https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 25 Jun 2026 20:21:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-785475 Thu, 16 May 2013 09:25:49 +0000 2PeasinaPod 785475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Haha...yes! Muffins here in the US are pretty much the same as your standard muffins...but hilarious that they call them english muffins when you don't have them in England! </p> <p>I had a lot of issues with fruits too. Apples, bananas and strawberries are loaded with natural sugar and would send my blood sugar skyrocketing. I was so disappointed since fruit was my go to snack. Veggies like carrots and celery with peanut butter became my go to snack. Peanut butter and avocado were my saving graces! Another veggie to avoid is corn...lots of natural sugar in corn and popcorn!</p> <p>Aside from the walks right after I ate, the other thing that saved me was how much water I would drink every day. My OB told me to drink at least 80 ounces a day from the start of my pregnancy. I would drink anywhere between 80 -120 ounces of water every day. When I found out I had GD, they asked me how much water I drank and said that was great in helping to manage it. </p> <p>So much of it is trial and error. I would try different things and if my blood sugar was high, I would avoid those things. By the end, all I wanted was a big vat of ice cream and pasta! Haha... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-784236 Wed, 15 May 2013 19:05:32 +0000 Dandelion 784236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't read replies, but here's my experience.</p> <p>DS: He's 5 now. When I was pregnant, I took my glucose test at 27 weeks. Like you, I thought no news was good news. Nope. At 31 weeks, my next appointment, they saw my lab results and realized it was pretty severe. I got rushed into a diabetes class and got an ultrasound that was measuring my baby at 6 lbs. A week later, my membranes ruptured, and I gave birth to my baby at 32 weeks. He spent 15 days in the NICU. His blood sugar was low and he needed an IV in his belly button because he wasn't big enough to nurse. </p> <p>Most recent baby: I passed the glucose test and measured right on track. I kept eating good nutrition, but I felt like I had a safety net of not having GD. At 37 weeks she started growing faster, but my midwife wasn't concerned. I was, cause I was worried that maybe GD kicked in later or something. Then, at 39 weeks I went into labor and baby died (not related to the GD). She was 9 lbs 15 oz and looked like a baby that was inside a mom with gestational diabetes. Made it into a nightmare labor, since she was limp and huge. I started that labor at the birth center and transferred to the hospital when they couldn't find her heartbeat.</p> <p>So, the plan of action, if I do get pregnant again, is to be induced at 38 weeks, in a hospital. Firstly, cause I need to be monitored for the onset of labor, and second cause the size of the baby does make a big difference in your labor, natural or not. Third, it's because if there is a sugar issue, the NICU or special care nursery would be able to help right away. I don't even care about my natural birth plan being out the window for another baby, cause all I care is bringing home a healthy baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-784126 Wed, 15 May 2013 18:05:27 +0000 loveisstrange 784126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: from what ive seen, i think the closest thing to an english muffin here is a crumpet, although crumpets seem to be a denser bread. </p> <p>Sorry, totally unrelated. Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-784113 Wed, 15 May 2013 17:55:46 +0000 banana 784113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had GD with both of my pregnancies and I was able to control it with diet alone so it's definitely possible! I also only had 5-10 lbs to lose after the pregnancy (the plus side!). I must say that the whole GD experience has positively changed the way I and my family eat now. Exercise made a huge difference (walking right after eating). And lots of proteins along with the limited amount of carbs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-784061 Wed, 15 May 2013 17:31:36 +0000 Keds 784061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was also diagnosed with GD and was really upset at first, but it wasn't really that bad in the end. It was hard in the beginning figuring out what I could and couldn't eat, but once I had that down it was much better. I also got SO tired of having eggs for breakfast!!! </p> <p>I was able to control my numbers during the day with diet alone, but my levels dipped and then spiked overnight no matter what I did, so I was on insulin before bed for most of my pregnancy. I am terrifed of needles and almost passed out when they told me how to use the insulin monitor so believe me when I say that the insulin shots aren't that bad!! They are nowhere near as bad as I made them out to be in my head. </p> <p>The couple of tips I got from my GD specialist were to try sprouted wheat bread instead of regular whole wheat. I'm not sure if you have it in the UK, but in the states this was the one I liked: <a href="http://www.alvaradostreetbakery.com/product_detail.php?id=33" rel="nofollow">http://www.alvaradostreetbakery.com/product_detail.php?id=33</a></p> <p>I don't know why it affects your insulin levels differently than regular bread, but it seemed to work. Also eating things like fruit and higher carb items in the morning seemed to affect my numbers much less than they did in the evening. </p> <p>Finally, her biggest tip was to try walking for 20 minutes after eating. This did wonders for bringing my numbers down. I couldn't necessarily walk every time I ate because of my job, but when I could I had a lot more flexibility in what or how much I could eat without a huge spike. </p> <p>I hope that helps. