Newly diagnosed Type 2, found out along side newly pregnant too.

[Libbie Taylor-Thomas]

Hello, this is my first post, the site was recommended to me through a friend that had Gestational Diabetes last year.
I am 30 have 2 children and son & daughter 7 & 3 and have just been diagnosed with type 2, I am also 6 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child.

I had Gestational Diabetes with my son nearly 8 years ago and I managed this with my diet and exercise relatively easily, although the advice was a little different and I didn't have to lower my carbs by much, just cut out cakes, biscuits, sugary drinks and pure sugar.
However this time my sugars are effected by the slightest of carbs, even one slice of wholemeal bread spiked my readings and the porridge I had a few days ago did even worse.

So basically I've been eating lean proteins and all carbs from veggies, the lowest reading I've had since I got my testing kit (4 days ago) is 8.8. My morning readings are always the highest which sounds wrong to me, surely after 12 or more hours of fasting it should be lower that 10-12?

I really want to manage this without turning to medication especially in the pregnancy, I've been told exercise is good for lowering blood sugars after eating but I've had a torn meniscus since September and was scheduled for surgery until the hospital discovered the Diabetes and pregnancy so my mobility is limited, I can walk but not briskly as my knee becomes unstable and the pain spikes if I walk for too long.
Sounds like I'm giving excuses but I feel really low about the lack of exercise because it helps keep my moods good in pregnancy and I can't do that this time around.
My husband suggested light weight lifting exercises which I will ask the GP about but any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.

Thank you for listening to my drivel 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Hi Libbie, welcome to the forum - and congratulations on your pregnancy! 🙂 Sorry to hear that the diabetes has raised its unwelcome head again for you When do you take your reading in the morning? Sometimes, people find that their levels increase significantly once they are up and about because the liver starts to become more active, releasing extra glucose into the bloodstream from its stores to give you a 'boost' at the start of the day - not really that welcome when you have diabetes, and often referred to as 'Dawn Phenomenon'. If you are not doing so already, try taking a reading immediately on waking (before your 'feet hit the floor', as some people describe it!) - often this will be lower and a truer reflection of how your levels have been overnight.

Regarding exercise - light weights sound like a good idea, anything regular would help to make you more insulin-sensitive. How about swimming so you are not putting strain/impact on your knee? Do you have access to a physio who could suggest some appropriate exercises? Every little helps!

I'm not personally very well-up on diabetes in pregnancy, being a single bloke, but hopefully someone will be along soon to share their experiences with you 🙂

 

[Libbie Taylor-Thomas]

Hi Libbie, welcome to the forum - and congratulations on your pregnancy! 🙂 Sorry to hear that the diabetes has raised its unwelcome head again for you When do you take your reading in the morning? Sometimes, people find that their levels increase significantly once they are up and about because the liver starts to become more active, releasing extra glucose into the bloodstream from its stores to give you a 'boost' at the start of the day - not really that welcome when you have diabetes, and often referred to as 'Dawn Phenomenon'. If you are not doing so already, try taking a reading immediately on waking (before your 'feet hit the floor', as some people describe it!) - often this will be lower and a truer reflection of how your levels have been overnight.

Regarding exercise - light weights sound like a good idea, anything regular would help to make you more insulin-sensitive. How about swimming so you are not putting strain/impact on your knee? Do you have access to a physio who could suggest some appropriate exercises? Every little helps!

I'm not personally very well-up on diabetes in pregnancy, being a single bloke, but hopefully someone will be along soon to share their experiences with you 🙂

Hi Northener, thank you for the reply, I do potter about with the kids in the morning before I test so I guess I will try it before I actually get up out of bed, thank you for that tip, I will also look up 'Dawn Phenomenon' for future reference as well, Learning so much these days 🙂
I can definitely fit a walk in after breakfast, even if it is just for 30 mins and I have no problem doing the weights so long as the GP clears it, I did try swimming to build up my thigh muscles before surgery on my knee to aid recovery but the pain when I extend my knee in the water was the same on dry land unfortunately.
I have an appointment with my GP on Monday so they can look at my weeks readings and decide from there if I need to be medicated so I will ask about a physio referral, I certainly need to strengthen my leg, hips and back if I want to remain mobile until the end of this pregnancy.
I'm due my first Midwife appointment on the 15th and should be referred to a specialist MW to help with the diet side of Diabetes when pregnant but to be honest I'm being brutal and not allowing any potatoes, bread, pasta, noodles or rice this week as I seem to be really sensitive to them which is a shame because I miss my weekend bacon rolls but its worth it to avoid the medicated route if possible.

You are right, every little helps, your post cheered me up and raised some questions I can ask my GP, so thank you again 🙂 I will update either way on Monday.

 

[Northerner]

Libbie, have you looked into the type of carbohydrates you might be able to eat? There are some alternatives, like sweet potatoes, which are kinder on your levels than ordinary potatoes, or Burgen Soya and Linseed bread which is better than ordinary bread as it contains soya flour and is therefore lower carb (also contains seeds which helps to slow digestion. Including fat in your meals can also slow digestion and reduce the impact on your levels 🙂 I'd recommend having a look at the GL Diet, which is based on combining foods that will have a slow and steady effect on your levels - the
GL Diet for Dummies is a good introduction 🙂

Good luck with your upcoming appointment, I hope you get some useful and practical feedback 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Hi Libbie

Firstly - GD is actually a marker for you to get Type 2 later on, and these days you should be getting an annual blood test to confirm that you haven't got it yet - or otherwise - anyway, preg notwithstanding.

