I have a pretty good idea of how foods affect me from when I was pregnant as I was testing alot then so fromnow on I thought I might do a full days test once a month and record the figures to see how things are. Does that sound about right do you think?

It sounds like you are doing really well and it is nice to 'chat' to someone in a similar boat! xxx


Katieb said:
Hi Mrs Zeebee

Congratulations on your new baby, you must be thrilled!! I am a relative newbie to this site where I have found no end of support and advice. I was diagnosed in May with Impaired Glucose Tolerance and your numbers look pretty similar to mine (fasting around 6 and below 8 after meals). I was told categorically that I do not have diabetes but impaired glucose tolerance. This diagnosis was made after an oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c. I have managed to lose 2 stone and have incorporated more exercise into my day. I eat a low fat/gi diet and test my bg to monitor the effects of foods on my glucose levels. If I were you I would return to the GP for further advice. As Northerner says, your bg levels fall within the normal range (albeit like mine on the high side) and you may be able, with some adjustments to diet and exercise, to maintain and even improve your bg levels. I appreciate that this is even more difficult with the demands of new motherhood! Enjoy, they grow up all too soon as I well know! The best of luck with everything and keep us posted. Katieb🙂
Click to expand...
 
Hi Mrs Zeebee

Good to hear from you again! Yes the weight loss has brought my numbers down a little (and the exercise helps too). I have now been able to bring my bg levels into the 5s in the morning (not always, but more often) and my bg between 5.3 and 5.8 during the day. I had a couple of blips last week where my bg rose more than usual after eating and 1 morning where I recorded 6.7 - my highest yet! I wonder if I was a bit under the weather though. It's not an exact science as I have quickly found out! Mostly though I feel loads better and I am hoping that as I continue to lose weight (another stone and a half to go!) my numbers will be even better!

The best of luck to you. I'm happy to e mail you separately if you want to pm me anytime to share things outside the forum.

Hope you're managing to get some sleep!🙂

Love Katiex
 
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