Gestational diabetes anyone?

[AaaaaaarghhhWhereAreMyKeys]

Hi :-)

Have gone from failing my GTT test last Fri to needing insulin both before bed and before meals. I have cut out all obviously sugary foods, been careful about diet but my blood sugars are still ridiculously high (max 16 ). I started the insulin before lunch today and my after lunch reading was higher than it has been all week!

TBH it's becoming more and more of a minefield and was wondering if anyone else is going through similar?

have they given you any other diet advice? i have GD but it’s only come on in my last 4 weeks of pregnancy and i’m not on any treatment yet apart from diet control. i’ve noticed things that give me high readings are white carbs - pasta, bread etc, even higher than if i’ve had chocolate! and fruit - a couple of times i’ve had it with a meal (ie cereal and a banana for breakfast) sent my readings sky high too. it’s a bit of a mine field!

Hi. This is my 2nd GD pregnancy. I am 28 weeks and on insulin 3 times a day. The Gestational Diabetes UK website and fb page has been a massive help to me. I have had to massively reduce the amount of carbs in my diet. I cannot wait to be able to eat normally again.

Would really recommend the gestational diabetes UK website and particularly the Facebook group for support and help with diet.

I feel for you it's difficult but will be worth it xx

When I had GD (thankfully diet controlled) I found that carbs were my main issue. A small latte would put me over the limit, and latte and a cake would send my blood sugar rocketing. Even now I'm not pregnant and don't have GD I never have latte + cake, having seen what it does.

I followed a really low carb diet, tons and tons of vegetables. My only fruit was berries.

I've been through all this. What did you have for lunch?

I’ve had some dietary advice, been limiting carbs, eating fruit with meals only and avoiding obvious sugars - haven’t had anything remotely like cake :-(

Lunch today was one small brown roll with homous, lettuce & tomatoes. A natural yog and an apple.

I think I’ll try cutting out the fruit for a few days and have extra veg instead. Funnily enough, I wasn’t eating any sliced bread, wheat pasta etc before all this as I’ve always been funny with it so stuck to wraps, rice pasta, corn cakes etc. The diabetic midwife advised me to include it in my diet again but it obviously hasn’t helped!

The insulin worked this eve and my blood sugar was 7.1 so maybe lunchtime was just a blip - had been rushing around

Sorry OP I know it's not what you want to hear but a bread roll, a piece of fruit and a yoghurt are 3 sugary things and it's just too many carbs for one meal. You might be ok with one of those options with your meal but you only find out your limits through testing. It's harsh I know

Yep I agree, I’m a bit miffed as to why I was advised to start eating bread again when I was already avoiding it .

The yog was natural - not sure about the carbs in that one... I have so much to learn.

Will substitute corn cakes for the roll next time and see what happens.

It’s trial and error I suppose

Yoghurt is made from milk and milk is naturally sugary. So both will raise your sugar levels.

A small amount of whole grain bread may be ok if paired with protein such as meat and cheese. So your dietician wasn't wrong. White bread and probably brown bread will send your sugars sky high though, it has to be whole grain really.

Corn cakes are pure carbs so you need to avoid them too. Basically you need to question anything that isn't meat, fish, vegetables or nuts. You must avoid foods high in fat because they can raise your blood sugars too. You'll be eating a lot of soup and salad.

The GD UK Facebook group will help you so much and I really recommend you join it.

Add in more protein. That has been the only way I can balance my sugars. Are you veggie?
There wasn’t much protein in that lunch. I have to eat a solid amount of protein for each meal.

I'm a month on from diagnosis OP and also thoroughly recommend the GD uk Facebook page. The advice is very good and rather different from my dietician but my diabetes consultant is fully on board. You do need a small amount of good carbs, but I can only manage a couple of spoons of brown rice, 3 new potatoes or a slice of Burgen soya and linseed bread and only then if I have in a high fat high protein combo. Never eat a naked carb! So I'd have half a Lidl low GI roll with lots of cream cheese and smoked salmon plus salad, its hard to adjust to cream being good and fruit mostly bad, but it does help.

The other thing is to make sure you get ten minutes exercise after you eat. I can get my numbers down significantly with some energetic housework or a waddle round the green outside.

Thanks all.

So.....Reduce carbs even more, increase protein and fat and exercise after eating. Have been exercising a bit in the morning and also after lunch which sometimes seems to help but ONLY when combined with the right food.