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783982 Wed, 15 May 2013 16:51:59 +0000 Cherrybee 783982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: So they're like bread rolls? I have never, ever seen one of those (apart from at McDonalds!!). According to Wikipedia, "Most British supermarkets sell variations on the standard bread muffin, notably cheese and fruited. A distinct species of baked good, with pieces of chocolate, blueberries, or other dried fruit, are also sold in the United Kingdom as "muffins". Muffins are also available in traditional British tea rooms, served with breakfast or low/afternoon tea, although tea cakes are more commonly found in such places." I really haven't seen one though!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783968 Wed, 15 May 2013 16:40:49 +0000 ShootingStar 783968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: LOL there's something ironic about not having english muffins in England. They're kind of like a cross between toast and a bagel. They're individualized, like bagels, but smaller than a piece of toast. These are the quintessential English muffins - <a href="http://thomasbreads.com/Our-Products/English-Muffins/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://thomasbreads.com/Our-Products/English-Muffins/Default.aspx</a>. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783940 Wed, 15 May 2013 16:27:49 +0000 Cherrybee 783940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Thank you!! I've yet to try potato - I need to add that in one evening and see how it goes!! 6lb 15oz is a perfect size!! Amazing!! :-) </p> <p>@MrsCB: Pitta, crackers, white rice, even apples - all that stuff is completely out for me! It must be the metformin that's sorting you out, it sounds like good stuff!! </p> <p>Girls, I've now idea what these "English Muffins" are - I've Googled them and don't think we have them here (in England!), apart from at Mcdonalds! Muffins are like big cup cakes here! Kinda like this guy: </p> [attach=2581/13/mmuzme.600x447.englishmuffin1.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783874 Wed, 15 May 2013 15:58:33 +0000 2PeasinaPod 783874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ah...I can't believe I missed this post!</p> <p>I was diagnosed with GD at 28 weeks! I was devastated as well. I so thought I would pass with flying colors. I failed so badly on my 1-hour test that they didn't even send me for the 3-hour test! I was angry. I don't eat sweets, and pre-pregnancy, I was 5'1" and 110 pounds. I only gained a total of 25 pounds during pregnancy (it was somewhere around 17 or 18 at that point) and I was just plain angry. </p> <p>The biggest thing was that my mom has type 2 diabetes now as an adult. So risk factor right there, and they didn't test for GD back in the day, but my younger brother was a 9 pound 13 oz baby! So I'm fairly certain it was genetic.</p> <p>I AM one of those people who was able to control my blood sugar levels with diet alone. It was hard...REALLY hard, but i did it. We have a wellness coordinator in our department here who is also a nutritionist, so I consulted with her on better foods to eat. </p> <p>@MrsCB: has great suggestions for diet. Try to match your complex carbs with some sort of protein to help balance your meals.</p> <p>For breakfast, I almost always ate a whole grain english muffin with chunky peanut butter or plain Greek yogurt. Cereal with milk skyrocketed my blood sugar. Milk has a lot of natural sugar in it as does a lot of the wonderful fruit I was eating to try to be healthy. Nuts and veggies were my BFFs. For snacks, try to get an assortment of nuts...almonds, cashews, peanuts...things that also have protein.</p> <p>I ate a lot of salads with oil and vinegar as my dressing (trying not to get a dressing with a lot of sugar). Dinner was almost always plain chicken/beef/fish with a huge helping of veggies and a very small helping of potatoes. </p> <p>You can definitely do this...and try not to let someone tell you that you can't. You just have to be very careful of what you eat. The other thing that helped a lot is walking right after eating. So I would eat dinner and then go for a walk around our neighborhood with my husband. I would check my blood sugar at the appropriate time, and it was fine. Diet + appropriate exercise will give you a fighting chance. </p> <p>For what it's worth, I gained only 25 pounds with my pregnancy. My son was 6 pounds, 15 ounces at birth. Perfect size...especially for someone with GD. If you have any questions or need other suggestions of what to eat...shoot me a note on my wall! I'll try to check back here too!