Gestational diabetes- constantly hungry

[Rayma]

Hello, im currently pregnant with my second baby, and im 15 weeks in 2 days.

I had to get a early gestational diabetes test as I had it last time with my son and I've been told im diabetic again.

With my son I got the test done around 26 weeks and this time its obviously way earlier.

I struggled with my blood sugars last pregnancy and ended up on insulin and metformin. My son was born fine and the diabetes went away. But I did end up loosing 2 stone between 26 weeks and 39 weeks.

This time I've obviously found out way earlier and just like before will be as strict as possible in keeping my sugars as a safe level. The only issue is I am constantly starving hungry.

All the food other people recommend e.g. eggs, wholewheat/brown bread pasta etc all cause my blood sugars to go sky high so I've basically had to cut out all carbs and sugars and I'm currently eating around 1000kcals a day.

My current daily kind of diet is:
Breakfast - kind nut bar
10am snack - babybel and chicken pieces
Lunch- salad leaves with mayo and with a protein (salmon, chicken, tuna)
3pm snack - carrot and cucumber sticks with sour cream
Dinner - chicken and veg

This is just not sustainable but the nurses are happy with my readings doing so. This is probably more of a rant but I dont know how to get through the next 6 months of this. Tia x

I feel you. I had GD in my pregnancy. It was awful. Everything made my sugars spike. I remember being in tears because all i had eaten all day was wholewheat toast and cucumber and it STILL spiked - I ate so little out of fear on the end.

Can you go back on metformin? It was a game changer for me.

It's so hard isn't it! I think being diagnosed so early this time as well is really affecting me.

Im due a review in 2 weeks time to see if I need the insulin and metformin again (they assume I will) but I still feel like it barely helps lol 😆

I just want something filling and some carbs, its torture having this at the best of times never mind pregnant! Xx

It is so tough.

Have you tried something like a pizza with LOADS of meat on? I mean all the meat you can possibly include? My midwife said the balancing out with the carbs helped.

I remember getting a mighty meaty from dominoes once and then went for a long walk straight after and it wasnt too bad.

Sadly I couldn't live off pizza 😞 so did go on metformin in the end but an idea to look into for now x

Oh I wish I could tolerate that :( I couldn't even have a wholewheat wrap "pizza" covered in cheese and meats with a huge side salad without spiking, its wild the different of tolerances too.

It seems like there's even less choice since mt first pregnancy too, i used to at least find gluten free sandwiches without the crusts could work but now shops barely sell them and I have to make the same salads everyday lol xx

Can you eat more of things that work for you? A kind bar is a tiny breakfast - what about full fat Greek yoghurt with nuts and seeds? A big portion should fill you up better than a bar. You could also look for other low carb substitutions- I’m sure I remember seeing a recipe for a faux pizza crust made with ground almonds and cauliflower once - it won’t be like the real thing but could make for a filling base and would be nutritious for you and the baby.

Greek yogurt with chia seeds, berries and chopped nuts fills me up nicely

Mornings are usually the worst for my sugars and last pregnancy only one particular kind of kind bar ever worked for me :(
I've wasn't able to tolerate yogurt well last time either for some reason, honestly its a nightmare lol. Xx

I might have to try that later on in the day as a snack maybe, i could never tolerate yogurt on a morning as much as I wish I could xx

Good luck OP. Sorry I dont have much great advice bit i know how hard it is.x

Ask your DM nurse/Dr about resistant carbs and if they might help. Cooking pasta/potato and cooling for 24 hours can lower blood sugar spikes in non diabetics, I would imagine the same those with gdm but not hugely knowledgeable about the subject

You need more healthy fats, more cheese, full fat yoghurt, etc

bacon and eggs for breakfast?

My fav pud when I had GD was a sugar free jelly with double cream

Firstly, go here: Gestational Diabetes UK | Support, Food & Blood Sugar Guidance and read it all. They are 5 bizillion times better than the NHS when it comes to managing GD. The NHS advice had me spiking all over the place.

Secondly. You NEED to eat carbs. You are burning so much energy growing baby, you need to fuel that properly. If you're eating carbs properly (we'll get to that) and you're still too high then you need insulin and that is NOT failure. Your placenta is just a mardy bitch.

It's all about food pairing. Never eat a naked carb, and make sure the protein has more protein than carbs (some yogurts that on the surface are high protein are almost equal in carbs and protein for example) and increase your fat, dump anything fat free. The recipe section on the website above is good.

Thirdly and most importantly. You can do everything right in terms of nutrition and still need insulin. Remember that GD is progressive and will get worse through your pregnancy, so you can be spot on perfect early doors and the same meal will give you a massive spike later on. Nothing to do with you and everything to do with that pesky placenta!
Insulin is not scary and it's not failure.

Find out what works for you. My sugars were always worse in the mornings (I ended up on overnight insulin), so I couldn't tolerate carbs in the morning. So I'd eat eggs with avocado or cheese. Pair foods. Protein and fat.

Also, if your budget can afford it. For a while whilst I had a tantrum with being diagnosed in my 2nd pregnancy (at 12 weeks). I had protein ready meals delivered, just google them there are loads. And they're already high protein and low carb (but with some carbs!) and it took away the thinking for one meal at least!

@stackhead is spot on, my only add is to walk as soon as you can after eating. GD sucks but you’ve got this!

Have you tried Greek yogurt mixed with a bit of flour, roll it out super thin and basically make a pizza. Add loads of cheese / meat / veg and it could be an alternative option.

Anything from the keto diet so low carbs might be worth a try.

Can you eat nuts? I used to eat so many cashew nuts, really filling and if you eat them before meals they slow down any spikes. I got told in my hospital guidance that eating veggies first, then protein and fats, then carbs works for a lot of people.

But I did end up on insulin. For some people you just can't control it using diet. Sounds like you're already at that point and it'll be healthier for baby if you get on insulin or Metformin sooner and then eat carbs.

Can you make a three or four egg omelette with a lot of cheese and green veg for breakfast? And a handful of nuts on the side. That would give you more calories in the morning, but very low on carbs first thing in the morning and high in protein and fat. Can you add extra virgin olive oil to your salad, and to your chicken and veg at tea time? Add some avocados in? Or some mozzarella and cheese to chicken and veg at tea time? Snack on nuts in between.

I also suffered with GD, and it can be a bloody nightmare! But lots of extra fat added in to your meals that way and protein and you should help to keep your blood sugars steady but get plenty of calories. I added mozzarella and olive oil to practically everything! It should help with your hunger. Growing a baby is hungry work.