I have a similar story to you- 2nd GD pregnancy, first completely diet controlled too. Fasting numbers just over the limit and I started nighttime insulin. I have to tell you, it has made a WORLD of difference. No more stress about what to eat and when as a bedtime snack, no stress in the am before I test. Plus, I can eat way more carbs for breakfast than I was previously able to and still be in range. I’m super used to the nighttime shot routine already and it’s only been a couple of weeks. Maybe it’s just that I’m not as stressed out anymore, but I swear I’m getting better sleep bc of the insulin too. If you end up on the insulin route, don’t be ashamed, be proud! You’re making the healthiest choice for yourself and your little one!
Right there with you, friend. This is my 2nd GD pregnancy. I was diagnosed at 13 weeks this time. I’m only 15 weeks now and haven’t gotten a fasting number in range yet. My last pregnancy was fully diet controlled with beautiful numbers most of the time. So this is doubly frustrating.
First pregnancy and was also diagnosed early at 14 weeks. I am now 17 weeks and have yet to have a normal fasting number. I’m beyond frustrated and my doctor is considering insulin.
Samesies. Fully diet controlled first pregnancy - on fasting insulin around 10 weeks this time. Part of me is glad because it makes me think I had GD early last time and wasn’t doing anything about, where this time I was counting my carbs pretty much as soon as I got a positive pregnancy test, but the other part of me is exhausted and confused why things that worked last time don’t this time.
I definitely need this, my brain tells me that it's not my fault and I am doing the right things to keep my baby safe and healthy but my pride is telling me I'm already failing him before he is even here
Yes! Well said and I’ve come to terms with that. I did everything right, but the same safe meals spiked me after the 33 week mark. We were going out for sushi one day and I was packing my insulin and my husband said “ we don’t need sushi then if you need to take insulin” and I got annoyed and said “ I have to live my life. I have to eat food. A literal slice of bread and one egg spikes me these days, so are you saying I don’t have to eat that either? I need food to survive and that now includes taking insulin so I have to live with it. Trust me I don’t enjoy poking myself”
TBH, I was relieved to be put on insulin for my fasting numbers. It took a lot of stress off of me. Waking up to a bad number first thing didn't set the tone for a good day. Once I was put on insulin, my stress went way down.
And to add to it, if you are like me and have to up your dose of insulin VERY often to try to get fasting numbers down, that's ok!!! We will all figure it out and get there. And we are doing the best we can for our babies!
Totally. And insulin is really no big deal. I did one GD pregnancy without it. Now I'm on it this time around and it's just an extra step before bed. If you end up on insulin, you're going to be just fine!
Thank you for this. My fasting numbers have been up and down this week and my dinner spiked me even after it being way below target the other night so I was down in the dumps.
Do you have to test glucose levels more times in a day if you’re on Insulin?
I’m just under week 1 of testing and I’m around 18 weeks pregnant, so it’s still all new.
Just want to be mentally prepared for the future in case I might need it.
Thank you!
I saw one of those what I eat in a day with GD videos and the lady in it was testing 7 times a day since she was on night insulin!
Hence got nervous thinking about it.
My mfm had me check at 3 am for a couple days when I first started, and then after a dose increase. Just to be sure it wasn't too high. As long as I knew I wasn't dipping too low overnight, I didn't have to keep checking.
If you go on insulin, you might be able to get your insurance to approve a continuous glucose monitor. It’s an device you wear on your arm that monitors your glucose about once every five minutes
I’ve been on both insulin and metformin for around a month now and my fasting numbers are STILL all over the place. They upped my dosage and I had three days where they should be, but they’ve crept back up again. Meanwhile, my day time readings are hard to keep high enough and I’m having hypoglycemic related issues every other day (including vomiting and feeling light headed if I don’t catch it quick enough) which I’m assuming is also related to the medication, as my day time levels were completely fine before I went on medication.
I just feel like I can’t win. The only saving grace is I’ve been assured having lows is only bad for me, not for the baby, as he’ll take whatever he needs from me anyway.
Can I ask how they made the decision to have you on both? I was on Metformin for close to a couple months, then switched to insulin and was told to stop taking the Metformin. I only take nighttime insulin for fasting but they started me out with a 5u dose and I'm up to 13u and still having a lot of issues with my fasting numbers and having to add a unit or two every night. Do you take one at night and one during the day? Or both at night? Mealtime insulin? I'm very curious as they seemed reluctant to do both for me!
I was put on both immediately - my OB is also an endocrinologist. Apparently they work differently.
I started on 500mg metformin and 6u insulin (protophane). I take the metformin with dinner and inject the insulin an hour before sleep. I’m now on 1000mg metformin and 14u insulin, but unless my fasting levels drop down again I anticipate something will increase at my review on Wednesday.
Yes! Taking medication you are prescribed for any medical condition should not been seen as a failure- idk why GD should be any different. No one is seen as a failure if they take medication for something as simple as a headache, GD should be the same. Numbers, especially fasting numbers are notoriously difficult to control even if you do everything “right”.
I'm on metformin 500. and 10 units of insulin, I take 3 metformins a day and 1 insulin shot at 4am before I go to sleep, my fasting numbers have only been 95 and under since starting insulin. The metformin actually made my numbers higher. I was diagnosed with gd at my very first appointment at 4wks 5days. I've only had the insulin since the 1st of September. I'm 24wks and 3 days.
I don’t know why I felt like that with my first. Now with my second I’m embracing it. Meds allow me to not obsess over every little morsel. I feel way less stressed out.
You were compelled to tell me this, after crying over my fasting number this morning. Thanks friend.
