GTT/GD and diet concerns

[Deliaskis]

Hi there,

Just went for 20 week scan yesterday (which was fine), but as my BMI is high (well it was before pregnancy, I've not put much new weight on), I've been flagged for the glucose tolerance test at 28 weeks.

It's almost two months away and I'm a bit concerned that there maybe should be stuff I should be doing now to make sure both me and baby are healthy. Is there anyone with any experience of this who would be willing to look at my typical day's food and check there is nothing ridiculous on there (I just mean I'll post it here, don't need to PM or anything)? I know it's not going to directly affect the GTT and I'm not asking for medical advice, just thought people with experience of this might be able to give a broad idea of 'looks generally OK' or 'watch x y or z cos that's what pops my numbers up'.

Sorry if this is inappropriate - I know you won't be giving medical advice as such, I just feel like two months is a long time to wait and if there are things I could be changing now to stay healthy then I would do.

D

I had a GTT in 2 of my pregnancies due to high BMI and also having big babies. It can help to follow a low GI diet in terms of managing glucose levels and exercise is great and ensuring that your body uses insulin more efficiently. If you google diabetes, I think it is diabetes uk that have good advice on diet and what you should be eating.
Having said that the majority of GTT's come back as normal so try not to worry and also if it comes back as being a problem you will be given assistance to manage it. Good luck.

Hiya, I have GD and basically you need to follow a low GI diet - cut down your carb intake, and try to eat as few sugary things as possible. Anything with a "Carbohydrate of which sugars" amount of 10g or less per 100g is usually okay.

Swap white bread for soya & linseed, or multigrain/wholegrain.
Eat sweet potatoes or skin-on baby new potatoes instead of others, and only a small amount.
Basmati rice instead of other types.
Increase the amount of veg you eat with all your meals
With GD it is often best to eat small meals but often, so small brekkie plus snack at 10.30, then small lunch and a snack mid afternoon. Snacks that are good are Oat cakes with cheese, handful of nuts, olives.

If you can follow that diet for now, until you know if you have GD, it will definitely be healthier for you and baby. Just be careful not to cut out carbs altogether, that can be dangerous, you dont want to follow an Atkins style diet!

Hope that helps - good luck.

I had GD with DS 1 and am hoping to avoid it this time round. You need to really read packets because things you think will be ok aren't. NO cereal except porridge and weetabix is low enough in sugar. I found white carbs were more a problem then chocolate and cake weirdly ( in moderation obviously). Also watch out for sugar in drinks - the non alcoholic grown up drinks like Schloer and Ame are full of it. Yoghurts also. generally you want to go for the regular fat versions of things as the low fat ones have more sugar. I lost 1/2 stone in the middle of my pregnancy last time and was back to pre pg weight within about 3 weeks of birth so it does have an upside! (Though I was overweight before so not THAT good)

Thanks both, I think I am just feeling like 2 months to wait is a long time.

I think diet wise I'm pretty much OK anyway, always wholegrain bread (max 3 slices a day, sometimes 2), basmati rice, loads of veg etc. Will try and swap jackets and mash for new pots where poss. I suppose I'm a little worried that the sugars in the fruit I'm eating might pop a red flag. I usually have an apple and a banana each day (one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon), and a glass of orange juice with breakfast, so I suppose they might not be great. I don't really have any cake/biscuits/pop/sweets etc. apart from a couple of squares of v dark chocolate in the evening.

Thanks anyway, I think I'm not doing that much wrong, so will have to wait for the GTT to see if I'm OK.

Ta
D

Ta also Trixie, that's helpful too. I don't eat any breakfast cereals really so that's not a prob, and mainly drink water so I don't think that's likely to be a prob, alhtough hadn't thought about yoghurts so will keep an eye on them (only have one or two a week though). I do have white pasta (as can't stand wholemeal) but not more than twice a week and am watching quantities as it's actually portion size that is usually the main issue with my weight, and I have been so paranoid about not eating for 2 that I have probably been more watchful of portions than normal.

Thanks
D

Just to say, that you can't give yourself gestational diabetes. One of the reasons they don't test you until 28 weeks is because it is in the last trimester that insulin production starts going a bit haywire, and that is when most women will develop GD for the first time (if you have had it in a previous pregnancy, they will check you more often earlier). So although they could test you now, they would need to test again at 28 weeks. Also, they do check for glucose in urine at each midwife appointment, so they are keeping an eye on things to some degree!

Also just to say, my dietican said that we should go for the low fat yoghurts because they have sweetner rather than actual sugar. I eat loads of them at the moment because they are one of the few snacks (aside from nuts) which I find easy!

So a low GI diet is a really healthy way to eat, so if you want to make some changes, do, but don't cut out carbs completely.

Good luck, and don't worry about you doing the wrong thing. It sounds like you eat healthily anyway.