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783808 Wed, 15 May 2013 15:37:46 +0000 ShootingStar 783808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And yes, I miss my baked brie in pastry with jam on it! So bad for you but SOOO good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783805 Wed, 15 May 2013 15:37:05 +0000 ShootingStar 783805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I am thinking maybe it is the Metformin is helping. I was seeing an RE to get pregnant, and she did a bunch of blood tests. My A1c was at a pre-diabetic level (6.1), and so was my fasting blood sugar. Fasting blood sugar (in American measurements) over ~130 is considered diabetic, between 100-~130 is pre-diabetic. Mine was 120ish. But the last few mornings when I've taken it, it's in the 80s. </p> <p>Stuff I eat - frequently egg mcmuffins for breakfast (surprisingly diabetic friendly), lunch is usually sandwiches on pita with whole wheat crackers and maybe an apple. Snacks are apples with peanut butter, or cheese sticks with crackers or turkey and cheese roll ups. Dinner varies, last night we had panko crusted tilapia, basmatic (white) rice, and spinach sauteed in garlic and olive oil. I know the rice plus breading on the fish was more carbs than I should probably eat, but surprisingly my blood sugar was well below the recommended level. </p> <p>I have been trying to balance what I eat - carbs along with a protein or two, but I don't measure anything or count anything. Tonight's pizza will have cheese, chicken and prosciutto, so that I can up the protein content. But it'll be a lot of dough and I'm curious to see what happens. </p> <p>Are you making sure to eat the right combinations of things? Cereal with milk might have too much sugar for you. And contrary to what I see recommended, I think whole milk is better than reduced fat because it has more fat (for balance) and less sugar. Maybe try a whole grain english muffin with eggs, or peanut butter (I assume they have those in the UK?) for breakfast? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783775 Wed, 15 May 2013 15:27:05 +0000 Cherrybee 783775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: What kinda stuff are you eating? Do you think it could be the Metformin that's keeping your levels down? How did you know you were pre-diabetic?</p> <p>Fruits raise my levels a little - but it's not ridiculous!! Yeah, full fat dairy sounds like a plan. I've been having cheese as a snack, maybe I'll up that a little bit. It's not the same without nice cheeses and a glass of red though, huh?!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783771 Wed, 15 May 2013 15:25:02 +0000 ShootingStar 783771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I was diagnosed last week or the week before? I'm gonna blame pregnancy brain for not being able to remember, haha. </p> <p>I'm not sure what my secret is - I started another thread on this, but I'm kind of questioning the diagnosis. I already knew I was pre-diabetic, which might be why I failed. But all of my numbers since then have been normal, whereas I used to have elevated b/s. So IDK.</p> <p>ETA: Oh, and make sure to eat fruits if grains are too much for you, since you need carbs when you're pregnant. Sorry you're having trouble getting enough calories :-(. Try full fat dairy maybe? 4% cottage cheese won't have a bad effect on your blood sugar, probably. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783760 Wed, 15 May 2013 15:20:36 +0000 Cherrybee 783760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: Hey! I'm doing pretty well thank you! It's fun in a weird way, isn't it?! </p> <p>The first couple of days were a disaster zone - I was eating the foods on the hospital's "healthy eating" sheet - Bran Flakes, whole grain bread etc - and my readings were sky high! Then, from Sunday, I started a super low carb diet - basically just meat and salad - and my readings have been awesome. Once a day, I add a new "healthy carb" from their list like a little spoon full of brown rice with my salad but every time my levels have rocketed!! Problem is, though, I'm now struggling to get enough calories - I've lost 2lb in just under a week. Today, my blood sugar levels were amazing (yogurt and a few raspberries for breakfast, soup for lunch and beef &amp; stir fried veg for dinner) but I had only eaten 715 calories at 8pm.... I've just shoveled another yogurt down.... </p> <p>So when were you diagnosed? It's great that you've got it under control so quickly - what's your secret? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-783694 Wed, 15 May 2013 14:59:05 +0000 ShootingStar 783694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I wanted to check in and see how you were doing? I was recently diagnosed too and I was really worried at first about the diet and taking blood sugar readings, but now I'm kind of addicted to seeing what the meter says. I also was diagnosed while I was being bad about taking my Metformin, but I started taking it regularly again and every single reading I've had since I got my meter on Monday has been within the normal range. And I was pre-diabetic before! