Gestational diabetes

[Dani8621]

Hello,

I've just been told I have gestational diabetes. I'm seeing the specialist next week, but wondered how everyone found having this? What kind of diet did you start needing to have etc?

Feeling quite stressed about it to be honest,

I had gestational diabetes. The first thing is that it isn’t your fault, it’s to do with hormones. You’re naturally insulin resistant during pregnancy anyway so that some glucose can pass to baby. In your case, your placenta is just allowing too much glucose to pass. I like to say that the placenta was an over-achiever and just being too efficient

The GD diet is low carb, high fat. It’s important to still eat carbs but you should aim to eat better carbs - wholewheat pasta, basmati or brown rice, wholemeal bread. You might find that you vacant tolerate some carbs or carbs at certain times of the day. Every woman is different so there’ll be a couple of weeks of trial and error while you work out what works for you. There’s a website called Gestational Diabetes UK which is helpful to learn about the diet. It is restrictive and quite frankly odd at times. You’ll eat a lot of cheese. It’s fine though. You can still eat out and have little treats. Remember it’s only for a short time and you’ll find that eating for your baby helps to keep you on track. It helps if your partner is on board, there’s a section on the website for them to read and understand what GD is. It’s important to remember GD is hormonal so some days your blood sugar levels won’t make sense, they’ll be too high or too low, and you can’t work out why and it’s because your hormones are just wreaking havoc.

I ended up on medication. If you end up on medication, again it’s not your fault, it’s the result of the bloody hormones and it’s for the benefit of the baby. Different trusts have different guidelines about levels and when to offer an induction. You don’t have to accept an induction and there is a lot of information on the website about your birth rights. I had anxiety about the health of the placenta towards the end of my pregnancy and happily accepted an induction at 38+1. I had a really positive induction and was really happy to have baby earth side.

Thank you very much for your reply! Just feel like it's my fault & annoyed considering I was trying to be careful with what I ate already!

Thing I don't understand is if you get a high reading how do you lower it? I'm sure the specialist will tell me I just wondered.

Strange as didn't have any symptoms

Have a look at the Gestational Diabetes UK website. It has a page for newly diagnosed people which explains everything. It has great diet advice. There's also a Facebook support group.
I've had GD twice and managed to stay diet controlled both times with the help of this website and group.
It's not just sugar you need to limit but all carbs.

I didn't have any symptoms either. I knew I would have it as both my mum and sister did, then eventually got type 2 aswell (sister has since reversed hers). Neither are big and have normal BMIs, so clearly genetic in my case.. and for many people.

I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago and have found the gestational diabetes website mentioned above great for recipes. With that I'm so far managing to diet control, and have not yet needed medication (33 weeks)

On a other note, fasting readings seem to be the hardest to keep down for most women (and has been where I've had the most highs). I was advised to have a high protein snack (so a hard boiled egg, cheese or turkey slices for example.. not all that appealing!) Before bed and that seems to be working for me.

It’s difficult to get your head round but I told myself I was doing it for baby.
Checking bloods multiple times a day was frustrating but helps you keep on track.
They’ll usually have you speak to a dietitian who can help.
You’ll have extra scans and appointments to monitor baby.
Baby will have blood sugars taken soon after birth and will need feeding pretty quickly and they’ll monitor to check it hasn’t impacted.
I was advised to harvest colostrum- the feeding midwife can help with that.
Sometimes baby can be bigger sometimes smaller but it’s not your fault.

I had it and the good thing is you are closely monitored which I found put my mind at ease. There is an app I was told to use. I think it was carbs and Cals which was really useful. Stick to the rules as best you can and you will be fine. Take care and all the best with your pregnancy!

Hi! When I found out I had it I cried and cried because I felt so guilty for potentially putting my baby at risk. It took a lot for my husband and the midwives to convince me that it is not my fault (and I am a nurse).
I have managed to keep my sugars at the target levels for NHS Grampain 5.5 fasting and below 7 2 hours after meals 99% of the time just with dietary changes.
Have embraced and am actually enjoying wholemeal pastas, rice and breads. I drink plenty of water with meals and have always loved veg but really increased the volume of it on my plate and reduced my portion of pasta etc. Don't be afraid of sugars just think about how they are processed for example choose honey of golden syrup and brown sugar over white etc.
Me and my husband have used chickpea or gram flour as bases for sauces (even pizza dough). Try and see it as a time to experiment with new things.
I find if I eat bread in the evening my sugar is higher than if I were to have it for lunch. Have made a few mistakes along the way but everyone is different and you will find what works for you.
Don't get me wrong I have 2 weeks left and am so hoping I go back to normal afterwards am so sick of pricking my finger 4 times a day (was 7 at first) but I think I have made some permanent changes in my diet to hopefully avoid diabetes in the future! Hope you get on well xx