However - DON'T fight against medication at this time. They absolutely will NOT prescribe anything that will affect your pregnancy itself, or the foetus. You should be on 5mg folic acid tabs instead of the lower dose ones, immediately (if you are diabetic, you start taking the 5mg when you start trying!) for starters - although I think you only take them for the first 3 months or so anyway. It is not unusual to actually be put on insulin fairly pronto - because you have got to make certain you get a good varied balanced diet throughout - and may not be a really good idea just at the mo, though by all means cut them down. I mean blimey, Lib - even cucumber and lettuce have carbs - it's a tad extreme! - though excellent should you land up with T2.

They've really tightened up what they want your BG readings to be 'mostly' and before/after eating - and you might find it hellishly hard to achieve without help from meds.

So - I applaud the mindset - but don't feel a failure if you need help!! It ain't a failure, it's just 'needs must when the Devil drives' isn't it?

Good luck with everything!

 

[Libbie Taylor-Thomas]

Libbie, have you looked into the type of carbohydrates you might be able to eat? There are some alternatives, like sweet potatoes, which are kinder on your levels than ordinary potatoes, or Burgen Soya and Linseed bread which is better than ordinary bread as it contains soya flour and is therefore lower carb (also contains seeds which helps to slow digestion. Including fat in your meals can also slow digestion and reduce the impact on your levels 🙂 I'd recommend having a look at the GL Diet, which is based on combining foods that will have a slow and steady effect on your levels - the
GL Diet for Dummies is a good introduction 🙂

Good luck with your upcoming appointment, I hope you get some useful and practical feedback 🙂

I tried Porridge which I love and my sugars spiked up to 12 again and 1 slice of wholemeal bread shot my reading to 11.3, I will be hunting for that Burgen Soya bread though, I'm willing to try anything tbh. I'm in town on Sunday so I'll pop into Waterstones and have a look at the books available.
Thank you again 🙂

 

[Libbie Taylor-Thomas]

Hi Libbie

Firstly - GD is actually a marker for you to get Type 2 later on, and these days you should be getting an annual blood test to confirm that you haven't got it yet - or otherwise - anyway, preg notwithstanding.

However - DON'T fight against medication at this time. They absolutely will NOT prescribe anything that will affect your pregnancy itself, or the foetus. You should be on 5mg folic acid tabs instead of the lower dose ones, immediately (if you are diabetic, you start taking the 5mg when you start trying!) for starters - although I think you only take them for the first 3 months or so anyway. It is not unusual to actually be put on insulin fairly pronto - because you have got to make certain you get a good varied balanced diet throughout - and may not be a really good idea just at the mo, though by all means cut them down. I mean blimey, Lib - even cucumber and lettuce have carbs - it's a tad extreme! - though excellent should you land up with T2.

They've really tightened up what they want your BG readings to be 'mostly' and before/after eating - and you might find it hellishly hard to achieve without help from meds.

So - I applaud the mindset - but don't feel a failure if you need help!! It ain't a failure, it's just 'needs must when the Devil drives' isn't it?

Good luck with everything!

Hello, thank you for the reply, I had no idea I was supposed to have a yearly blood test after having GD, I thought once it went I was out of the woods, especially since I managed to avoid it in my second pregnancy. But it makes sense to predisposed to it in the future I suppose.
I wonder how long its been there now because looking back I have a few symptoms that they never could explain, I have had problems with numbness in my hands and feet for a few years, it was put down to a hip joint problem and carpal tunnel syndrome :S I lost 40lbs this year without trying and that was put down to depression, I guess I will have to be a bit more proactive in seeking answers and treatment.

I am on the 5mg folic acid, but only since I found out I have diabetes about a week so I haven't been taking it before as this is a surprise baby, much wanted and happy surprise though

The GP phoned me to tell me about the diagnosis because they got such a high reading and obviously because they discovered the pregnancy as well but she just asked me to cut out pure sugar, soft drinks, cakes, biscuits, sweets etc left me a testing kit and prescription for testing strips and Folic acid and told me to make an appointment in a week so she could see my readings and decide how to treat it from there.

I am eating lots of vegetables at the moment, lots of salad and green veg with the protein and fish/seafood so I am getting carbs but not from starchy sources I suppose. My lowest reading today was 8.8 after lunch which was broccoli and cauliflower in a no flour cheese sauce and 1/2 punnet of raspberries, so I'm trying to eat balanced as possible but I must admit it would be nice to have a plain old jacket potato with beans and cheese ha!

I will try not to freak out over the medication if I need it, I don't want a severely restricted diet, Quite happy to give up cakes, cookies and chocolate but I do enjoy pasta and potatoes, I suppose its all new and I have to find a balance, see what works for me and what doesn't.

 

[trophywench]

Absolutely Libbie !

A short version of the new NICE guideline is here

http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3...onception-to-the-postnatal-period-51038446021

and there's also lots about it on the Diabetes UK website.

 

[Libbie Taylor-Thomas]

Thank you for that report I will be talking to my consultant about a few things it has brought to my attention.

Could I ask a question, it may seem silly, but when you count the carbs on food packaging do you take away the number for fibre from the total carbohydrates number, I'm pretty sure I remember being told to do this on Atkins years ago, but unsure if its the way to count them as a diabetic?

 

[Robin]

No, the carb and fibre are counted separately on the packaging. I believe this is not the case in America, where you do have to deduct fibre, hence the reference in the Atkins, probably.

 

[Libbie Taylor-Thomas]

Thank you, that was confusing me for while, I shall adjust my online shopping now 🙂