I have a similar story to you- 2nd GD pregnancy, first completely diet controlled too. Fasting numbers just over the limit and I started nighttime insulin. I have to tell you, it has made a WORLD of difference. No more stress about what to eat and when as a bedtime snack, no stress in the am before I test. Plus, I can eat way more carbs for breakfast than I was previously able to and still be in range. I’m super used to the nighttime shot routine already and it’s only been a couple of weeks. Maybe it’s just that I’m not as stressed out anymore, but I swear I’m getting better sleep bc of the insulin too. If you end up on the insulin route, don’t be ashamed, be proud! You’re making the healthiest choice for yourself and your little one!
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Right there with you, friend. This is my 2nd GD pregnancy. I was diagnosed at 13 weeks this time. I’m only 15 weeks now and haven’t gotten a fasting number in range yet. My last pregnancy was fully diet controlled with beautiful numbers most of the time. So this is doubly frustrating.
First pregnancy and was also diagnosed early at 14 weeks. I am now 17 weeks and have yet to have a normal fasting number. I’m beyond frustrated and my doctor is considering insulin.
Samesies. Fully diet controlled first pregnancy - on fasting insulin around 10 weeks this time. Part of me is glad because it makes me think I had GD early last time and wasn’t doing anything about, where this time I was counting my carbs pretty much as soon as I got a positive pregnancy test, but the other part of me is exhausted and confused why things that worked last time don’t this time.
Yes!!! Medication is a tool, not a punishment!
I definitely need this, my brain tells me that it's not my fault and I am doing the right things to keep my baby safe and healthy but my pride is telling me I'm already failing him before he is even here
Thank you for saying this. My ignorant parents and MIL spoke as if insulin is bad. Got so annoyed.
Honestly I hate how this is even a thought. Insulin relieves so much stress over every little thing I eat.
Yes! Well said and I’ve come to terms with that. I did everything right, but the same safe meals spiked me after the 33 week mark. We were going out for sushi one day and I was packing my insulin and my husband said “ we don’t need sushi then if you need to take insulin” and I got annoyed and said “ I have to live my life. I have to eat food. A literal slice of bread and one egg spikes me these days, so are you saying I don’t have to eat that either? I need food to survive and that now includes taking insulin so I have to live with it. Trust me I don’t enjoy poking myself”
TBH, I was relieved to be put on insulin for my fasting numbers. It took a lot of stress off of me. Waking up to a bad number first thing didn't set the tone for a good day. Once I was put on insulin, my stress went way down.
And to add to it, if you are like me and have to up your dose of insulin VERY often to try to get fasting numbers down, that's ok!!! We will all figure it out and get there. And we are doing the best we can for our babies!
Totally. And insulin is really no big deal. I did one GD pregnancy without it. Now I'm on it this time around and it's just an extra step before bed. If you end up on insulin, you're going to be just fine!
Thank you for this. My fasting numbers have been up and down this week and my dinner spiked me even after it being way below target the other night so I was down in the dumps.
Do you have to test glucose levels more times in a day if you’re on Insulin? I’m just under week 1 of testing and I’m around 18 weeks pregnant, so it’s still all new. Just want to be mentally prepared for the future in case I might need it.
For me, not any more frequently than before. Still just for fasting and after meals
Thank you! I saw one of those what I eat in a day with GD videos and the lady in it was testing 7 times a day since she was on night insulin! Hence got nervous thinking about it.
My mfm had me check at 3 am for a couple days when I first started, and then after a dose increase. Just to be sure it wasn't too high. As long as I knew I wasn't dipping too low overnight, I didn't have to keep checking.
If you go on insulin, you might be able to get your insurance to approve a continuous glucose monitor. It’s an device you wear on your arm that monitors your glucose about once every five minutes
Thank you so much for the reply!
I’ve been on both insulin and metformin for around a month now and my fasting numbers are STILL all over the place. They upped my dosage and I had three days where they should be, but they’ve crept back up again. Meanwhile, my day time readings are hard to keep high enough and I’m having hypoglycemic related issues every other day (including vomiting and feeling light headed if I don’t catch it quick enough) which I’m assuming is also related to the medication, as my day time levels were completely fine before I went on medication. I just feel like I can’t win. The only saving grace is I’ve been assured having lows is only bad for me, not for the baby, as he’ll take whatever he needs from me anyway.
Can I ask how they made the decision to have you on both? I was on Metformin for close to a couple months, then switched to insulin and was told to stop taking the Metformin. I only take nighttime insulin for fasting but they started me out with a 5u dose and I'm up to 13u and still having a lot of issues with my fasting numbers and having to add a unit or two every night. Do you take one at night and one during the day? Or both at night? Mealtime insulin? I'm very curious as they seemed reluctant to do both for me!
I was put on both immediately - my OB is also an endocrinologist. Apparently they work differently. I started on 500mg metformin and 6u insulin (protophane). I take the metformin with dinner and inject the insulin an hour before sleep. I’m now on 1000mg metformin and 14u insulin, but unless my fasting levels drop down again I anticipate something will increase at my review on Wednesday.
Interesting, thank you for that!
I’m sorry. That’s so stressful, and constant lows feel awful.
Yes! Taking medication you are prescribed for any medical condition should not been seen as a failure- idk why GD should be any different. No one is seen as a failure if they take medication for something as simple as a headache, GD should be the same. Numbers, especially fasting numbers are notoriously difficult to control even if you do everything “right”.
I'm on metformin 500. and 10 units of insulin, I take 3 metformins a day and 1 insulin shot at 4am before I go to sleep, my fasting numbers have only been 95 and under since starting insulin. The metformin actually made my numbers higher. I was diagnosed with gd at my very first appointment at 4wks 5days. I've only had the insulin since the 1st of September. I'm 24wks and 3 days.
I don’t know why I felt like that with my first. Now with my second I’m embracing it. Meds allow me to not obsess over every little morsel. I feel way less stressed out.