having to change diet to 'no sugar' after diagnosed with diabetes.

[xShellyx]

I'm 35weeks pregnant and after my gtt iv been told they believe to of found pre-existing diabetes but cant get any help on type etc till baby is born and they double check.

Iv been told I have to cut sugar completely out of my diet. Including lactose! I have a sweet tooth and enjoy biscuits with a cuppa around midday, I eat tons of fruit + my craving is twister ice lollies. Today is day 2 of my diet change, iv swapped fruit for salad and veg, white bread for seeded Brown bread, lactose free milk, dairy free butter, sugar for sweetners.

Today I'm really, really struggling, I didn't realise how much I'd crave a sugary snack and when my nurse said she would put it on a par with quitting smoking because no one realises how addicted to sugar they are, I can see why.

Does anyone have any suggestions for food replacements, ways to kick my sugar craving up the bum etc? Did anyone else have to cut sugar out their diets completely?

I'm fed up of hearing 'my neighbours friends cousins cats kitten was a diabetic and they still had normal milk, cakes, chocolate and loads of fruit....'

The only thing I'm wondering is if I can still enjoy a take away treat? we usually have one every fourtnight with family and now I don't know where I stand on that.

Other than that, I'm pretty question free lol, I was just so confused with the whole sugar/carbs business which iv had some fantastic help and advice with

What do you usually have when you have take away? For me I just inject what I need but there are things you can order which are less fatty/sugary etc

We usually have fish + chips from the chippy , on a rare occasion a kfc or an even rarer occasion a Chinese. really have to fancy a Chinese and be able to afford it lol.

When I had my first we ate a fair few take outs cos we was so tired, don't think I can do that this time lol

Fish and chips wouldn't be ideal as batter+chips means it's got lots of high GI carbs. KFC similar I think. Chinese depends what you have - there's quite a lot of sugar in a lot of Chinese food, but not in all of it. Indian is probably the best take away option I would think, basmati rice is quite low GI and there isn't nearly as much added sugar. But I'm not sure about all this so interested to hear what others say!

I think kfc has added sugar and quite a bit. Chinese def high in sugar. Indian is too but if you can go for the less saucy ones they won't have as much in. I'd look in my carbs and cals book but I'm in bed I'll look in the morning. Fatty foods are a pain for insulin injecting diabetics as it affects the rate of absorption of sugar etc

It must be annoying not knowing what's going on and how it's going to be treated.

Some advice here on typical take always with some healthier options

Eating out with GD

I occasionally eat fish and chips but then I control with insulin which in some ways makes it easier. Maybe pull the batter off and have it with peas instead of chips.

There are some quite good Chinese options if you have a look at that link.

Some of the things that worked for me, when I had gestational diabetes, were things like:

• frittata, made with brown rice, eggs and veg, like peppers, green beans, spinach. Served with salad - no shop bought dressing, just olive oil and vinegar
• two slices of wholemeal toast with tuna mayonnaise made with lots of celery and peppers and crunchy veg. Toast bread, lay slices on plate and top with tuna mix, and then pile salad on top, with lots of cucumber and tomato. Drizzle olive oil and vinegar and salt and pepper

-baked salmon topped with pesto and served with cauliflower cheese.

• chicken baked in the oven with tomato and veg, served with brown rice and spinach
• chickpea and spinach curry, made with a bit of plain yoghurt and curry paste, served with a little brown rice

I now have type 2 diabetes, 10 years later, and I find that a low carb diet makes the biggest difference in controlling my blood sugar. I eat plenty of fat, which keeps me from getting hungry, and I have lost weight and also my cholesterol counts have gone down.

Good luck - you can do this!

With regards takeaways Chinese is risky but a chicken kebab was always fine! If you want chips with it just don't eat the pitta bread. Bagels with Philadelphia were ok for breakfast. If I was hungry at bedtime id have a glass of milk and it helped x

I love bagels, I assumed they were out of bounds! We don't eat alot of take aways, will just have to give the other half cookinglessons for when iv had baby, I don't know what 'quick' dinners are suitable yet as many seem to take a fair bit of preparation.

Does anyone have any suggestions on suitable snacks I can take to hospital with me when it comes to having baby ?

Some quick ideas:

• grill meats ( get a lean mean grilling machine!). You can always grill some extra in the evening with main meal, so there's some left for lunch the next day ( or evening)

• avocados and pre cooked beetroot ( not the vinegar one). Easy to just add to meat/ fish as above.

• batch make homemade soup. Can just microwave from frozen for lunch or dinner

Hmm I didn't have any snacks in labour and didn't want any. I had apple juice for if my sugar level dropped but that's it. I would go for something high protein though.

After I gave birth the first time I was so hungry I'd of eaten a limb if someone got too close lol! I'm so annoyed, I packed my favourite special k bars, some snack a jacks and some sweets along a couple of bottles of lucazade isotonic things. Although my partner said not to worry, if he gets hungry he will have them and let me know how enjoyable it all is! cheeky so and so.

I have a grilling machine, it's sat gathering dust, suppose I had better get using it again! And I made soup inn the past (love soup!) But when I reheated from frozen it went really watery :(

With soup I usually get it out in the morning and sit it in some warm water then heat it on the hob.

I had toast and pâté after having ds mmm although tbh you're going to be using a lot of energy.

DH has type 2. He limits total carbs and chooses low GI options.

I wouldn't worry about dairy. Butter has only trace amounts of carbs and cheese not much more. Milk contains lactose so best not to drink gallons of it but it's much lower carb than lots of other foods.

He eats avocados, cheese, boiled eggs or nuts for snacking. Check the packet on the nuts - macadamias and almonds are good, cashews not so great. Also dark chocolate is not too bad for an occasional treat. Lindt 85% cocoa is only 19% carbs and is low GI. They do a 90% one as well but we both found that a little too dark and bitter.

Quick meals - omelette and salad/green veg, stir fry with brown rice or wholemeal noodles.

One thing to remember about going 'no sugar' is that you're automatically cutting a lot of energy (calories) out of your diet. This is enough to make you feel hungry and reaching for quick-fix sweet snacks.

Others have suggested specific foods so I will recommend a 'style' of eating. Start with a good breakfast and aim to have either a light snack or a filling meal every two hours or so. Bulk everything out with lots of vegetables and high-fibre grains. Work in some protein and fat at each meal as this makes them more filling and satisfying. e.g. instead of just wholegrain toast, add some peanut butter. By eating/snacking regularly and having a good balance of fibre, fat and protein you won't get the same hunger pangs and you'll find sugary food less appealing.

I didn't really have any snacks during labour but found when we had visitors afterwards they all brought me things. A ham sandwich always did the trick if we were out and about as anywhere sells them and they were safe enough.