New to the forum, got gestational diabetes

Louise B

Newbie
Messages
3
Hi everyone, I've just been diagnosed as having gestational diabetes (I had it in my last pregnancy and took insulin 4 times a day). I'm monitoring it until Wednesday then going to a specialist clinic, same as last time. It's almost 4 years since I was pregnant before, so I'm struggling to remember what to do/eat, etc, although I know the clinic will help me, just wondered if anyone on here has any good tips. I think I'll especially struggle with snacks. My diet is pretty good anyway, I don't eat loads of fat and don't have sugary drinks or food, and I do walk quite a bit (although that's restricted a bit because I have a cervical stitch!) but I do eat lots of carbs, and wondered if you've any tips on cutting down without missing out?? If that makes sense??

Any help would be really appreciated, I'm 26 weeks pregnant and have my babies by caesarean around 38 weeks, so I've got a little way to go.

Thanks very much,
Louise.x
 

ChocFish

Well-Known Member
Messages
963
Hello Louise

Sorry about this gestational diabetes, do you test yourself at all?

I am a vegetarian too, although I have started eating fish again, so am a bit of a fake.

I would suggest that you cut down on the carb intake a bit and see how that affects your readings, I had gestational diabetes but that was about a 100 years ago or so, well 31yrs actually and then I was told, pasta, bread, potatoes, rice, bananas...so it didnt work, still had a healthy baby though, but he did weigh 12lb12oz and I had to take all the baby clothes back to the shop and buy bigger sizes.
Snack on low carb fruit and nuts, olives and feta cheese, veg and hummous maybe?

Yep I would say keep testing yourself and cut down on carbs for now, see what the specialists at the clinic say and I hope all goes really well for you and the baby and all the family.

Karen x
 

Louise B

Newbie
Messages
3
Hi Karen, thanks for getting back to me, that's a help, I love most fruit so will eat plenty, but then worry about the sugar?? I find it a bit confusing, maybe because it's short-term and last time I only had it for about 9 weeks, so didn't really get into strict diet, it was more suck-it-and-see!!

Your baby was huge!!!!!! I'm quite small and thought my babies were big at 8lb 9 and 8lb 1 (and I had a prem baby at 1lb 12, and he was quite big for his gestation)!!! But 12lb 12, that's enormous!

I love humous, so I'll definitely be getting some of that, and I've recently found different flavours, a lovely hot chilli one.

Thanks again for writing,
Louise.x
 

ChocFish

Well-Known Member
Messages
963
Louise but please be careful, not too much fruit as some of it is high in carbs, choose the lower carb fruits and keep testing, you will soon know what the various foods do to your bg levels.

My diabetes disappeared after I had given birth, they did a glucose tolerance test afterwards and all was fine, but 16 years later I was diagnosed with type 2, before that though I had my thyroid gland removed so that probably started the diabetes, who knows, never mind, its been an experience and today, so far, I am happy and healthy again.

Dont worry about what lies ahead re diabetes or whatever, maybe it will all go away again once you had your baby, just enjoy the pregnancy and all goes well.

Karen x