Blood sugar readings need help sos!!

[HanDawson]

Hi guys! Just wondering if you can help..I was given a blood monitor to test my bloods 4 times a day as LO is on the larger side 5lb12oz estimated at 34 weeks. I s bedn doing them for about 10 days now. Have seen the dietician and have a follow up friday with the gestational diabetes nurse. I'm really hoping that with diet and exercise I wont needs medication. Sorry to waffle but basically I just wondered how high the readings need to be to go on meds? My highest was 7 tight at the beginning after pasta bake before I had much info. Out of 40 readings I've had 8 above the target or on target and when they've been higher they've only been for instance 6.5 or 6.7 after meals and my fasting mornings ones 5.3 the target or 5.4.....do you think I'll be put on meds? Thanks any info is massively appreciated xxx

Possibly. We were told to call the clinic if have any pattern above target or 3 consecutive above target. Your fasting ones do seem high.
I’m diet controlled only but have had less than 10 high readings in total since 28 weeks (now nearly 38).
Are you properly following the diet though? Pasta bake isn’t something to eat! If you are being super strict and still missing target this does suggest you will need medication-if you aren’t being strict enough though then if you sort diet out you might avoid it.

I'm not sure if its any different for screening for gestational diabetes but in general I would say those readings were ok and I would doubt that they would put you on any medication for the readings you have been getting. I may be wrong though.

I'm confused about your targets? My fasting bloods need to be below 5.3 and below 7.8 one hour after meals? All your readings seem fine to me unless I've misread your post!

I had pasta bake the day they gave me the monitor with no info... so that was my first high reading and have steered clear since after doing alot of my own research...no pasta or rice at all..walking after each meal. Ive been trying to balance carbs if I have them with protein and fats so sugar is released slower. Eating granary bread..only small loaf..oatcakes..porridge for breakfast. Berries as a snack as low gi. I'm doing everything I can...no fizzy drinks..or fruit juice..I live on water. I'm just worried it will affect the baby. Xxx

So what have your readings for the last 5 days looked like? When are you due back in clinic?

Here’s my last lot-the 8.2 was due to a couple of drinks I had when out, so I know exactly what caused that spike.
I’ve been signed off from clinic now as only 18 days left until induction. But they are happy that my readings with the growth scans are fine.

At my clinic they particularly don’t like high fasting readings and are most likely to medicate for that. I only had 1 fasting above target in 10 weeks and that was 5.4

Please try not to worry. You’ll get the hang of eating carefully and as your readings are not really high, hopefully you can avoid medication.

I’m afraid the NHS diet advice for gestational diabetes is terrible. Most women with GD struggle to tolerate carbs in the morning especially so cereal and toast is a bad idea.

You need to eat more proteins and fat to balance out the carbs. Don’t cut carbs completely as you do need them.

For example for breakfast you could try one piece of seeded bread with real butter, a plain Greek yoghurt and some nuts or a bit of cheese.

I was always ok with more bread at lunchtime so a cheese and ham toastie worked for me.

Look up the Gestational Diabetes website and join their Facebook page. The advice on there is brilliant.

Feel free to pm me if you want to talk about it. I was so upset when I was diagnosed but it’s ok when you get the hang of what to eat x

The readings you have posted look fine but its hard to comment without knowing what you have eaten. For example, 4.9 might be ok after a plain chicken salad but if it was after a jacket potato and baked beans it's possible you peaked and crashed.

Did you do the glucose tolerance test?

Three readings of 7.8 (the cut off one hour after a meal) and it's medication, I was told. Join Gestational Diabetes UK Mums on Facebook- they're so ahead of the game GD diet wise- the NHS really needs to learn a thing or two from them. The basic mantras are: never a naked carb, pair a carb with protein and fats, drink plenty of water and exercise.

@Teakind I think the NHS support is variable, it was actually excellent here, but the hospital I am at has a specialist Diabetic unit and the advice given pretty much matched Gestational Diabetes UK. But I know it is dire in some areas. It is a lottery.
I was also well informed before diagnosis as grew up in a type 2 household.

OP- I’m pleased that my scans are fine (just under 50th centile) as I have added risk factor of being over 40 so being induced on EDD anyway. Hopefully baby will have stable sugars at birth, that’s my main concern.

I’ve found the GD very easy to control but have been pretty ruthless with it, I didn’t tolerate most bread at all until 36 weeks but protein seeded bagel thins were ok if paired with fat and additional protein. Oats were terrible though, even oatcakes which are often well tolerated. You find a way though!
I’m almost 38 weeks and I can eat far more carbs than before, I am being braver as I started to lose weight so have been encouraged to eat more. I’d put on 13lbs since booking appointment, but last clinic I had lost some again (despite baby gaining normally) and they wanted to keep it level.

As I said though, local to me those with consistently high fasting readings usually end up medicated. I’d give them a call if you don’t have an appointment soon.

@megan yes you are right. It seems to vary massively. I was told some people can tolerate a whole mars bar, others just half!! Crazy advice really and that was from the diabetic midwife. Needless to say I didn’t attempt any amount of mars bar.

Hi please don't worry. Normal blood sugar is supposed to be between 4 and 8 so yours sound pretty good. It can go slightly higher after a carb heavy meal but staying under 8 is better . In the morning between 4.5 and 5.5 is ideal before breakfast. Good luck with your pregnancy

Morning guys..heres my readings..I've been told to check mine 2 hours after every meal so the fasting ones should be below 5.3 and the other columns below 6.4. Oh one of the fasting readings was all to pot...dodgy strips so ignore that one. I'm seeing the diabetic nurse on Friday...I had my gtt at 28 weeks which was normal...this only came about because I needed an extra scan at 34 weeks to check the position of the succenturiate lobe I have...that was all fine but baby is above the 90th centile so I'd be looking at a 9lb baby if I went full term...plan is to be induced 39-40 weeks regardless but I have another scan 4th sept to check babies growth and see what happens. I know plenty of people give birth to larger babies i just really dont want my sugars to be affecting the LO.
After breakfast and lunch i seem to be ok it's just having ideas for evening meals I'm struggling with ...I'm being so strict i wont eat any cake chocolate crisps..i i gave squash i put the tiniest bit in and that's only once a day if that. Xxxx

I have mostly salad for dinner with lean meat/fish. Really big, interesting salads with grilled chicken, steak, burgers not in a bun -that sort of thing. Gets a bit boring but consistently gives me good readings.
Or creamy type sauces with chicken etc and veg.

Those readings aren’t bad at all really, I don’t think you need to worry too much, just wait until they review at clinic.

I’m counting down the days until I can stuff my face with cake and chips, I’ve been so good but utterly fed up with it now. My snack bag for post birth is a sugar fest.