GD support thread

[AmeliePoulain]

Are you feeling really poorly with the hypos?

I only ask because I regularly get 3 - 3.2 and I don't feel unwell at all and it just seems like on 'good' days with my GD that my base level is pretty low naturally - which tallies with the blood sugar testing I did inbetween my two pregnancies x

 

[CelticNiamh]

Are you feeling really poorly with the hypos?

I only ask because I regularly get 3 - 3.2 and I don't feel unwell at all and it just seems like on 'good' days with my GD that my base level is pretty low naturally - which tallies with the blood sugar testing I did inbetween my two pregnancies x

Yes, I felt very weak and dizzy, I frightened my DH as I was making no sense when I spoke. I felt very confused shaky and all sweaty.

I am getting under 3 mostly 2 of late, I think I should have some carbs before any exercise which I have not been doing, I just did not expect to be feeling them when I am not on insulin yet! mind you I only went to the shop with my sister not what I call exercise really

My base line would normlly be bit higher, my doctor classed me a prediabetic if there is such a thing, before my last pregnancy, I guess BF my little lad and I was exercising and following a low fat diet really helped, I only weaned him in November.

 

[AmeliePoulain]

It is horrible if you are feeling ill

I was in hospital last week and got a 3 and they were rushing around to get me a sandwich and I was confused because I just felt normal.

I think lots of women without any glucose tolerance issues suffer with low blood sugar in pregnancy. Hopefully the hypos will pass though and you will get a break before/if GD arrives

 

[CelticNiamh]

You need to snack in between your meals. That should stop the hypos.

Like ryvita with peanut butter (whole earth one) or Narns oat cakes with cheese. You need to keep your levels steady. That should help.

I do snack, I love ryvita and I do snack on peanut butter on brown bread as well. Im ok if I sit on my bum and do nothing all day but that is not going to happen LOL

 

[karolynca]

For me snacks do the trick for the hypos...specially fruit (not all of them and in the right amounts that my endocrinologist suggested). Take care!

 

[CelticNiamh]

For me snacks do the trick for the hypos...specially fruit (not all of them and in the right amounts that my endocrinologist suggested). Take care!

I think I may write down what I am eating tomorrow and double check I am doing it right, just to be sure I am still suffering with MS still I wonder if my portion sizes are two small because it does hit me most at meal times.

Thanks for all the replies every one

 

[karolynca]

It's a good idea, I made an excel worksheet that has the days, what I ate for Breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and night snack....and I also write down next to each food what was my 1 hour glucose measure, that helps me understand what foods could cause the trigger. I also added a column that reads "comments" where I write if I walked or exercised after that meal. I has helped me a lot...

 

[CelticNiamh]

Hi, i'm type 1 but was slow onset, so do have some experience of GD (they originally thought it was GD rather than type 1) it sounds like reactive hypoglycemia, have you tested your levels 30minutes - 1 hour before you would normally experience the drop? If it is reactive hypoglycemia, this usually happens because the first phase insulin release is gone/or minimal, and the body compensates by releasing alot of insulin out a while later, usually 2-3 hours after a meal or so. This is what happened to me before i was diagnosed with GD in 2010 with my first pregnancy (but later diagnosed type 1 in 2012) by the way i'm not saying its type 1, reactive hypo's are common in lots of diabetics, mainly GD and type 2.

The Diabetic nurse rang me back today and told me, what you said that it is probably reactive hypoglycemia. she also said that seeing that is my 5th time with GD and needing insulin earlier each time that it may not go this time when I have the baby. I know that a risk each time any way. but at least now I know it may happen and I know what to do it it does.

 

[whit.]

It's nice that you're so positive about it! I was really down in the dumps with everything at first. (This is my 2nd time around)

I had oatmeal for breakfast and tested at 30 minutes after I ate just to see what it was and it was high so I did 80 laps in my hallway, getting ready to test to see if it made a difference LOL

 

[whit.]

Boo, still 170! Ugh! The other day I had oatmeal and it was fine!

Does anyone else get really frustrated by this?!

 

[CelticNiamh]

Boo, still 170! Ugh! The other day I had oatmeal and it was fine!

Does anyone else get really frustrated by this?!

do not be to hard on your self, remember its not you some times even tough we do our best with the diet. blood sugars can be high!
are you on and insulin injections or tablets yet!

 

[whit.]

I'm on tablets - glyburide.

Just frustrating.

 

[shambaby]

I'm starting to struggle a bit to keep my levels down. I have a real chocolate problem and am craving it terribly. To make matters worse we have plenty of it in the house left from Christmas so I have to try really hard to resist. At first I could have a little bit after meals with no problem, but not any more. Has anyone tried diabetic chocolate? Is it anything like the real thing? And is it ok for your levels? Just not really convinced it's worth it, but really want some chocolate!

 

[AmeliePoulain]

I had some Boots diabetic chocolate the other day - 6 squares of it after my lunch and my levels were fine. It tasted like the real thing.

I gave some to my husband - who is a chocolate addict - and he was impressed - he said he would happily eat it!

 

[NatalieW]

I love Balance chocolate from holland & Barrett. Or amazon.

 

[shambaby]

Thank you both, think I may have to give some a try

 

[whit.]

I was craving ice cream the other night so I bought some weight watchers low carb ice cream candy bars, it tastes JUST like a snickers with vanilla ice cream and kept my levels ok. It was delicious!

 

[CelticNiamh]

I am so sorry you are all going to hate me now but I have always been advised to not eat diabetic food like chocolate I am trying to remember why now, I think it is to do with the high calories or sweetener they use!
so check that out before you buy some!! so sorry!!

ok Im hiding now!!

 

[NatalieW]

It would be the sweetener. You can't have the fruit based sweetener. Fructose? I think.

The balance chocolate is sweetened with stevia plant extract.

 

[shambaby]

I am so sorry you are all going to hate me now but I have always been advised to not eat diabetic food like chocolate I am trying to remember why now, I think it is to do with the high calories or sweetener they use!
so check that out before you buy some!! so sorry!!

ok Im hiding now!!

Hehehe, it's ok, please don't hide! I was just doing some online research and it is to do with the sweeteners which can have some alarming effects on your digestive system! Plus they do have a certain amount of carbs, both of which mean you shouldn't eat much of it, and are probably better off with a small amount of normal chocolate. Trouble is it's better to have dark chocolate and I really don't like it. Dairy milk is my weakness. Perhaps the occasional Freddo would be a better option