If there’s one good thing about having type 1 diabetes and being pregnant, it’s that when you get to that 24-28 week time period when ‘normals’ have their glucose tests done, you are not in for a nasty surprise in the form of gestational diabetes. You’ve already got insulin dependent diabetes – you can’t get gestational on top! In fact maybe I’m wrong… I wouldn’t mind if someone told me I had gestational diabetes because then there just might be a chance I get to give it up once I’ve had the baby 
Anyway – I don’t mean to trivialise gestational diabetes because I really do feel for people who get it. At least we know what we’re in for going in – it must be horrible to learn that you have to suddenly change everything around, take blood prick tests and possibly insulin plus worry about any damage which might have been done to your baby along the way. I’m sure all of this affected the lovely Angelina Jolie, pictured right, who allegedly suffered gestational diabetes when she had her twins a couple of years ago.
Anyway – a friend of a friend has just found out at 28 weeks that she has gestational diabetes, and my friend put her in touch with me to see if I had any advice. Being a type 1 diabetic who is pregnant though is so different to being diabetic while pregnant, and I am wary of what to say given that I am no expert on the subject.
Here is what I’ve said so far:
Here is a link to some low GI foods (medium GI ones will probably be ok too):
http://www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/
Also, I had a look online and there are a few resources from Diabetes Australia which might give you a bit of background and some people who have been through it:
http://diabetesaustralia.com.au/en/Understanding-Diabetes/What-is-Diabetes/Gestational-Diabetes-/
http://diabetesaustralia.com.au/en/Living-with-Diabetes/Gestational-Diabetes/My-Story/My-Journey-with-Gestational-Diabetes/
And a video:
http://tudiabetes.com/video/gestational-diabetes-and
Has anyone else got any other advice? If so, it would be welcome in the comments box or via nic@beingdiabetic.co.nz. I will also see if my friend who wrote this post can help me help this poor girl.
Posted in Pregnancy
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Nic wrote
Hi there Nic,
Have only just read this posting. I have a daughter who went through 2 pregnancies – Gestational diabetes diagnosed at the beginning of her first pregnancy (there is T2 in my husband’s family) by the time she got pregnant again (11 years later!) she had established T2 diabetes. The only comments I would make would be to insist on referral/treatment at an established diabetes centre where there is a diabetes team ie Diabetes Specialist Physician, Diabetes Specialist Nurse Educator, Obstetrician, Dietitian and Paediatrician. the other thing is to finger prick as many times a day as advised and keep blood sugars as near normal as possible all the time, and to keep records of everything. It is hard work, but at the end well worth it to have a healthy baby. I have been to seminars on Diabetes in Pregnancy and the same rules apply whether it is T1, T2 or Gestational. I’m sure you will be a good support person for her. Of course I lot will depend on whether she is able to control the blood sugars by diet alone, or whether she needs to have insulin. You have done some good research as far as the web sites are concerned.
Glad to hear things are going well for you. See you next week,
Kathy.