The GD thread for the GD Ladies… Take 2

[CherLW]

Ladies I started another thread as we are so close to the original one being full!! I need this thread and all you lovely people xx

Hey ladies hope you don’t mind me gatecrashing!
I’m 25 weeks today and just found out I have GD. I’ve been and picked up my monitor etc but just feel so overwhelmed. Any advice or tips on how to get into the hang of this quickly?

Welcome @Robyn101

Try not to stress too much, its shit to hear but onve you get the hang of what you can and cant eat it gets easier. I'd use the next couple of weeks to test out what raises your blood sugars and try not to worry if you get a few high readings, its a learning curve to start. Try to pair carbs with fats, for a few of us full fat is the way forwards, lower fat things dont have as good of an influence on the readings. Eggs are your friend so omelettes with veg or proteins are good for a quick filling meal. Hopefully theres a few things to start you off, and feel free to ask anything here, oh and read through the first thread for GD ladies, theres loads of info in there too! X

Oh my goodness!! @Sillysocks998 how exciting!! I can not wait for updates!! I also can’t believe that it’s started, the September group is underway for births!! Thinking of you!! X

Best of luck @Sillysocks998! Keep us posted.

Funnily enough my husband happened to ask about my hospital bag today. I have almost everything for it, just not actually packed it. Also have nowhere to store it until it's needed so have been putting it off!

I got told by my gd midwife today to start taking 2 metformin tablets in the evening as I've had some high dinner & fasting readings recently.
Admittedly I had a medium sized jacket potato for dinner, but I had cheese, full fat coleslaw, salad & ham with it. Took my 2 tablets & still came in at 7.8 exactly 😩
I also had a chicken sandwich on 400g wholemeal bread for lunch, along with a chicken wing & plum tomatoes, and had a high reading for lunch. Even though apart from the filling I had exactly the same yesterday & had a reasonable reading.
I'm really struggling with what to eat for dinner now, feel like I have so few options that I actually like & one of them is salmon that I can only eat twice a week!!

@GWhiteley do you like omelettes? Or bacon, scrambled egg and tomatoes? Or my staple, boring go to is a chicken leg or breast with veg. If i havent had much carbs that day ill have it with three new potatoes whereas if ive had higher readings at lunch ill leave them out.

@Scotti84 I don't mind an omelette at lunchtime, but wouldn't have one for dinner to be honest.

To be honest, my normal breakkies lunches and dinners have gone out the window. I'm managing to keep well in targets but only because ive found what foods work and i just rotate them as i feel, if ive had a day where lunch was a bit higher ill just have Yoghurt and nuts later on. My doc also told me to eat 6 small meals through the day as that keeps things more even, i do find it hard, and often stop at 4, but it really does keep the levels in control.

@Scotti84 Thankyou for the welcome. I think first stop is hiding all the nice sweet treats in the house and doing a GD friendly shop

Does anyone have any absolute staples or nicer treats that work?

Morning, I had my first hypo last night, felt really quite poorly and wasn't sure what was going on when I was trying to sleep. Finally it crossed my mind to check my sugars and they were 3.8 which due to being on insulin is too low and most likely the cause of feeling so rough. Took two lots of sweets and half and hour to raise them before I felt well enough to try and sleep again. So pleased I didn't just try and sleep it off! Don't overlook the possibility you're sugars could be too low and make sure anyone who lives with you knows to prompt you into checking if you're moaning about feeling unwell.

Woke up feeling fine this morning and a good fasting reading.

@Robyn101 hi and welcome. Everyone's tolerances and ideas of a treat will vary but I loooove a small 200ml bottle of yazoo chocolate milk shake, I usually have some cheese and pepparami or similar first to pair it and then finish with the sweet cold chocolate milk....

I also have adapted to just eating 2 or 4 squares of chocolate depending on what it is. Freddy bars work well.

Basically I stick to 10 carbs or lower in my treat and always pair with a fat and protein.

Totally agree @Bubbles1st. I've had two hypos. The first time was before bed and I didn't recognise it. I just kept saying I didn't feel right, over and over again. It was my husband who suggested I check my blood as it could be a hypo. It was and I followed their advice of 4 jelly babies and some toast and felt better. I was glad my husband realised what it could be as I tempted just to go to bed. I realised the next time as I knew how it felt.
Glad you're ok now @Bubbles1st xx

Hi guys hope it's ok if I join? Just had the phone call I was dreading to say I have GD. I did half expect it but I'm just terrified & can't stop crying. This is my first pregnancy to get past 6 weeks after 10 years TTC & I'm so scared about what could happen. I've looked on the GD website to give me an idea of what to expect but I'm honestly just so gutted.

@Bubbles1st and @AdventuresAwait, when you both say you just didn’t feel right before taking your levels and realising you were having hypos can I ask what you mean by ‘not feeling right’?

Only a couple of days ago I felt really off, couldn’t put my finger on it and stupidly it didn’t even cross my mind to test so I guess I’ll never know if a hypo was the cause. But would be useful to know what others’ symptoms of a hypo were!

Will definitely make sure I test if I feel like it again!

