Am I eating too much chocolate??

[elfonthestairs]

I have had terrible sweet cravings throughout my pregnancy, meaning I can't stop eating things like chocolate, this is what I'll eat in a typical day sweet wise

-a sweet cereal bar (savoury breakfast doesn't cut it)
-2 iced donuts
-9 Toffiffees
-half a bag of Terry's chocolate orange
-a packet of reduced sugar haribos (the irony!)

I eat meals too with as much veg as possible so I dont know why I am getting these terrible sweet cravings that won't go away it's not like me at all and worried im gonna do damage

Currently pregnant, and i recognise this feeling though not eating quite the level of sugar you are. Definitely daily chocolate though!

I think some is fine but it's too much. My understanding is that it is important to eat healthy fats with carbohydrates to help prevent blood sugar spikes, rather than 'naked carbs'. Full fat grass fed dairy, olive oil, coconut oil for eg.

I also understand a veggie/vegan diet is not particularly nourishing during pregnancy. Possible if you're veggie anyway of course, but certainly not ideal. A lot of essential pregnancy nutrients come from grass fed meat, dairy & eggs, as well as all your veg.

Real food for pregnancy by Lily Nichols is a very well informed and researched book, has lots about the blood sugar thing. She's also written a book for those with gestational diabetes.

@ringoutthebells

Currently pregnant, and i recognise this feeling though not eating quite the level of sugar you are. Definitely daily chocolate though!

I think some is fine but it's too much. My understanding is that it is important to eat healthy fats with carbohydrates to help prevent blood sugar spikes, rather than 'naked carbs'. Full fat grass fed dairy, olive oil, coconut oil for eg.

I also understand a veggie/vegan diet is not particularly nourishing during pregnancy. Possible if you're veggie anyway of course, but certainly not ideal. A lot of essential pregnancy nutrients come from grass fed meat, dairy & eggs, as well as all your veg.

Real food for pregnancy by Lily Nichols is a very well informed and researched book, has lots about the blood sugar thing. She's also written a book for those with gestational diabetes.

Nonsense that a veggie / vegan diet isn’t nourishing during pregnancy 🤦🏽‍♀️ No reputable sources support that assertion.

Regardless of diet during pregnancy you should try to eat a varied and balanced diet. Track your macros for standard days and work out if there’s anything you’re missing and either find a dietary source or supplement.

To answer the OP, that’s a lot of sugar but you can’t change what a done so don’t worry about it.

I find dates blitzed with nuts and cocoa powder give a healthier sugar hit when I’m craving something sweet (dates are still very high in sugar though so best to eat in moderation).

Oh wow you could end up with diabetes that is a lot. Sorry

Nope, that’s not how diabetes works

I also understand a veggie/vegan diet is not particularly nourishing during pregnancy. Possible if you're veggie anyway of course, but certainly not ideal. A lot of essential pregnancy nutrients come from grass fed meat, dairy & eggs, as well as all your veg

Also bollocks. How is “grass fed” meat particularly better nutritionally anyway?

Having said that, It is a lot of high fat refined sugar stuff o/p, and you should try and manage it if you can. It may be it’s just a phase- it will be trial and error to find something that satisfies that craving.

My pregnancy craving was lager. I hate lager, always have. That and I remember eating two boxed of crunchy nut cornflakes because of that sweet craving.

I'm pre diabetic and that's due to eating too much sugar? How does it work then?
I know its different when pregnant

@cheeseisthebest

I'm pre diabetic and that's due to eating too much sugar? How does it work then? I know its different when pregnant

That's type 2 diabetes which is diet related but it's not just sugar, it's influenced by whole diet and also some people are predispositioned to type 2 as well.

'Also bollocks. How is “grass fed” meat particularly better nutritionally anyway?'

You sound nice! And well informed It's common knowledge that grass fed meat is nutritionally better for eating, and for the environment, it's hardly a niche view. Perhaps you could start with the book I recommended, which cites all the research.

To start, nearly all british beef is grass fed, so there’s not really any need to make the distinction.

Second, if that book led you to believe vegetarian diets are not particularly nourishing, i don't have much confidence in it.

Ok thank you but so if the OP is eating high amounts of sugar why isn't she at risk of type 2 diabetes?

@cheeseisthebest

Ok thank you but so if the OP is eating high amounts of sugar why isn't she at risk of type 2 diabetes?

Because there is a whole host of other contributing risk factors not purely just how much sugar someone eats for type 2.

These include general lifestyle, how fit and healthy someone is, diet over several years, obesity level, genetic predisposition, ethnic background and if they have had gestational diabetes in pregnancy.

It's not as simple as saying those who eat loads of sugar will get it and those who don't won't. Certain thi go increase risk but it varies person to person.

I didn't say she would get it just thought it could be a contributory factor.
I'm slim and still pre diabetic.
But I take your point! It's not a guarantee!

@cheeseisthebest check out the Trust me I'm a Dr diet surrounding fasting etc
It's been shown to reduce and reverse pre diabetic people in many cases.

I love chocolate too.

