Gestational diabetes help and tips please!

[pinkandredflowers]

Hoping for some GD help!

For those that have had GD. Was there anything that helped get your fasting levels under control?

I started off as diet managed which is fine during day/after meals but fasting always too high. Added metformin at night, still too high in the morning, doubled the dose and still same problem. The diabetes team have now added in slow release insulin (6 units) at night time and still my fasting levels are too high!

Also any tips on how to balance ketones and high blood sugar? I'm having to be very restrictive on carbs to keep day rates in range but then I end up with ketones in my urine which they aren't happy about either.

(I'm in regular contact with the diabetes team to manage but thought it would be useful to get tips from people who have had the same problems 😊 )

Also in terms of delivery I have to have a c section anyway, what week did you deliver at?

Gestational diabetes UK website was super helpful

Fasting sugars are really hard to control. I know there are trails being done to help but nothing useful yet. Walking post eating will help with day time levels.

I had my GDer at 38 weeks which was early for me as my elder were 42 weekers.

Join the Facebook group.

www.facebook.com/groups/gestationaldiabetesuk/?ref=share

I never bought the recipes from the website

It's not forever (it just feels like it)

I would also recommend gestational diabetes Uk there Facebook group and website saved me they are so more clued in than the hospitals sometimes in the advice they give . You have to balance your carbs with protein and fat never eat carbs on their own.

www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/what-is-food-pairing/

Re the ketones I had 4+ ketones at one point and they weren't bothered at all. Just told me to try to eat and drink more.

I had a c section at 39+1. My area won't do sections before 39 weeks usually. If they have to, you have to have a 2 night hospital stay the week before for steroids to help baby's lungs.

Another vote for Gestational Diabetes UK, their advice was a lot better than some of the NHS stuff I got (which suggested weetabix and orange juice for breakfast!!)

Fasting levels are notoriously hard to manage, I struggled with mine too. A protein-y snack before bed like Greek yoghurt or a babybel can help a bit. I used to go for an evening swim sometimes too. If you are having to eat so low carb that you’re going into ketosis I suspect you’ll probably need more insulin in the end though. It’s rough- with my first I managed with diet and metformin but with my second I had to have quite large amounts of insulin.

I had both my c-sections at 38 weeks. The bright side is that the diabetes pushes you to the top of the list (barring emergencies) so you usually get done first.

Thanks everyone. Will defo do some more research on the GDUK website. Appreciate the tips. Really hoping they'll book my c section for 38 weeks so I only have 6 weeks until I can have some chocolate again 🤣

I've found having kefir yogurt, flaxseed and blueberries before bed helps with a good reading in the morning. With my first pregnancy, as GD was diet controlled they let me go to 40+5