Gestational diabetes daily readings

[Cupcakefairy12]

Hello, after some advice if anyone can help. I’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes almost 34 weeks pregnant. I test four times a day one hour after each meal with a target of 7.8 or less and first thing in morning before breakfast (fasting) with a target of 5.3. I’m below target for my 1 hour meal reading consistently but never the fasting reading. Always in the 6s. I wish to stay of medication if I can avoid it but completely at a loss as to how to bring this fasting one down. I’ve tried a snack before bed and it does nothing. Any tips please

I don't think you can. I'm on 2 Metformin a day and my fasting sugars are starting to rise again. All of my readings after my meals are fine as I walk after every meal and I drink plenty of water. I think the fasting ones are pretty much out of our control.

What kind of snack are you having before bed? A slow release carbohydrate is best from what I’ve read. Also, if you could do some light exercise an hour or so before bed (I’m presuming a walk or perhaps some prenatal yoga) that supposedly helps. I’m absolutely no expert though. Could you speak to someone in your health care team for advice?

It was the snack for me that helped. Think I had a slice of peanut butter on wholemeal toast right before bed. I ended up on metformin anyway in the end but there was no problem with it. Upset tummy for a couple of days and then it was fine.

Thank you for all your replies ☺️ I’m eating high fibre crackers with peanut butter before bed. I struggle with walking as have SPD but do try and be in my feet pottering around after each meal. Will speak to the diabetic nurses Monday. They told me to ring yesterday if my fasting levels were still high but being New Year’s Day and now the weekend they don’t work so couldn’t get hold of anyone. Thanks again x

Yeah you can't avoid it if it's fasting readings that are the problem really. I'm on metformin and insulting now and readings been perfect since. Diet control just doesn't work for some people no matter what they do. I was having to be really restrictive to even get anywhere near the post meal readings and I didn't have a chance with the fasting, the medication has made it so much easier to manage and allowed me to eat a bigger variety of food.

Hi @Cupcakefairy12 - I’m a type 1 diabetic (and also pregnant). Not sure if our bodies will be working similarly atm but for many diabetics blood sugars can rise in the morning (from around 4am) due to hormones. Google ‘dawn phenomenon diabetes’ and perhaps ask your nurse if this could affect you too? Dawn phenomenon affects all diabetics differently, but it could be why you are struggling to get your fasting bloods to 5.3. Btw 6s is totally fine from a health perspective. I’m psyched if I can get my morning reading between 4.5-7. And if your sugars are then below 7.8 for the next meal that’s great - I think that’s probably a lot better than the other way wrong (lower morning sugars and higher pre-meal sugars).

@Cupcakefairy12 other way around not wrong!

@Cupcakefairy12 not sure if you’ve been on the GD UK website but I found it invaluable - there’s a good section on high fasting readings here www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/high-fasting-levels/

I've had about 2 readings in target for fasting and I'm now 34wks.
Been on Metformin and Insulin since 14wks and it makes absolutely zero difference no matter what I eat/do. Consultant is happy to have them 5.5-6.5. If they increase the Insulin it just leads to hypos.

It’s the hardest one to control - don’t feel bad if you need medication.

I found that a walk after dinner (20 mins or so of brisk walking) helped, but even with that I ended up taking 2 metformin to bring them down. If that’s not possible because of your SPD then don’t stress yourself - diabetes medicines are amazingly effective and will help keep your baby well if necessary.

Like you, my daytime readings are all really good, but it's the fasting readings that go haywire. Like previous posters have said, that's the one you can't control.

I'm on the max dose of metformin and also injecting insulin and STILL not getting my fasting readings spot on every day. And I'm being VERY good with what I eat.

As a veggie I'm finding what I eat to be quite restrictive as my protein and fat sources are mainly cheese, eggs and nuts and it gets quite boring after a while. But not long to go (and looking forward to some milk chocolate after the birth!)