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-775956 Sun, 12 May 2013 04:31:27 +0000 Sweet T 775956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any advice but wanted to comment so I would remember to come back! I took the one-hour test in my first trimester and it came back slightly elevated. I have to take the 3 hour test soon and I am dreading it. I didn't have GD with my first and was not expecting it at all this time around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-775556 Sat, 11 May 2013 19:35:47 +0000 tinyperson 775556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was diagnosed at around 26 weeks, just before Canadian Thanksgiving in October. I was devastated. Tears galore! I didn't even have any of the risk factors.</p> <p>The prenatal clinic I was going to had a diabetes clinic I had to attend every two weeks. I had a growth ultrasound at each appointment. I was weighed, had my BP taken, and discussed numbers with a dietician in front of the rest of the group (not private unless you requested). I have white coat BP, and having it taken in front of a bunch of strangers didn't help. Once that was done, I had to meet with one of the endos (whichever was free from a floating group of doctors). Then I saw a perinatologist to discuss the u/s. Because I never saw the same doctor 2 appts in a row, continuity of care was severely lacking. My numbers might have been good in the eyes of a doctor one week, but not good enough for a different doctor the next time. I found that really hard to cope with. It was hard any given week to know whether I was doing well! All that being said, I received good care. I will go back because I like my OB/GYN who works out of that practice.</p> <p>In Canada, it seems like they don't do tablets for GD. I had to go on insulin for my fasting numbers and for lunch. I ended up forgetting my lunch dose more often than not, and could still kept my lunch numbers under control - I think the week they based the prescription on was just a bad week. I found the insulin needles much less painful than the blood sugar test pokes! I thought it would be awful, but once I'd done it for a few days, and got over the fact that I was sticking a needle in my side, it was fine. I could even relax a little because I knew the insulin was keeping my numbers low. I had reduced sugar ice cream as a snack quite a few nights :)</p> <p>My LO ended up being breech quite early on, and didn't move. I did get the feeling that they would induce around 38 weeks if it weren't for that...not sure how that would have played out because it was a non-issue. My baby was measuring about 6 lbs 8 oz at my last u/s 2 weeks before my c section, but ended up being 5lbs 8oz at birth. </p> <p>One nice thing about the whole experience was that I only gained 15 lbs! That weight is gone, and I just want to lose extra weight now...</p> <p>I had my follow up glucose test at 4 months, and I was so nervous that it would be bad, but results were normal. I thought maybe because I needed insulin, that I had undiagnosed pre-pregnancy diabetes or something, but it wasn't the case.</p> <p>All this to say that I know what it feels like to go through this. It's not fun, and I struggled with the scheduling of my day and figuring out what to eat. I remember I went to a grocery store by myself one afternoon and was almost I tears in the produce section because I couldn't just buy a banana or some grapes - it felt so unfair that even healthy foods were restricted! </p> <p>If you end up on insulin and need someone to talk to, message me! Lots of hugs and prayers being sent your way...</p> <p>(Sorry for the long reply!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-775473 Sat, 11 May 2013 18:27:44 +0000 swedishfish 775473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: it will get better as you figure out what makes your number spike and what keeps it lower. I'm sorry though :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-775418 Sat, 11 May 2013 17:29:11 +0000 Cherrybee 775418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swedishfish: Yeah, we use some weird-ass measurement millimoles per litre. You use milligrams per 100 millilitres! 140 for you is about 8 for me - I also need to be below 8 1hr after eating. I was 12.6 today after dinner, which is about 225. I'm actually scared to eat now :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-775406 Sat, 11 May 2013 17:05:20 +0000 avivoca 775406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Hugs! I hope you are able to manage your glucose through diet alone, but if you do need shots, it will be okay too. My husband is Type 1, and takes three shots a day. The needle is really small and you barely can feel it (I pricked myself accidentally while getting a shot ready). The only time it hurts is if he hits the same spot too often or if the needle is slightly dull. