is there is gestational diabetes thread?

[PeppaPigStinks]

I need some advice - just got the call. Although it's no surprise really I have it!

I'm needle phobic so this is going to work well!

I've never really cracked buying lunch out tbh. I just took my lunch to work every day instead, and now I'm on maternity leave I mostly eat at home. It has been the biggest pain in the arse about the whole thing. Pret a Manger have some salads and soups that are OK options, but most lunches on the go are so heavily bread focused that it is hard.

Snacks are a good idea by the way - it helps to keep your levels stable if you eat little and often. Lots of ideas for suitable things here: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk

Nuts and cheese will become your best friends!

Thank you!

Hi- I was diagnosed on Monday and have had one hell of a roller coaster week.
PM me if you want anothet newbie and we can muddle through together

Argh izzy82 - are you ok?
How many weeks are you?

I'm 27 weeks.
If I'm Honest, I'm a little embarrassed about the whole thing. I know it's because I'm overweight... I haven't told anyone in real life yet, not even husband.
It's given me a proper wake up call though.

I know what you mean izzy. Weight is only one factor though. I am overweight too, and felt so incredibly guilty. But I've met numerous women with GD at my clinic who aren't overweight at all - it isn't as straightforward as "you've caused this by eating cakes you greedy cow".

Aww Izzy, tell your husband so he can support you. I know what you mean about it feeling embarrassing but we shouldn't feel that way. My husband's family keep referring to it as my diabetes, no it's gestational diabetes!!!

Izzy it isn't like that at all. I am not exactly a skinny min but I have a normal bmi. You really need to tell your husband so he can help you and support you.

I've had mixed reactions. My colleague first said "well I am not surprised if you eat sugar puffs" (I leaked it was one of my pregnancy cravings) to some people saying they are surprised as I eat so well.

My family is riddled with type two - i knew my turn was only a ticking time bomb but wasn't expecting it now

I am struggling with no sweet stuff though.

Can I ask about snacks please? So... The nurse I saw at the clinic yesterday said for snacks I could have a portion of whatever as long as it had carbs (total carbs, not the break down bit) of no more than 20g. She said a 2 finger kit Kat is less than this. I've been looking through my kitchen and have discovered that if I go by that rule I could have a small glass of chocolate milk or a small ice cream Mars for example. How many of these type of treat/naughty snacks could/should you have in one day? Obviously I know that having a carrot with hummus etc is a better option but if I'm 'allowed' treats then I'd like to use them! I'm a recovering chocoholic.
TIA

Yes, I'm struggling with no sweet stuff too. Turns out my post diagnosis diet was even more shocking than i thought - nearly everything i bought to eat was wrong! We've had a cupboard overhaul.
Struggling with snacking though

I would be really wary of snacks like that seven. To be honest a lot of the dietary advice given at hospitals isn't very good, and sometimes applies more to other types of diabetes than to gestational diabetes, which can be a bit weird. For snacks I mainly eat things like:

Veg sticks and hummus
Olives and feta
Cheese
Nuts
Granny Smith apples with peanut butter
Cold meats
Very small amounts of dark chocolate, paired with nuts.
No added sugar jelly pots.

I had a big sweet tooth as well, and I found the best thing to do really was to try and do without as much as possible. The initial sugar withdrawal was a bit grim, but it didn't last long. It's not forever, you can have these things after the baby is born (although I am keen to modify my diet as much as possible afterwards, to hopefully minimise the risk of type 2 as much as I can).

Broadly speaking I have found that the best thing to do is to go with a low-ish carb, high fat and protein approach. Some carbs with every meal, but brown complex ones, and not massive amounts. I've swapped to Burgen soya and linseed bread, brown rice, wholemeal pasta, etc. I've been very lucky, as I have remained able to tolerate most carbohydrates. Some women find that they are fine with , say, brown rice, but get terrible readings from pasta, or potatoes. It's trial and error really.

As for the high fat: as an overweight person I have struggled a bit to get my head around eating tonnes of cheese, and sauces made with double cream. However, it works. My consultant has said that my post meal levels are really, really well controlled: I am on insulin now for my fasting levels, which are harder to do anything about. My overall average glucose level is now "basically normal".

I also have put on very little weight: at almost 38 weeks I weigh 3lb more than I did at booking in. This is at no detriment to baby, who is showing as average size on growth scans and is healthy and well.