Not veggie but I don't usually eat much meat so definitely need to up that. I can see I'm going to have to change my whole mindset towards what I eat. DP made homemade chicken kiev with loads of butter and minimal breadcrumbs - my levels were lower than the night before when we had grilled chicken.

I haven't seen a dietician yet, just a diabetic midwife and had a group session at the diabetes unit where they just dished out insulin. Have started a food diary to keep track of it all.

Loving that phrase 'Never eat a naked carb'. Oatibix seems to be a NoNo for me. As my blood sugar seems to spike after breakfast - it sounds like i need to switch to eggs, bacon etc. Any other ideas for a decent low carb brekkie?

I’m in exactly the same boat! I was diagnosed around 4 weeks ago and they’ve put me straight on insulin. Day and night.
Normally I’m vegan but I’ve had to suck it up and have eggs and cheese because lentils etc send my blood sugar rocketing. I’m really struggling to feed myself and the twins so it was just tough shit, they need food so my principles have gone on hold for the next few weeks. The diabetic nurse/dietitian have told me to try get some oatcakes or lentils in my diet but it’s definitely not helping me.
I feel like crap all of the time, and I have no idea why but my blood sugar is higher when I wake up than when I go to bed???
I’m mostly living on an egg/cheese based breakfast and vegetables for the rest of the day which seems to keep my blood sugar under 7. Also had a loaf of low carb bread from Ocado which is better than nothing when you desperately need a piece of toast.

@mumloovestoast your sugars could be higher in the morning that when you went to be due to the Somogyi effect. Basically a glycogen dump in the night.

That must be really hard with no meat or fish Toast. I've also found that oats are no good and also wholegrain bread even though the midwife told me they were .

I've also been feeling rubbish and so so tired. Am on Mat leave now and was planning on doing some serious organising and decorating but am only just getting the basics done. The insulin is helping though.

I think I'm going to have do do a lot more cooking from scratch. At least soup season is coming up :-)

Breakfast full fat yoghurt (plain) plus nuts and berries, Burgen bread and no sugar peanut butter, omelette, German style meat and cheese, smoked salmon and cream cheese. I can't do any cereal in the mornings where an oatcake with cheese is ok later in the day.

A lot of people have trouble with morning fasting levels Mumloves. Have a few nuts or some cheese / pepperami before bed it often helps.

Careful with soup. Well cooked/ puréed food can release sugars fast. Have a look at the GD UK site for ideas.

It's boring. But I'm already enjoying planning my post birth snacks! I've made so much amazing jam this month that I can't eat, a jar is defo coming with!

Thank you, I’ll read up on the Somogyi effect. The diabetic nurse just upped my dose of night time insulin. I’ve gone from 2 units to 12 in the space of a week and it’s done nothing. The daytime one seems ok.
I have my dinner quite late (DH gets in from work around 8-9pm) so I do normally have some cheese before bed.
Hopefully it all stops once I’ve had the twins, which is in about 26 days.

Definitely join the Gestation Diabetes UK Website and FB Page. So much excellent advice on there and even recipes and meal plans you can follow. Best thing I did since my diagnosis was joining the group and website and the GD brownies from the website are gorgeous!

Hi :-)

Just to update...I’ve now joined the website and Facebook group which has given me some really useful advice. Even though I’m still getting a few highs, especially in the eve after dinner, my levels are slowly dropping - fasting this morning was 4.5, wow! Can’t wait to try the brownie recipie.

Thanks for the advice

Toast, how are you doing?

So far meals with eggs have given me the best readings although I’ve had to have a break for a few days.

The best brekkie I’ve found that works for me is yeo valley full-fat Greek yog, almonds, hazelnut and a few raspberries and blueberries - it’s delicious and surprisingly filling.

At least you’ve not got long now, less than 4 weeks. I’ve still got a few months to go 🤨

Hiya 😊

I’m getting so fed up of it now. 18 days to go!!!!! I asked the nurse about the Somogyi effect and she said it’s not that, it’s just whatever the babies are doing and they’ll have to keep upping my insulin until they’re born. My ketones are up and my midwife says that’s why I feel so rubbish.
Currently on 18 units at night. Still have no idea what to eat, terrified I’m gonna have to eat meat just to keep the three of us reasonably balanced. I can’t even get down the stairs at the min thanks to SPD so I’m completely reliant on whatever food DH brings me.
Yesterday I had halloumi with chimichuri seasoning on, it was really nice, but again, only so much cheese I can eat, especially when I don’t want to eat it.

You’re getting good fasting readings, I’m well impressed!