Gestational diabetes snacks

[mum2bemay22]

Just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Haven’t been able to see the dietician yet until Wednesday. I’m sooo hungry and would love some snack ideas that are low GI. Any help ladies?

I'm interested to know this too.

How many weeks are you op? Is everything ok with baby? I only ask because I'm due to have a GTT in a few weeks and I'm worried about having gestational diabetes.

Nuts? Cooked meats? Houmous and veg?

Cheese?

I’m 31 weeks, I was only diagnosed with GD last Wednesday. My midwife wasn’t going to send me for a diabetic check and it was only because I went in with reduced movements that the Dr sent me for a growth scan and we found baby too big that I ended up being tested so I’m rather grateful I had reduced movements that day otherwise I’d have been none the wiser and that’s when it posses a risk to baby!
I really wouldn’t worry, I was very upset when I found out I had it but on the flip side, how wonderful is it that you are monitored so closely and you get to see your baby every other week on the screen and someone is there to help you every step of the way. I believe I’ll be induced so I get to meet baby early, I’m just hoping and praying that I don’t have to have a c section. Good luck and whatever the outcome, it will all be ok ☺️

Olives
Pork scratchings
Berries low in sugar e.g. Blackberries and raspberries

Pork scratchings? Really! I love them! This would be the best news ever!

Yeah they basically have no carbs! I have type 1 diabetes and am on my second pregnancy so I have scoured the universe for indulgent low carb snacks

However I guess you can't go mad as they're high in salt and saturated fat

However, you don't have to eat only zero carb snacks- with decent portion control you can eat popcorn, the odd biscuit etc. I had a good sheet once from my dietician which listed loads of snacks which were 10g of carb or less. Afraid I lost it, BUT I do recall that one of the snacks was a bag of WOTSITS! The things I struggle with though is portion control, so for me it is easier to just have no biscuits at all around the place, as if I can only have one, I figure what's the point

For snacks you can have anything that is 15g total carbohydrate or less, preferably low GI carbs (think wholegrain, seeded, or less sweet fruit). So that might be a couple of wholegrain seeded ryvita, or a couple of oatcakes, or one thin/medium slice of wholegrain seeded bread (soy and linseed is good) with low fat cream cheese or half an avocado and cucumber/tomato/smoked salmon/ham on top, or a couple tablespoons of a nut butter of your choice. Or one small low fat yogurt (the Scandinavian skyr yogurts that are high in protein are a good option). Or one piece of fruit (max 3 pieces a day) but avoid melon/watermelon/dates/very ripe bananas which are high GI. A small handful of nuts is good, or a boiled egg, or a bit of low fat cheese like light babybel because they have virtually no carbs in them at all. Light hummus or a bean dip with crudités is also a good option but don't go mad on the hummus because they're quite oily and can be very calorific, even the light options. If you're having something in a packet, just check it has less than 15g total carbs (the bigger carb number, not the "carbs that sugars" number) and you should be fine as long as you're not regularly having white, refined flour products and you team it with something that has fat/protein. I'm a trained dietitian btw, so the dietitian you see will likely tell you very similar but will work with you to tailor snack ideas to your tastes and current diet, and to your blood sugars if you're monitoring them. Avoid fruit juice/smoothies/full sugar drinks like the plague because they will shoot your blood sugars up and won't satisfy your hunger. Hope that helps a bit!

Nuts
Cheese
Salami
Avocado
Yoghurt (full fat, and check sugar content if flavoured)
Cold chicken or pork - we used to do a roast on sundays and the leftovers gave great snacks
Pearl barley cooked in stock

Oatcakes and peanut butter.

Porridge with cream

Google the Brewer diet for GD - specially designed for GD.

Check out gestationaldiabetes.co.uk - it's been my saviour!

Nature Valley make protein bars with a bit of chocolate or salted caramel which are good, and I love the graze cocoa and vanilla flapjacks, and nuts are always good 😊