Gestational diabetes and long term diet

[soontobeamum1982]

After about 18 weeks of repeat tests, i've finally been diagnosed with gestational diabetes at almost 34 weeks.

I'm nervous about the next few weeks but will v strict and follow the diet and do everything the consultant says... just hope I don't end up on medication.

Has anyone got any advice about managing GD? Any positive/reasonable stories? I'm so scared of a late stillbirth as a good friend went through it earlier this year.

I've also just read this means I'll be at long term risk of type 2 diabetes, which I really want to avoid. I don't really have a bad diet but there's definitely room for improvement, but I feel like because I have loads of food allergies (to pulses) and because OH is vegetarian we will literally never eat a meal together again. We definitely over-rely on carb based foods for meals that we eat together.

I'm sure that sounds silly but I just feel really overwhelmed by it all. Would welcomed any advice from someone who has been through GD.

I am also worried

I had gd with dd2 now almost 10 months and have been diagnosed as pre diabetic.
Since having dd2 I've had 3 blood tests for various reasons which show I'm steadily getting worse quite quickly, this is partly diet related it's not as good as it could be but I am also overweight and have been for a while which isn't helping.

Have you joined the Facebook group for gd? I found it immensely helpful lots of support and advice about diet

My whole family have changed our diet as we realised we were eating too much of the wrong things but I also have Intolerances to dairy wheat and pulses which limits my meals more

During pregnancy I managed to control it with diet alone till 36 weeks then metiformin for just over a week till dd2 arrived a little early it's tough but doable.

The rest of our story isn't as positive so I won't add it but I'm happy to answer as many questions as I can

Thank you for this - I have now found and joined the GD website. Following the diet has kept my numbers good so far, and the midwife said today that she thought I might be able to make it to the end without medication, but I'm only 34 weeks so we'll see.

I had GD with ds my first pregnancy, followed strict diet and exercised and kept my blood sugar levels steady from 28 weeks. Consultant still insisted on prescribing metformin which I refused. I was booked for induction at 37 weeks then changed to 38 weeks I went into Labour naturally at 36+4 without any complications apart from a baby with low birth weight which although small was healthy and thrived. I had dd1 12 months later and had no GD in that pregnancy, tested monthly and gtt test readings ranging from 4.8 to 5.1. I am currently 34 weeks with dd2 18mths later and again no GD and monthly gtt tests with the same results. I am still overweight but steadily losing it and will resume once baby is here with diet and exercise. I am aware of the increased risk of type 2 diabetes and will be doing all to avoid it. I felt devastated when diagnosed, like I had failed and my consultant was less than helpful when I refused my metformin. Try and relax and enjoy your last weeks of pregnancy, follow a good diet, gentle exercise helps straight after eating, I found walks helped to burn the execess sugars after eating. It was trial and error finding foods that didn't send my sugars high as what works for some doesn't always follow for you. Eating lots of leafy veg, high protein, works but I also managed to eat wholewheat pasta as long as it was with veg and protein. I did have a great midwife at my consultant appointments who would also say that with the best will in the world sometimes you could try and manage Gd but it manages you for reasons they don't know. Good luck.

This might help x

www.diabetes.org.uk/Diabetes-the-basics/Gestational-diabetes/Diet-and-lifestyle/