Gestational diabetes inducing and snacks

[Wingingit07]

Hi All,

Just been told I have GD at 29 + 3
They told me I wouldn't go over 40 +6, my question is was anyone allowed to go this far even if you were controlling your levels well through diet? I've read alot of instances were people were induced even if they were controlling well so would like to know your experiences :) I've read far too much about still birth stories with GD please don't scare me too much! :(

On a side note I've still yet to see a dietitian. From your experiences where you allowed any treats I. E x1 biscuit with tea for dessert if it doesn't spike your levels? Or is it a complete no even if your levels aren't effected by it?

I'm type one so can't tell you too much but in terms of treats, you've just got to give very low carb things. I'd be looking for less than 10g carbs. Things I'd have
No sugar jelly
Natural yoghurt with a bit of sweetener
Fibre 1 bars
Digestive biscuits are about 10g of I remember correctly so might be ok.

Good luck!

If you're on Facebook I'd highly recommend you join the Gestational diabetes UK page. They absolutely saved my sanity after I was diagnosed at 14 weeks.
You can absolutely have snacks, they have great advice on what works well and I managed to diet control until about 36 weeks.
I ended up insulin controlled overnight and my consultant was happy to let me got to 39+6

I had it with both of mine - was diet controlled first time, had to have insulin the second time. Re the birth, I resisted early induction and was very fortunate that both mine came of their own accord at 40 weeks or just after (both times labour started the day before I was due to see the consultant for a discussion on induction!)

It's really up to you on how hard you push back from their standard plan for GD mothers. All my growth scans showed normal sized babies and I was well controlled so was comfortable to refuse induction. Having said that, I was very close to asking for an induction with the second one when labour started - I'd reached my limit with both the daily injections and pelvic girdle issues.

On the diet - they told me that you do need to snack regularly to avoid ketones/ketosis. Two digestives or hobnobs, peanut butter on a slice of wholemeal toast (whole earth peanut butter has no added sugar) and 70% dark chocolate were my go to choices. For dessert I'd occasionally 'treat' myself to a no sugar angel delight

It took a bit of getting used to but you work out pretty quickly what spikes your sugars and then adjust accordingly. A 10 min walk after meals helps insulin production apparently.

Hope that helps!

Thanks all really assuring and useful 😊😊 xx

I controlled mine with diet. I used to eat nuts, celery and cream cheese as snacks. Sugar free jelly and a low sugar yoghurt. One square of dark chocolate if I needed it. I was surprised that brown rice and whole grain pasta didn’t spike my sugars, but any type of bread and potatoes always did.

I was induced 5 days early because DC was measuring slightly smaller than expected, but it was fine. If you’re going to breast feed look into expressing some syringes of breast milk to freeze and take to the hospital with you. Sometimes the baby needs a good feed when they’re born to bring their sugars up and if you’re milk hasn’t come in yet the syringes are a good back up. (I found expressing before the birth helped supply in the early days anyway so was worth doing)

I was very borderline and totally diet controlled until the end. Consultant was happy to let me go naturally but I chose an induction at 40+3 for the same concerns you have! Baby was fine and actually quite small. I still suspect my sudden low carb diet played a part in that as he was loose skin and bones at 6lbs3!