Gestational Diabetes

9 replies

Alleykat83 · 26/08/2017 20:19

Hi everyone, I'm 30 weeks pregnant and have just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Today is my 1st day recording my blood sugar level and I just want to ask for some advise. I have been told by my doctor to test my blood before breakfast, 1 hour after breakfast, 1 hour after lunch and 1 hour after dinner. My question is am I allowed to eat or drink anything after breakfast lunch or dinner in that 1 hour before I check my blood sugar level?

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purpleviolet1 · 26/08/2017 22:58

Hi, no you should try not to so you can see how your blood sugar reacts after your meals. Good luck! I was diagnosed with GD, and ended up on insulin once a day and 2 x Metformin. All was well though and despite baby measuring big, he was born on the 50th percentile and just
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Alleykat83 · 26/08/2017 23:55

Thanks purpleviolet1 👍

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LookImAHooman · 27/08/2017 12:32

Definitely one for your diabetic nurse or consultant, tbf - it can be a very individual thing. I can hypo if I don't snack (have GD and am on insulin) and have had a slapped wrist even before being on insulin if I missed a routine snack. It's about keeping your levels stable and avoiding massive peaks and troughs. Personally, I'd also find it hard to take in sufficient calories at this stage without snacking. I would ring your team on Tuesday and ask them based on your own readings and circumstances.

purpleviolet1 · 27/08/2017 13:13

Good point - I guess initially OP will need readings to see how body is coping and then they will be able to advise accordingly. From OP it sounds as if it's a new diagnosis and being controlled by diet just now

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Alleykat83 · 27/08/2017 13:27

Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes, at the moment I don't have any medication just cutting out the sugar in my diet. So far my readings have been good, so hopefully I won't need to go on to medication. I think I will just try to go the hour without snacks, I'm sure I'll be fine with it once I get use to it. Like yesterday i made a coffee with my breakfast but by the time I drink it it was about half way through the hour and it didn't occur to me at the time that it would affect my blood sugar but I suppose it would, even though my reading was within the limits...

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Calmanglass · 27/08/2017 13:28

Get yourself onto the gestational diabetes UK facebook group... invaluable.

LookImAHooman · 27/08/2017 19:54

Oh, gosh, I'm a twat and missed a bit of your OP. Sorry! No - once you're timing the hour, you shouldn't be eating more until after you've done your reading or you'll skew it. Timing should start from the end point of the meal.

Original poster

Alleykat83 · 27/08/2017 20:03

Thanks so much for all the replies. I'll make sure from now on I don't eat or drink until the hour is up. Thanks again :-)

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Calmanglass · 27/08/2017 20:49

You can drink.. in fact drinking water helps to lower blood sugars so can be helpful. Diet juice etc head no sugar so no impact on your levels. I guess to get a true level you wouldn't want to... say eat a slice of bread after twenty mins.. but you could certainly have protein so cheese, nuts, chicken if you felt hungry still.
Please please take the time to read the help on the gestational diabetes UK page. I had GD twice. The last time I was diagnosed at 9 weeks and managed to diet control until I gave birth naturally at 41 weeks. I couldn't have managed without that site as the advice was far superior to the diet advice issued by the hospital. Look at pairing and good fats. You can eat well and still keep sugars level...
You need to be in control and not 'scared ' to eat as the baby still needs carbs etc to grow.

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