Gd and sugar level testing

[Emmea12uk]

What should your sugar levels be in the morning before food and after? And how long after food do you test?

Thanks

 

[louisechippy]

anything below 5 hun and most say 1 hour after food but the one first thing in the morning should be done before you eat anyhting at all x x

 

[KatieB]

My fasting level is meant to be 5 or below and 7 or below one hour after eating x

 

[kyronsmom]

i have had the diabetes nurse tell me it should be 5.6 b4 breakafast and u test again 1 hour after food and it should be 7.8 or under

 

[Newky]

Different hospitals use slightly different criteria. I've been told that mine should be less than 5.5 fasting and less than 7, 2 hours after eating. x

 

[KatieB]

Different hospitals use slightly different criteria. I've been told that mine should be less than 5.5 fasting and less than 7, 2 hours after eating. x

Yes, I've noticed the criteria for GD varies quite significantly from looking at various threads. You'd think that they would have the same guideline figures wouldn't you? x

 

[codegirl]

My first criteria was below 5.3 for fasting and below 7.7 one hour after meals. My specialist has since tighted my fasting to below 5.

The criteria can be slightly different as some research is changing the guidelines and your dr might personalize your criteria depending on testing results. For example, my fasting criteria has been lowered as my baby is just slightly bigger than average and fasting is the one number I struggle with and I was generally just above 5.

 

[KatieB]

The fasting number was the one I was having trouble with, I just couldn't get it below 5, it was loitering around 5.3/5.4. Most of my later readings through the day have been between 5.1 (lowest) and 6.8 as a rule. I was put on Metformin yesterday, took one tablet with my evening meal and my fasting level was 4.6 this morning, so am really pleased. Let's hope it stays ok...

 

[Emmea12uk]

Well, I tested one day and fasting was 5.1 and 7 1 hour later, the next day was 5.3 and 8.1 an hour later, 6.1 another hour later.

Is that bad? Doesn't look good does it.

 

[KatieB]

Well, I tested one day and fasting was 5.1 and 7 1 hour later, the next day was 5.3 and 8.1 an hour later, 6.1 another hour later.

Is that bad? Doesn't look good does it.

Am not sure what your readings are meant to be Emma12uk, but at my hospital they told me they aim for 100% accuracy (their words) for the readings, i.e always 5 or below and 7 or below one hour after eating. The diabetes midwife said that the few slightly erratic readings coupled with the fact that I could never go below 5 for fasting, were concern for them which is why I was put on Metformin. I couldn't control my levels through diet alone, I kept a food diary for 2 weeks and the dietician told me I wasn't eating enough and she wanted to see me eating more. The reason I wasn't eating enough was probably because I was so scared of getting a high reading Was also told by the consultant that the vast majority of women at the hospital with GD found that they needed to go on Metformin or sometimes insulin at some point especially the further on in the pregnancy you get when the baby starts making more demands on you. I would say from the 8.1 figure you may need to be put on something to help you stabilise your levels, but each case is individual and you may find that you notice things which send your sugar levels soaring and learn to avoid these and control through diet alone. Good luck x

 

[Emmea12uk]

I don't have any diagnosis. I had gd last time and felt a bit like my levels were high this time, so have been checking. My gd test isn't for another two weeks.

Last time I successfully managed on diet alone, but my fasting was never high. I guess if my fasting is high then it means insulin. In my last pregnancy they didn't give metaformin to pregnant woman, as it wasn't licences in the uk.

 

[Caezzybe]

i have had the diabetes nurse tell me it should be 5.6 b4 breakafast and u test again 1 hour after food and it should be 7.8 or under

That's exactly what I got told last time as well (2010)

 

[Caezzybe]

I don't have any diagnosis. I had gd last time and felt a bit like my levels were high this time, so have been checking. My gd test isn't for another two weeks.

Last time I successfully managed on diet alone, but my fasting was never high. I guess if my fasting is high then it means insulin. In my last pregnancy they didn't give metaformin to pregnant woman, as it wasn't licences in the uk.

Some hospitals in the UK do give Metformin now, I know Stoke Mandeville do as I accompanied a friend to her GD appointment there when they put her on it. The hospital I went to (Frimley Park) refused to even consider putting me on Metformin at the time as it's not their policy to do so. With them it's either diet or insulin, no in between. It depends on the individual NHS trust I suppose.

 

[capel]

There was new research done and metformin is now licensed for pregnancy in the UK. I use insulin and it not as scary as it sounds. I am type 1 diabetic so insulin is a requirement all the time. But if anyone is scared of insulin, don't worry, there are much worse things. And it is completely dafe for your baby.