Gestational diabetes

[VickyP]

Hello everyone, I have very recently been diagnosed with gestational diabetes so have been trying firstly to manage by changing my diet and hopefully not need medication! My levels have been ok so far but this morning I thought I would try the oat and apple cinnamon recipe on this site, using not even a teaspoonful of sweet freedom agave nectar, as it stated use sweetener, this recipe is specifically for gestational diabetes and when I tested an hour later it was higher than the recommended level! I’m confused now? Has anyone else experienced a higher reading after having oats/fruit? Thank you

 

[grovesy]

You need to test 2 hours after not one. I don't use the recipes. Many Diabetics find oats as in porridge raises levels where some cane tolerate.

 

[Inka]

@grovesy I don’t know about the OP but when I was pregnant I had targets for both one and two hours post-prandial so it’s possible that’s what was meant. Pregnancy needs very strict control which is, presumably, the reason for the one hour target in addition to the two hour one.

@VickyP Congratulations on your pregnancy 🙂 How many weeks are you? How high was your blood sugar after the oats and apple?

 

[trophywench]

You need to test 2 hours after not one. I don't use the recipes. Many Diabetics find oats as in porridge raises levels where some cane tolerate.

I've never had gestational diabetes, nor has anyone close to me - are you certain that is advised in GD?

Anyway @VickyP - firstly, congratulations!

The idea of testing before and after any meal, is to find out whether your body can tolerate that amount of that particular carbohydrate easily enough, at that time of day. If not, at that time of day you need to adjust the meal so your body can tolerate it. Just cos it can't do it first thing in a morning does not necessarily mean it wouldn't at another mealtime later in the same day. This applies to diabetes of all types at any time not only when they are pregnant. Added to which - every person with diabetes of any type has different tolerances for different foods - think of it like the different (natural) colour of hair and whether it's straight, curly, thick, thin, whatever.

If it's a recipe on the Diabetes UK website, it will have the carbohydrate content alongside all the recipes (along with calories, fat content etc) so you'll know you can't tolerate that much of it at that mealtime, hence look for something different to eat at that time of day.

Protein has no carb, neither does fat, but the body can still make the glucose it needs from both of those, but just takes it longer is all.

This forum, though provided and funded by Diabetes UK, is pretty independent!

 

[trophywench]

Inka posted while I was still typing.

 

[VickyP]

@grovesy I don’t know about the OP but when I was pregnant I had targets for both one and two hours post-prandial so it’s possible that’s what was meant. Pregnancy needs very strict control which is, presumably, the reason for the one hour target in addition to the two hour one.

@VickyP Congratulations on your pregnancy 🙂 How many weeks are you? How high was your blood sugar after the oats and apple?

Thank you for your replies much appreciated I was told at the hospital to test after 1 hour! Wednesday gone I was 33 weeks. My result was 8.1 but on reading up it says don’t skip means, I usually have breakfast early during week around 8.30, today only had breakfast at 11ish (had sleep in lol) so not sure if that would make any difference? On saying that, my breakfast ones are usually bit higher than the others?? My lunch reading today was really good compared, 5.2 I had wholemeal toast poached eggs and yoghurt, any suggestions for good breakfast options? Have seen a recipe for banana pancakes and berries and yoghurt which looks ok, I’ve been reading up on pairing foods which I have been trying to do, are there any foods that are a no no for gestational diabetes?

 

[VickyP]

Thank you for your replies much appreciated I was told at the hospital to test after 1 hour! Wednesday gone I was 33 weeks. My result was 8.1 but on reading up it says don’t skip means, I usually have breakfast early during week around 8.30, today only had breakfast at 11ish (had sleep in lol) so not sure if that would make any difference? On saying that, my breakfast ones are usually bit higher than the others?? My lunch reading today was really good compared, 5.2 I had wholemeal toast poached eggs and yoghurt, any suggestions for good breakfast options? Have seen a recipe for banana pancakes and berries and yoghurt which looks ok, I’ve been reading up on pairing foods which I have been trying to do, are there any foods that are a no no for gestational diabetes?

Don’t skip meals

 

[VickyP]

I've never had gestational diabetes, nor has anyone close to me - are you certain that is advised in GD?

Anyway @VickyP - firstly, congratulations!

The idea of testing before and after any meal, is to find out whether your body can tolerate that amount of that particular carbohydrate easily enough, at that time of day. If not, at that time of day you need to adjust the meal so your body can tolerate it. Just cos it can't do it first thing in a morning does not necessarily mean it wouldn't at another mealtime later in the same day. This applies to diabetes of all types at any time not only when they are pregnant. Added to which - every person with diabetes of any type has different tolerances for different foods - think of it like the different (natural) colour of hair and whether it's straight, curly, thick, thin, whatever.

If it's a recipe on the Diabetes UK website, it will have the carbohydrate content alongside all the recipes (along with calories, fat content etc) so you'll know you can't tolerate that much of it at that mealtime, hence look for something different to eat at that time of day.

Protein has no carb, neither does fat, but the body can still make the glucose it needs from both of those, but just takes it longer is all.

This forum, though provided and funded by Diabetes UK, is pretty independent!

Thank you for your reply, I did think that, as I made some protein bars with oats, peanut butter and nuts and touch of agave nectar and did a reading after having a small portion and it was 4.3! So will have to find what I can tolerate at which time etc

 

[Inka]

Hi again - having a late breakfast could well affect your levels. The body often pumps out glucose if you don’t eat in the morning. You might find eating as soon as you get up helps. I’d try that and see how it goes. In addition, mornings are often the trickiest time to get things right.

5.2 and 4.3 are absolutely great readings 😎 As youre so late in your pregnancy (when insulin resistance increases) you’re doing really well at the moment.

 

[VickyP]

Awww thank you, it’s been a bit of a shock to the system! I do generally eat quite healthy but having to cut choc out has been a challenge! But during these last few days I have felt really good and not so bloated (prob due to not so many potatoes). I find having eggs everyday is helping. Might try fruit and yoghurt for breakfast

 

[Inka]

Unsweetened Greek yoghurt is good. It’s got a little more fat in (that helps slow any blood sugar rise) and less carbs. For fruit, if apples don’t work for you, try some berries. If you’re missing the oaty granola taste, you could always sprinkle a little on top.

 

[rebrascora]

I have no experience of gestational diabetes but not sure Agave nectar is a good sugar substitute as it is high in fructose. Is there a reason why you are not using sweeteners? Stevia perhaps? Oats and apple is a pretty high carb combination and would certainly send my BG into orbit even without the Agave Nectar. I would also be avoiding bananas which are one of the highest carb fruits.
Creamy natural Greek yoghurt with a few berries and nuts or seeds would be my choice of low carb breakfast or an omelette.

 

[Inka]

I think I found the oats and apple recipe and it’s 34g carb so lower than a ‘normal’ such breakfast and not high carb. It’s useful that the carbs are listed as that will give @VickyP an idea of how many she’s eating. Obviously in pregnancy dietary needs are different and carbs shouldn’t be reduced too low IMO.

Some dieticians give carb amount recommendations for Gestational Diabetes, often per meal, so if that’s available that would be helpful.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @VickyP

I have never had gestational diabetes either 😉

Good luck in finding your way through the dietary maze and in using your BG meter to discover which foods suit your body when.

 

[VickyP]

Unsweetened Greek yoghurt is good. It’s got a little more fat in (that helps slow any blood sugar rise) and less carbs. For fruit, if apples don’t work for you, try some berries. If you’re missing the oaty granola taste, you could always sprinkle a little on top.

Thank you everyone for your help