Gestational diabetes - improving fasting glucose

[magnoliasinbloom]

Hi there, I'm 28 weeks with diet controlled GD. My post meal readings are consistently on the lower range of normal range but I am struggling with my fasting glucose readings.

I do all the recommended tips, go for a walk before bed, drink water with ACV, have a snack just before lights out, but I am finding often that my sleep is disrupted due to 'diabetes hunger' (gnawing feeling in stomach that food doesn't alleviate) or just the heat anyway.

Does anyone have any tips that worked for them with improving fasting glucose readings? I'd love to stay off metformin if I can but realise that may not be possible.

Additionally, at what time did you test? We didn't get much information from the diabetes midwife and I am seeing conflicting things online - either test as soon as you wake or don't test until after 8am due to the dawn phenomenon. Thanks!

I would test within an hour of waking up but don't beat yourself up about morning readings if you're sticking to guidance. I had a very small amount of insulin of a night time (10ml) then it needed increasing slightly and at the end needed deceasing back down to that again. Your fluctuating hormones are probably what is gearing it if you're doing everything else by the book.

The only thing I'd look into is what snacks you have before bed. I'd have a cracker or little bit of ryvita with Philadelphia and ham on top to balance things out nicely. The GD diet rule with balancing carbs with fat and protein with a snack is what I lived by (if you can have some veggies like cucumber or celery during the day with any snack then even better).

Hi @BFPDec21 sorry for the late reply and thank you for the advice - your snack idea sounds great :) I've been playing around this last week and am finding that a seed cracker topped with lots of almond butter just before lights out is meaning I'm sleeping well and giving me fasting readings in the low 4s :)