UK travel and gestational diabetes

[trrk]

I just got diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 24w and am freaking out slightly about how I will get through the next 3-4 months foodwise.

I also have two long weekends (around 5 days each) planned within the UK at Easter (will be 26-27w) and the early May bank holiday (will be 28-29w). We will be staying in hotels and bed and breakfasts for these and eating out for lunch and dinner. I can bring some healthy snacks but I'm a bit concerned about managing food and finding suitable things to eat in restaurants and cafes. Can anyone reassure me that its not a big problem or would you recommend cancelling? Did anyone with gestational diabetes eat out a lot without any problems? I usually try to eat healthy and don't go for huge portions but it's not always easy to find healthy food when travelling around the UK.

I think the plan is to try controlling it with diet only but I haven't recieved the glucose monitor yet so don't know how easy it will be. My fasting level was normal in the OGTT test but the 1 hr level was a bit too high.

I had been looking forward to these final chances to get away before a get too huge and uncomfortable but now it's making me nervous.

I had GD - I think you will be fine as long as you know what does and doesn't spike your blood sugar. If you stick to foods with lots of fat and protein, you'll be able to manage some carbs. I'd recommend staying away from things like pizza and pasta and probably (unfortunately) no dessert. You will have to think about what you're ordering, but I can't imagine any restaurant that wouldn't have GD-friendly meals, assuming you're not a very picky eater. Do you like cheese, meat, and eggs? If so, you will be fine! Happy to answer any other questions you have about GD - I was so anxious when I found out, but in the end I was able to manage it by just planning ahead with my meals.

You can have cooked breakfast without hash browns and go lightly with the beans. Sausages, bacon, eggs, tomato and mushrooms are all low carb.

Full fat Greek yoghurt with skinny syrup seeds and berries is another breakfast.

I buy the 'live life' bread from Waitrose that is 3 carbs a slice compared to 15 normally.

If you can find a Marks and Spencer's they do a good range of easy to eat lunch options.
Olives, boiled eggs, prawns and sauce, cold meats, even their large samosa are lowish for carbs.

Evening meals, anything meat or fish with any above ground vegetables. Don't worry about limiting this. You can enjoy sauces in moderation. I melt butter on my veg.

Try to avoid fruit (apart from berries), avoid potatoes, pasta, rice, sandwiches and anything containing sugar and flour.

Pickles are nice to much on but check the carb content, often the cheaper pickles have a fraction of the carbs.

Sugar free sweets are an occasional help.

You'll be able to do this.

Eating out was a bloody nightmare for me in both GD pregnancies and we used to avoid it as I found a lot of foods spiked my blood sugar levels. In my second pregnancy I was diagnosed from 12 weeks so it was a long slog. If you eat meat you should be a bit more able to manage, things like steak/chicken and salads would be available in most restaurants. Sadly it’s much easier to eat at home and prepare meals you’re used to rather than eating out.