GD support thread

[ninjababy]

I'm so thirsty it keeps me awake at night it's not just after food
It's 24/7 no matter how much I drink! It's so bad I can't stop thinking about water all day! I can't stop crying out of frustration

 

[lucy_x]

Any one know why my count is so high before breakfast? - i reckon it must be because i don't eat for such a long time between dinner and the next mornings breakfast - i eat at 8.30 pm and don't eat again until the next morning about 10 because for doing the animals first.

Should i eat something before going to bed?

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I found that a high protein snack before bed helped - I have cheese or some peanuts x

 

[ninjababy]

Just found out I got GD! Dunno where to start!!!

 

[AmeliePoulain]

Just found out I got GD! Dunno where to start!!!

Are you in the UK?

 

[ninjababy]

I'm british but I live in Spain have to have a 4 hour test next week and see the Dr then and I guess in meantime it's low carb no sugar!?

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I'm british but I live in Spain have to have a 4 hour test next week and see the Dr then and I guess in meantime it's low carb no sugar!?

I would cut out the obvious things - sugary drinks, fruit juice, cakes, sweets etc.

Try and reduce your carbs and switch to wholemeal pasta and brown rice and cut down your portion sizes and increase veg and protein (eggs, cheese, meat) I think most people find normal potatoes quite difficult too.

Fruit they say to limit to 3 portions a day - some fruit tends to send your sugars really high like grapes, pineapple etc. Apples. cherries and pears tend to be pretty good for me.

The link below isn't really comprehensive but I found it useful for getting a basic idea at the beginning - before I saw the hospital diabetic team. It helped me with breakfast especially which I found hard - I never would have guessed weetabix was 'bad' for example but porridge would be OK!

https://www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/

 

[ninjababy]

Brilliant thank you very much

 

[AmeliePoulain]

Quick question for those doing/or have done diet control - what figure did you have to be under 2 hours post meal???

 

[NatalieW]

I might be starting that after wed. Once I've had my appointment, can't tell you until then.

 

[izzy29]

Mine had to be under 7.8 one hr post meal.

 

[AmeliePoulain]

In my previous pregnancy I also had to be under 7.8 1 hour post meal but this hospital do 2 hourly.

I have to be under 6 - which some people have said to me is quite tough, I have no idea though.

I am doing ok but have to be very very good!

 

[NatalieW]

I just had my "chat" with the diabetic midwife & nurse. And dietician. Two hours it took.

Anyway on the controlling by diet needs to be under 8 1hr post meal

Now I know this is technical but is that an hour after your finishe or started?

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I just had my "chat" with the diabetic midwife & nurse. And dietician. Two hours it took.

Anyway on the controlling by diet needs to be under 8 1hr post meal

Now I know this is technical but is that an hour after your finishe or started?

I do after I finish (no one has clarified this with me though) sometimes my meals are realllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllly long with having to look after a toddler at the same time!

 

[daisy72]

I just had my "chat" with the diabetic midwife & nurse. And dietician. Two hours it took.

Anyway on the controlling by diet needs to be under 8 1hr post meal

Now I know this is technical but is that an hour after your finishe or started?

It really depends on a provider. With my daughter, i had to test 1 hr after the start, now it is 1 hr after finish, and the meal shouldn't be longer than 30 minutes. Looks like there's no standard
I have to be under 130 (=7.2)

 

[hopefulfor09]

I test 2 hours after I start eating and need to be under 6.7. Which is in line with American and diabetes association guidelines. 5 seems really low. My do actually doesn't want mine to be lower an 5.2 2 hours after. I take insulin at bedtime for my fasting number which needs to be under 5.2. I have had to steadily increase my nighttime dose and start on fast acting insulin before breakfast tomorrow am. And I follow diet very strictly. So frustrating. Anyone else on insulin? When did you stop increasing if at all?

 

[mizzywizzy]

i was diagnosed with GD yesterday. fasting blood was 6 mmol/L, 1 hour was 13.5mmol/L and 2 hours was 8.7mmol/L. I am so gutted! i feel like I am responsible for harming my baby and keep thinking that my baby will be born with so many health issues. I have cut out all processed foods from my diet, avoiding sugar altogether but my problem is carbs - i am still eating things like cereal, bread and pasta but have no idea how much of these foods i should be eating! I have made my appointment with the GD doctor next week so will hopefully have more answers to all my questions. Im just praying i dont have to go into labour early and fingers crossed this baby doesnt get too huge and end up having a ceasarean!

 

[daisy72]

Mizzywizzy, please don't feel bad about yourself! GD is one of the most common gestational complications, as you can also see in this forum.
Before you see your doctor, try to cut back on the carbs you mentioned, cereal, bread and pasta. i have to avoid them altogether in order to maintain healthy levels. I eat buckwheat and quinoa instead, however weird these things sound and taste in the beginning. If I have to eat bread, i can only afford a thin slice of it, that contains about 20 g of carbs (always check labels!). Sweet ready-made cereals are full of carbs, try to eat pure oatmeal cereal instead (I actually learned to enjoy it .
All portions have to be small. This is the case when quantity really matters.
Be prepared that you will be put on metformin or insulin, as your fasting sugar is pretty high, and there's not much you can do about it with just diet. It is not the end of the world, and sometimes the fastest and easiest way to stabilize your levels.
Good luck!

 

[lucy_x]

Does labetalol have an effect on blood glucose? - i always thought my evening numbers and morning numbers were a little high but tonight i did an experiment.

I haven't eaten in 3 days as iv been very ill with flu, basically throwing everything up (except my BP meds fortunately!) and levels have stayed a steady 4.1-4.3 ish but tonight i felt up to some simple cottage cheese, took BG - was 4.3 and my labetalol. an hour later it was 8.9!!!!!

cottage cheese never puts up my BG! and i usually take my labetalol after my last reading so don't know the usual effect!

Should i ring my diabetic MW and let her know? really dont want to be taking metformin for a high BG reading that i haven't done myself if its the labetalol!!!

 

[ticking.clock]

I'm due to have a GTT tomorrow but I have a cold, will this affect the result?
I've already failed one (last week) but I had been in a crash on the way to hospital so they don't know if its cos I was in shock so want to repeat it to be sure, but I have a headcold