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-775399 Sat, 11 May 2013 16:53:03 +0000 swedishfish 775399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I think it has helped. My fasting numbers were increasing but now they seem to be under control (knock on wood!). What should your numbers be under after meals? Our meters must be different in the US because I'm supposed to be under 140 an hour after eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-775397 Sat, 11 May 2013 16:48:36 +0000 Cherrybee 775397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swedishfish: Does the metformin work?? I've been upsetting myself a bit today because I've tried to be good and my sugar levels were 11.4 after breakfast and 12.6 after dinner (around 5 before meals both times). I'm going to try a low carb diet for a few days (today has been a "healthier carb" day, which clearly doesn't work for me) but if it doesn't reduce the figures I'd be willing to have a bit of nausea for the greater good!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-775245 Sat, 11 May 2013 13:20:11 +0000 swedishfish 775245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I had to go through IVF to get pregnant and my RE put me on Metformin before we tried any other interventions to see if my cycles would regulate. He wanted me to stay on it throughout the pregnancy. It did make me nauseated at first but I'm used to it now - I just make sure I take each dose after a meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-774878 Sat, 11 May 2013 08:02:11 +0000 Ra 774878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I'm sorry to hear :( Big hugs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-774871 Sat, 11 May 2013 07:50:08 +0000 Cherrybee 774871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: That's a great story! See, it can be done!! Oh and minimize away (please!), I really need to get over myself - anyone would think this was terminal the way I'm reacting! </p> <p>@Pumpkinspice: Thank you. Hopefully it wont come to that..... but if it does I will definitely need a pep talk!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-774846 Sat, 11 May 2013 07:21:30 +0000 Crisark 774846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I promise if it comes to insulin it's not as bad as you think. And honestly, the fancy pen hurt more for me then the regular needles. It became normal to stick myself in the belly 4 times a day. It was weird to stop once the baby came. I was that use to it.<br /> Hopefully it won't come to that for you but if it does I'd be happy to talk more about how I dealt with it if you needed me to!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-774818 Sat, 11 May 2013 06:58:17 +0000 hummusgirl 774818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup I feel you! Sorry you have it. Like everyone else, I was so upset at first (pretty sure I made a post here called GD Pity Party!) but in the end it was no big deal. I controlled it with diet and exercise, went into labor naturally at 39 weeks and LO was 6 lbs. Looking back it was nothing to get that upset about! As far as pregnancy complications it could be much worse (not trying to minimize what you're feeling because I was there too, but if I get GD next pregnancy I won't freak out like I did with the first). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-774796 Sat, 11 May 2013 06:24:29 +0000 Cherrybee 774796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StrawberryBee: Thank you! The hugs were much needed!</p> <p> @autumnlove: It's great that you could control it with food alone. I really hope I can do the same. It's mad that you were diagnosed at 6 weeks - they wont test you here until you are 24 weeks! </p> <p>@yin: That's exactly the same weight I was when I was born! My mum has GD too - but I was 6 weeks early! Glad it all worked out well for you. </p> <p>@swedishfish: Thank you for the support. How do you find metformin? My mum was on it for a while (type 2 diabetic) and she says it made her feel really nauseous? </p> <p> @ladyfingers: Oh no! just before thanksgiving?!! I was diagnosed on my birthday! Yeah, I'm in the UK. I'm not sure how second opinions work about this - I'm seeing the specialist team attached to my hospital. I will find out though if I feel pressured into anything. I think the diabetes midwife's negativity was more to stop me feeling a failure if I couldn't control it with diet alone - but, personally, I'd rather be given hope!! :-)</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: I hope your test comes back clear. Fingers crossed for you! Let me know! </p> <p>@Pumpkinspice: Eek, insulin! That's my biggest fear! Pricking my finger is difficult enough, I'm not sure I could give myself an injection, even if it is with a snazzy pen thing. 11 weeks - you were diagnosed really early too!! I wonder why they say you can be tested until you're 24 weeks here? I have had a few fainting episodes since becoming pregnant, I think I've had this a while. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-774794 Sat, 11 May 2013 06:21:14 +0000 tinyperson 774794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have time to write much right now, but will add my experience later. Hugs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-gd-experience#post-774759 Sat, 11 May 2013 04:08:29 +0000 StrawberryBee 774759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No experience to add, but HUGS! </p>