Gestational Diabetes Chatter #6

[belfie]

Becci - late congrats from me too!

i'm also no use, I injected, wasn't offered the tabs as an option. I know there was a girl in here earlier with GD who was on tabs =- cos she was the first I've heard of with 'em. Tough call though, I can understand not wanting to inject again! good luck with your decision.

[cja]

Thanks for your replies, I would like to think that taking the oral tablet would be a lot easier and keep me sane through to the end of my pregnancy but there is not enough research on the affect of the baby after it is born to reassure me that I should take the tablets. I have a week or two to decide before I start either one, I just want this pregnancy to be a happier experience then the last. Will keep looking for information to help me make the right choice.

[greedy fly]

Hi cja,
What are your bsl currently averaging? Are these tablets the same that type 2 diabetics can use before insulin? It seems a little odd that you've not only been given the choice, but have another week or so! It sounds like your sugars are not terribly out of control yet, which is great. I imagine if they were consistently high, then they'd be hurrying to get them under control before your bub feels the effects of long term poor management.

I'd cautiously suggest that the decision is best made with the status of your sugars currently, how far along you are, and how hard to maintain it is with 'sensible eating' (as if that is possible during preg!). Don't be shy in asking for numerous opinions if you are hesitant on these tablets and have found there is not sufficient research for you to be comfortable.

All the best with the decisions!
Anna

[cja]

Hey anna, I am 23 weeks have been taking bloods for the last 5 weeks due to my Dr's receptionist, turns out I should not of worried about them till about now anyway, since I am not in my 3rd trimester. Any way my morning fastings suck failing about 2o r 3 a week and that is the reason I need the insulin, should be under 5.5 but just not getting there most mornings, daily ones are fine mostly under 6.8 which is my goal. the oral tablets are for type 2 diabetes metiform (close to that). cja

[greedy fly]

Ah, Metformin. You probably already stated that in the thread. Sorry. It's a really widely prescribed drug, and like most drugs on the market, it has risks (I learned in recent years that one of my insulins is not yet considered a safe drug!). Are you going through the private or public system? You might find a useful source of info is a diabetes educator, as well as an endocrinologist. Educators are a godsend to me with pregnancy and I can't think of a single time they haven't known what to do and how to do it quickly. That's the pro and con of diabetes in pregnancy - both that it is within a limited time frame, and that it is a limited time frame! Any longterm problems are not likely to matter as much, but then again you only have a few months to master perfect control so that bub doesn't gain excess weight and have issues at birth with low bsl, etc.

If you're after just personal opinions, I'd not be too afraid of the Metformin. It's a short term plan only. That said though, don't be bullied into anything that you just can't be confident with - and that goes for info on the internet, or from a well meaning doctor who is asking you to swing the impossible and be textbook managed!