I found out this week to and have spent 3 days crying my eyes out.
.
I feel incredibly despondent and alone with it all to be honest.
I prefaced telling my mum by explaining its not my fault she basically said well its not her genes that are responsible and to get on with it. Then picked a fight with me over something else.
My DH did a bit of hand wringing and sad puppy face then barely asked how the horrendous appointment went. He made me a GD friendly meal today but do so while eating a giant bag of tortilla chips and chocolate which he then left lying around the kitchen half eaten

I am now just trying to get on with it and trying to embrace it/pollyanna it and see it as good to be healthier for me and the baby even though i still secretly feel i have ruined her life already

I cleared out all chocolate snacks (which dh went out today and rebought?!?!) and have bought in more complex cards and "easy protein/fats" and the blood testing is fairly easy to do (I set phone reminders)

I have gone for 3 meals and 3 snacks
I eat every 2-3 hours with dinner around 6 and last snack at 8.30 or 9
I am utterly dreading christmas

Also watch out for stress - you need to keep things calm as the cortisol can mess up your blood sugar.

Can anyone just clarify that I take my readings before and after meals only and not snacks as well?

Yes before and after meals but I found it useful to occasionally test after some snacks too to see how they affected my sugar levels x

Anyone got any good breakfast and snack ideas as I'm struggling

Hi there,
Yes, for breakfast I would try poached eggs on one slice of Burgen Bread (it's high protein) or LivLife bread. You could also load up that one slice with ham and cheese, or smoked salmon and eggs. Just think protein and fat to balance out the small bit of carb in the bread.
Some people can tolerate a slice with peanut butter on; but I couldn't quite manage that, I needed more to pair it with.
Otherwise you can do omlette, or omlette and a small portion of no sugar beans.

Snacks:
Granny Smith apple slices dipped in Nut butter
A bag of Pom bears dipped in cream cheese
Any fresh meats like chicken slices or ham
I lived on baby bels too
One square of dark chocolate with a handful of almonds
You can have Nature Valley Protein bars too (only the ones that have protein in the title) - serve this chopped up with cream on for a nice alternative dessert

Do look at the Gestational Diabetes UK website. I didn't actually get that much information from my trust, but I was able to follow the GDUK guidelines and keep my blood sugars controlled just by reading the information on the website. There's a Facebook page that accompanies it as well which is also really helpful. I'd highly recommend the recipes on the site!

I was so overwhelmed by the diagnosis and was an anxious wreck for the rest of my pregnancy but baby was born a few weeks ago completely healthy.

Another person who would throughly recommend Gestational Diabetes UK as a lifeline through GD - I still pay the subs a year and a bit on because I find the receipes so useful. You'll discover what works for you - I couldn't tolerate bread or potatoes at all but was OK with small amounts of rice and pasta. Never eat an unpaired carb (you will eat so much cheese and meat!). I managed to control mine through diet but it seems very luck of the draw - some people need medication regardless of how careful they are.

My baby was fine, no problems at all and despite them repeatedly saying she was going to be big, she was just over 6lbs.

I got told by my midwife that my blood sugar levels are on the high side and have been referred for an early glucose tolerance test. I’m really worried because I’ve had really nag morning sickness and I’ll I’ve been able to eat is carbs and now feel guilty that I’ve ended up in this situation. Have a history of diabetes on one side of the family and should have known better. Has anyone been in this situation? Feeling so anxious about the results. TIA.

I was in the same situation @Bardot12 - please don't blame yourself, you haven't caused this just by relying on carbs to manage morning sickness. Most people do that! Insulin resistance in pregnancy can happen to anyone. I have no family history diabetes, am a size 10 never weighed more than 8 stone 9 (I'm short) and I had GD twice.
While you're waiting to get the results make sure you take a look a the GestationL Diabetes UK "newly diagnosed" page. They have amazing advice on diet and other blood sugar control tips. But remember to eat a totally normal diet in the 48 hours before the glucose tolerance test or you can affect the results.

I was only just at the level to be diagnosed with GD so didn’t make any dramatic changes, although, I didn’t swap mash potato to roasties as that did make a big difference. I stopped prick testing after a week or so once I knew most of my regular meals didn’t make a huge difference to my results.

Diabetes runs in both sides of my family and I’ve found exercise has a huge impact on my overall levels so I recommend exercising regularly, esp after the baby is born.