just diagnosed with gestation diabetes...any advice or experiences?

UGH!  So I have just been diagnosed with GD, and I am so lost.  I have been given the glucose moniter, and I have to check myself when I wake up, and 2 hours after every major meal.  So, basically 4 times a day.  So the dr. said my levels shuld be somewhere around 120...but I dont know what TOO high or TOO low.....I am scared and confused....I am supposed to meet with some diabetic teacher...but that wont be for a few days, what I am I supposed to do till then?  I just dont get it, throughout this pregnancy I have never felt any different...I would eat stuff either sugary or really junky at times and it wouldnt make me feel different or sick.....sorry if this sounds all over the place I am just so confused!!!

[WaveRider]

A good starting point is the ADA (American Diabetes Association) Web page http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

Tons of information on diabetes control out there in cyber land. I Google'd "controlling diabetes" and got 398,000 hits
http://tinyurl.com/38eh8t .

Diet, nutrition and moderate exercise will help control diabetes. Stay away from junk food for your baby's sake.

[SarahB79]

First breathe... I am sure this is all very scary.  I remember when the dr. told me I had GD.  I was scared too.  

They are right 120 is where you want to stay below after meals.  This number is much lower for you than it is for other diabetics because you are pregnant.  The reason they recommend this number is for several reasons.

You can develop complications like high blood pressure and high birth weight baby.  You don't want to cause you or your baby stress, so stick to about 30 grams of carbohydrates or less per meal.  (2 slices of bread).  And stay away from candy and other sweats.  

The second problem is for your baby only.  If your baby becomes accustomed to having a lot of sugars cross his/her system, thent he baby will have to make up for your body by producing extra insulin.  The babies system will get used to making extra insulin and when he/she is born the babies blood sugar will bottom out.  That's scary for you, baby and nurses.  

Bottom line, eat healthy, get light to moderate exercise and keep testing your glucose levels!  

Also, postpartum... have your dr. order another glucose test about 12 weeks after you deliver.  They often fail to diagnose type II diabetes until several years later.  GD can definately lead to it.  Took me 6.5  years after my son was born to realize I had type II now.  It couldve been caught and under control a lot earlier.  So stay on a good routine and stay on your dr!.