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Is this a realistic target - <7.8 one hour after meals?

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the_anticarb

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Please help!

I'm pregnant and been told that I can't go above 7.8 one hour after meals. I'm on lantus and novorapid. I was eating a low carb diet before I got pregnant but been told to stop this as it may harm the baby. I'm finding it incredibly hard to get the right amount of novorapid to keep the post prandial blood sugar under 7.8 without hypoing later. If I try to avoid the hypo by taking less novorapid I shoot to 9 or 10 which is above the level recommended for pregnancy. Apparantly the post meal reading is the most significant for pregnant diabetics to predict complications with the pregnancy.

I'm getting really frustrated and considering going back to low(ish) carb diet so as to avoid taking the novorapid, or at least a very tiny dose.

Are all rapid acting insulins the same or should I ask to try another one? Before I started eating carbs again (in reasonable quantities) I found it a lot easier to stay within range, as I was taking metformin, although my diet was quite restricted and I'm finding that since getting pregnant I'm a bit hungrier and not sure how easy, or safe it would be to go back to my old diet.

What's the solution? Small amounts of low GI carbs and small amounts of nasty(novo)rapid? Is this a reasonable target for them to expect pregnant ladies to aim for and how can I reach it? Do I need to really go for the slowest release, lowest GI carbs to avoid the spike?

Incidentally the NICE recommendation is <7.8 two hours after meals but for some reason the hospital I use says they aim for <7.8 one hour after, which makes it even harder.

Any advice greatly appreciated as I am so worried about harming the foetus.
 
Well you could try the low-gi approach to eating, I mostly stay below 8 post-meal on the 1 hour mark, have a look at the following site for information and advice on low-gi eating, or alternatively buy a good low-gi book, there are plenty to choose from, but always consult your HCP when changing your diet, more-so when pregnant.

http://www.glycemicindex.com/

Good luck!

Nigel
 
tbh - you must seek expert advice and see a dietitian - you should ask them to analyse you diet as pregnancy has extra demands and quite honestly a low carb diet will not supply this without extra supplements.

Go and get some help please - pm me if you are stuck I may have some contacts near you!

Allyx
 
Thanks Ally problem with the dieticians/ standard NHS advice is that they all say EAT LOTS OF CARBS and I can't eat lots of carbs without losing my control. I would dearly love to eat as many carbs as they say, but I'm having to decide which is worse, losing my tight control or increasing the carbs in my diet. It's really not a nice thing to have to decide - how will I least harm my developing baby. But I do feel stuck between two evils here.

I know you are well intentioned but my aim in submitting the post was not to ask for specialist advice on diet in pregnancy but to see if people thought the target of <7.8 after meals was a reasonable /doable/achievable.

I may have digressed in my post a little but that was really what I wanted to ask.

Thanks
 
honestly they dont - dont believe all you read on here!!

You must forget all this low carb stuff and get expert advice really - it is not just you now .

please pm me if you want a chat - you are worrying me

allyx
 
AC.
Talk to Ally.........she is a good person and is a Dietician who does not go along with the 'eat plenty of carbs' mantra. She will give you excellent advice via pm's.

Ken
 
I would just like to say of the 3 dietitians, 2 DSN and the GP's and consutlants I have seen and the DESMOND course I did - none have ever said to me plenty of carbs with each meal - what they do say is a balanced diet with good portion control and be aware of those carbs. 2 to 3 small potatoes - 2 spoonfuls of rice etc

I understand that you want to seek out others opinions - I would too- but they are just that - opinions - but you need advice from the medics - they are very few on forums Ally is very well qualified and I have never seen her offer "The plent of carbs"" advice

the_anticarb said:
Any advice greatly appreciated as I am so worried about harming the foetus.
Click to expand...

Why would you take the advice of unqualified strangers who know nothing about your medical history etc over your diabetic team if this is your case?. You said any advice greatly appreciated but you seem to disregard Ally's advice purely because she is a professional - she has offered to help you and I would take her up on that. ( I know I would like a shot if I was in your shoes :D )
 
lovinglife I have not disagreed with Ally's advice - she has not actually advised me yet she just said to speak to a professional which I have already done and it's caused more problems than it's solved so this is why I have come on the forum, as obviously I don't think the problem has been resolved yet by the team at the hospital who are dealing with me.

How can you say I have disregarded Ally's advice? What is her advice? I find the tone of your email really quite negative and I'm worried enough without people coming on here to have a pop at me when I'm already worried enough as it is.

Obviously this forum ain't what it used to be....
 
Hi

can I just say I cannot give individual advice without seeing the person but may be able to find someone who can help

allyx
 
I am sorry I upset you AC :( - it wasn't my intention - I have sent you a PM.
 
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