Often people who are extremely vocally anti-sugar actually consume a huge amount of sugar in their diet without realising it. They eat low-fat yogurt, drink a bit of alcohol, eat sliced supermarket bread and drink fruit smoothies and eat muesli and cereal bar snacks and think that's a healthy diet, when a diet like that could amount to a sugar intake comparable to the amount of sweets you're eating or even higher. Already on this thread people have suggested you replace chocolate with fruit yogurt and smoothies, but actually, sometimes these are even more sugary than a chocolate bar so not a huge difference, even if it makes you feel like you're doing the right thing.

What I'm saying is, if you indulge in your sweet cravings across a week, but otherwise mostly eat balanced meals based around whole foods that are low in sugar, overall the sugar in your diet may not add up to a great deal more than what the average person consumes anyway. In short: eat healthy meals and have some chocolate if you want it. Chocolate isn't poison and the pregnancy cravings will pass. As PP have said, it won't cause diabetes on its own. Good luck with your pregnancy!

So I went to the docs, they did my blood sugar and it was 7.2 and I'd not ate for a while they said that's a bit 'sweet' I googled it and it looks normal?? I have an iron deficiency would that be causing it? So confused !

I'm not an expert but think 7 is the high end of the normal range and so higher than ideal if a while since eating?

Also have ketones in my urine and heart rate is 113 bol, has anyone had similar?

@elfonthestairs

So I went to the docs, they did my blood sugar and it was 7.2 and I'd not ate for a while they said that's a bit 'sweet' I googled it and it looks normal?? I have an iron deficiency would that be causing it? So confused !

That is high of you hadn’t eaten for a while.

@elfonthestairs

So I went to the docs, they did my blood sugar and it was 7.2 and I'd not ate for a while they said that's a bit 'sweet' I googled it and it looks normal?? I have an iron deficiency would that be causing it? So confused !

This is definitely high if you hadn't eaten as this would be a fasting level which in England should be under 5.3 and in Scotland 5.5. An hour after eating should be 7.6 or less.

Ketones in your urine mean your body is breaking down fats for energy which means either your not having enough carbohydrate with your meals or your body isn't being effective. Ketones are not good for baby either it's a difficult juggling act. You need slow release small amounts of carbs so wholewheat pasta and brown rice, oatcakes, a particular brown seeded bread etc.

I suggest very strongly that you request a gestational diabetes tests from your midwife and give her the readings (craving sugar can sometimes be a symptom).

If it is GD you need to get it under control as its a risk to baby getting too much sugar.
Check out the gestational diabetes UK website for information. You can start following the diet in advance of the test.
Please do try to cut back on sugar intake in the meantime and read about the diet.

It's important to know that GD is actually hormonal caused along with natural risk factors. It is not caused by you eating sugar. There is also a Facebook group which offers support and advice

I suggest very strongly that you request a gestational diabetes tests from your midwife and give her the readings (craving sugar can sometimes be a symptom)

I was going to say this. The sugar cravings won’t cause diabetes, but they may be a symptom, so you may be feeling the need to eat all this sugar because your body thinks you need more, when in fact it’s because you can’t use it…

Been for another appointment and asked about GD testing but midwife said it's normal to have a higher blood sugar in pregnancy and no use going for any tests also now have protein in my urine whatever that means Merry Christmas to me lol

How many weeks are you OP? Unfortunately some health boards refuse to test til 28 weeks despite some of the warning signs.

Protein can be a sign of many things from you being unwell or more serious issues depending on how high the reading was.

I know it's really tough but it sounds like your body is under quite a lot. If it was me I would have tomorrow then try and give my body a break with lots of water, healthy meals and regular healthy snacks in between. For sweet tooth element try a Berry and coconut milk smoothy, etc. There are loads of sweet recipes on the GD website which may help you.

I eat a lot of chocolate this pregnancy too.... has to be chocolate not random sweets lol... and honestly if your tests so far are ok i wouldnt worry x your body kniws best as long as its genuine cravings and not just stuffing yourself qith whatever

@elfonthestairs sorry but your midwives wrong. I don't get why she said there is no point in any tests! And it isn't normal to have higher blood sugars in pregnancy especially 7 after not eating for a while. Fasting levels should be under 5.3 and if they're over that, that's a sign of GD. With you getting these intense cravings for sweet things, you could be having peeks and troughs in your blood sugar.
Please insist on being tested

[quote Metallicalover]@elfonthestairs sorry but your midwives wrong. I don't get why she said there is no point in any tests! And it isn't normal to have higher blood sugars in pregnancy especially 7 after not eating for a while. Fasting levels should be under 5.3 and if they're over that, that's a sign of GD. With you getting these intense cravings for sweet things, you could be having peeks and troughs in your blood sugar.
Please insist on being tested [/quote]
I'm bringing my partner to my next appointment as I don't stand up for myself and am a people pleaser so he is going to put his foot down by my request, I have a gut feeling something isn't right with further symptoms I have developed.

On the other side, I have been really trying to cut down on chocolate I'm quite proud of myself cause I was reaching for the chocolate orange when I saw granola so I have made the collective Greek yoghurt (mango) with granola and mixed seeds- let's see how long before I crave chocolate again