@Moominmiss, I felt a bit light headed and the best way I could describe it was a bit 'spaced out'. I felt hot but didn't have a temperature and was a bit shaky. I got a bit anxious and teary, and said a few times "I just don't feel right". It was a definite different feeling than I'd had before. The second time I knew what it was. I then felt fine really quickly after the sweets and toast so was able to take my evening insulin before going to bed.

Hey to the newbies ❤️

@JackJack84 you’ve come to the right place, I’m so sorry to hear you’re feeling so upset about the diagnosis 😔 it’s not a nice feeling getting that call and I think it’s natural to blame yourself too. I feel for you and your past pregnancies ❤️ The best thing to remember is that they have caught it now so they will keep a really close eye on you.
At first it was daunting and I would say all the ladies on here say they felt the same.

I’m 37 weeks tomorrow and was diagnosed at 28.. I’m diet controlled but even if I needed medication I would as I know it’s helping me and the baby. I’m now just used to it, it’s weird, you soon get used to foods you can tolerate and testing your sugars becomes second nature. If you have a bad day like we all do then this thread is great! Having people who are going through the same is so nice. We also have an old thread with lots of info on but ask as many questions as you like.. ❤️ It will be ok, you’ve got this! Xx

@CherLW thank you so much for this, I'm crying again now but only because your words meant so much to me.

I picked up my glucose monitor today but I don't have my first session with a GD midwife until Monday so I'm feeling a bit lost. Like this diagnosis & all the information has been dumped on me & I just feel so helpless.

I've tried searching for the first thread but I can't find it, please could you link it?

I'm also stressed as all the information talks about being active for 30 minutes a day, I have severe PGP & I am on crutches so even walking for 5 minutes is agony. I can't work, I can't walk & now I can't eat the foods which brought me some comfort. Just feeling like I can't cope with all of this.

@JackJack84

Here is the link for thread 1-

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4274055-The-GD-thread-for-the-GD-Ladies?pg=1

I didn’t want to make you cry but I know what you mean ❤️

When I got my monitor they explained it to me there and then (even tho it’s not really an explanation, more like throw things in your direction and don’t give much guidance at all) but some people have had to wait days etc until they see someone about what they need to do.

Sorry to hear about your PGP, I really feel for you, must really be hard. Some people on here go for walks etc after meals but I don’t really do that, if I eat a meal and then sit on the sofa after then that’s that.

You’ll soon see that you can still have what foods you love, it’s just working out the ones that work best for you. I have chocolate still, I have my favourite dinners but just need to watch the portion sizes of the carbs.

I think if i we’re you I would just do some research, chat on this thread, catch up on the first thread and things so you have a bit of knowledge when you see your GD midwife Monday 😊. It’s horrible to hear you’re feeling like you can’t cope but it will be ok, just takes a little getting used too.

How many weeks are you? Do you have people around you to support you with how you’re feeling about the GD?

Here it is @JackJack84

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4274055-The-GD-thread-for-the-GD-Ladies

I understand how you feel. I felt so overwhelmed when I was first diagnosed. I felt gutted. I was 26 weeks when I was diagnosed and am now 36 weeks today. I feel OK with it now as I'm used to it and never thought I feel that way. I dreaded the testing and the insulin and now don't think anything of it.
The diabetic team have been great & everyone on here is so supportive.

I cut down on carbs and have replaced sugar in my drinks. Love berries, nuts, dark chocolate for snacks! There are lots of ideas online for meals which I found usual.

Ask any questions...

It is really overwhelming at it beginning but it gets easier xx

@CherLW, crossed post sorry!

@JackJack84, I had a bad back a few weeks ago and it was so difficult. I can't imagine the PGP. Sending a hug xx

@JackJack84
I cried every day for a week after I got my diagnosis!
That was 4 weeks ago now and I’ve not had a single reading out of target yet (although I hit the dreaded 32 week mark next week so that could very well change).
I’m trying to think of it that I’m getting healthy and only giving the baby the nutrients it needs and hopefully, it will help the post baby weight loss.

Thank you @AdventuresAwait, you’ve described exactly how I felt. I felt light headed and spacey and kept saying to my partner I felt really off.

I will definitely test if I feel like that again!

@JackJack84 the ladies have given some great advice, it is overwhelming at first and there'll be ups n downs and frustrations but you will get the hang of it, even if you have the same safe meals on repeat. Its not forever and it is possible to get a hang of, with food or with meds. I don't walk much, cross between I either cba or im too bloody tired and ive got a handle on it now. Drink water with your meals too, I found that helps, and as others have said, smaller amounts of dark chocolate are ok, as are those cadbury hot chocolate drink sachet things. I sometimes have one of them before bed. You can do this x

Thank you all so much for your messages 💗I'm feeling a little better now. I've done an online shop using the GD food list so starting tomorrow I'm gonna try & get my head round it.

Thank you @AdventuresAwait & @CherLW for linking the other thread, I will have a look tonight. I'm almost 26 weeks so feeling like this is a marathon & not a sprint at the minute but I'm sure I'll get there. DP has been wonderfully supportive, he's gone through the kitchen & got rid of all the crap & he's going to follow the diet with me. I've told him he can't have any of my sugar free jelly though 😁

@JackJack84 it’s definitely a small steps at a time thing and there will be bad days but in the end we can all really only do our best.

Sugar free jelly with squirty cream 😍 (not elmlea tho) they say full fat is better… same with yogurts