I've basically given up eating anything out of the house that I haven't made myself, I just don't trust that it won't have added sugar as so many unlikely things do. It's not ideal but then my social life isn't what it once was! I'm going out tonight and hoping some plain fish and potatoes will work, Asian restaurants are a nightmare as everything has added sugar and I can't even contemplate pasta or pizza.
I haven't told many people, DH knows and my NCT friends but no family or work. I don't want to have to deal with the judgemental looks that I've caused it myself by eating too much sugary stuff even though I'm not overweight or have any family history of type 2. I keep adding back in a few carbs to test them and then being worried I've got too cocky after a few low readings. I tried a bit of plain rice last night which seemed ok and this morning went wild and had a whole slice of Rye bread . We'll see if I regret that! Snacks so far are cheese, yoghurt, avocado, a bit of fruit, prawns, smoked salmon etc. I'm a total chocoholic too and have had to go cold turkey on it, stopping at one piece has never been my strong point!

Thanks both, that's really helpful. Ok, I need to stop with the nice treats . So far my readings have been good except my after breakfast one where I had a small bowl of bran flakes with skimmed milk, about 50ml of cranberry juice light (I'm on iron tabs so this helps them absorb) and an actimel probiotic drink. I think tomorrow I'll miss out the cranberry and actimel to see how that goes or to be honest I might just try to ask in case it was the bran flakes! It's so hard to know what will give you a high reading.

Could be any of those things really! A lot of people really really struggle with cereal, and cranberry juice light probably has a fair bit of added sugar. When I saw the dietician she did say small amounts of fruit juice would be OK, but really it's pure sugar and so quick to absorb I kind of felt it's asking for trouble! Protein is usually better at breakfast - eggs, cheese, meat, full fat Greek yoghurt, nuts - that kind of thing.

I'd avoid Bran Flakes, they have loads of sugar in them. Is the Actimel natural or flavoured? Natural yoghurt is usually
ok but flavoured ones often have loads of sugar too. I'm having eggs for breakfast which is a nice treat but a bit if a faff in the mornings.
Beware it's supposed to get gradually worse until 36 weeks too so what seems ok now might not be later on. It's very frustrating!

Thanks both. Ok sounds like my breakfast was a poor choice! It was a strawberry actimel probiotic drink thing but I won't have one tomorrow. My lunch and dinner readings have also been high (both 8.3). Tomorrow I will have egg and toast so hopefully it will be a better day! I've felt like crap all day. I'm 38 plus 3 and only have until Wednesday when I'm having my caesarean. I would love for the last couple of days before she arrives to be 'healthy' days. I'm also trying to express colostrum but so far nothing!

I feel for women who are diagnosed so late: in a sense at least you don't have to do it for long, but you are never going to get the opportunity to get on top of it in less than a week! It's just a big stress for you. The main benefit to such a late diagnosis is probably earlier testing in any subsequent pregnancy.

Youandme - I was only tested as my previous birth was shoulder dystocia and a ten and half pound baby (two weeks over). I feel sick to the core knowing what I do now - I clearly had it in my previous pregnancy.

Seven201 - I have a friend who is diabetic and you will be amazed how much sugar is in everything.

Have you seen the sugar smart app? That's a real eye opener!! Sugar is shoe horned into everything we eat.

I'm still pretty pissed off that I wasn't tested earlier as I had a number of indicators. Oh well, nothing I can do to change that now. No I haven't seen the sugar smart app, I'll take a look, thanks.

I really recommend the book 'Real Food for Gestational Diabetes'. I managed to remain diet controlled through two pregnancies following its principles (agree NHS advice can be a little bit off). I ate quite a lot of no added sugar chocolate this time around, but I was desperate for a treat after the toddler was in bed!

Gosh Seven I didn't realise you're so close! Good luck for Wednesday!

Thanks trouser!

I thought I'd just share my experience of colostrum collection. You probably all know this but it's good to freeze some colostrum if you're having a 'sugar baby' and as I'm on labetalol (for high blood pressure) it's extra helpful. Something to do with baby's first feed being colostrum (rather than formula) to help regulate insulin levels as they're used to getting a bit too much sugar from us (I might be wrong on the specifics)! So... I only got told about this on Friday and as I'm having a c-section on Wednesday this isn't much notice as it can take a while to build up a supply. I googled and bought some syringes from a pharmacy and tried hand expressing with no luck. Today I went to see the express expert at my hospital and she showed my how to do it and gave me more syringes. I still had no luck but then I thought sod it I will buy a manual pump and try that way. It worked! For colostrum you don't collect it in the pump you just use it to get the bead of colostrum on the nipple then suck it up onto a syringe. I just thought I'd share in case anyone is trying hand expressing and struggling. I've only collected 0.25ml so far (one session) so I know it's not loads but every little counts and hopefully my supply will pick up a bit.

Unlike yesterday my levels have been good so far so I'm having a good day finally!

That's great news and Good info ref the colostrum.

I've bf my other two children and have never mastered hand expressing

How is everyone doing?