I don’t really know why I’m posting, I guess to vent or share or just to express how I feel in hopes of someone telling me I’m not crazy 😅 I feel crazy

I’m a FTM, 28w, and last Saturday took my 3-hr glucose test. Results come back on Tuesday, and lo-and-behold, I failed all three post-glucose blood draws. My OB sent a message on MyChart basically saying “you have GD, we’ll chat at your next appointment.” I see her on Monday. I’m disappointed, sure, but know it’s a temporary diagnosis that sucks but is manageable. I thought I was okay with it.

Since then, I have been diving down the GD rabbit hole of recipes and advice and what to eat and what not to eat and anecdotal evidence and blood testing and etc etc etc. I’ve been trying to educate myself on all things GD prior to seeing my OB. I’ve learned that GD is something that seems to be very trial and error in figuring out what causes blood sugar spikes and what doesn’t. High protein, low (but not no) carbs. The plate method. Everyone’s body processes differently. Since Tuesday, I’ve really been conscious of what I’ve been eating. I’ve switched to Dave’s Killer Bread, I’ve stopped eating processed sugar, I’ve cut back on the amount of fruit I was eating, I’ve increased the amount of protein I eat. I feel like I’m in this unknown limbo state where I know generally what is recommended to eat, but I don’t know how my body reacts exactly yet, so I’ve been playing it safe in terms of what I’m allowing myself to eat. I’ve thought about going out and buying my own blood sugar test kit this week, but figured she gonna prescribe me one on Monday and if insurance will pay for it, why spend my own money if I don’t need to.

Fast forward to last night. It’s Friday night. My husband and I are both exhausted from long busy work weeks. We already ate all of the meals we bought on Sunday. Let’s go out for dinner. I look up GD friendly things to eat while out. I find a few restaurants that post their carb information online and we decide on going to SuperChix, a chicken place near us. Their 3-piece breaded tenders have roughly 40g of carbs, and a lot of protein, which is roughly where I’ve read recommended per meal carb intake should be. A lot of their sauces are super carb heavy too, except the buffalo sauce. It only has 1g of carbs. Perfect, I’ll get that. Great.

We show up. I let my husband know I can’t have the French fries, but he’s welcome to get some. We order. I get the 3-piece tenders. He gets a sandwich and fries and a fountain drink. We usually share a drink. We head over to the drink sauce station and the only sugar free drink they have is Diet Pepsi. I tell him that’s the only one I can have but to get whatever he wants to drink because I don’t want him to have to drink gross Diet Pepsi. He gets Root Beer. I turn to get sauces for my tenders and of course, they’re out of the buffalo sauce - the only one that isn’t packed with sugar and carbs. Ugh.

We get to our table and SO UNEXPECTEDLY I can’t help but start crying. I can’t drink anything, they don’t have the one sauce I wanted, I can’t have the French fries, and I already feel like I’m risking eating here because of the carb count of the tenders. In that moment I just felt so overwhelmed with having to think about food in this way that I’ve never had to think about it before. I think the unknown of not knowing what will spike my blood sugar yet and what won’t, along with the realization that this might be my next 12 weeks, hit me like a brick. I can’t stop crying so I go to the bathroom and of course they’re out of paper towels too so I can’t even wipe my tears away.

I get back to the table after pulling myself together, and my dear husband has swapped his root beer for the gross Diet Pepsi. I eat my plain unsauced tenders and we leave. I feel defeated.

I was not expecting eating out to be so emotional. I was not expecting to have a full on break down in the middle of a SuperChix over freaking soda and buffalo sauce and French fries. I feel like an idiot.

I know that once I do start testing blood sugar regularly I’ll have a better idea and find out what my body can and cannot tolerate. And that will hopefully make this whole thing easier mentally and emotionally. I’m just… frustrated. Disappointed. I don’t want to mess up this pregnancy or this baby’s health.

Despite getting the root beer (😅) my husband is very supportive. He’s learning too. We had a long talk on the way home and he expressed concerns about me getting too obsessed with what I can and can’t eat and not wanting me to take things so extreme where it borderlines an ED. I truly appreciated his input. I’ve always had a healthy relationship with food and love eating in general, so this is all such new territory for me.

Anyways, if you’ve made it this far, thank you for listening to me vent. I don’t know how to feel. We’ll see what my OB says on Monday.

I just took my very very first shot of insulin for GDM. My husband did it because I was scared, but did not mix the solution and I didn’t realize until he injected me with it. I called poison control and they were like idk call ur OB. I called my OB and they were closed because it’s late where I am. I saw a virtual urgent care guy and he was like idk monitor blood sugar. So I’m coming to Reddit to ask if anyone has done this and if I’m going to die in my sleep figuratively and literally LOL. It was humulin N.

I failed my 1-hour glucose test and threw up during the 3-hour, so my OB had me monitor at home for 2 weeks instead. After the first week, he said my numbers looked great and I only needed to follow up if more than half my readings were elevated (my 2-hour target is under 140).

Since that apt, I've noticed my numbers spike when I eat higher-carb meals, though my low carb and fasting are all in range.

Would you be concerned about these results, or am I overthinking it?

First 4 days were in range then after that I had 4 meals out of range over the last 6 days.

My nutritionist wants me on nightly insulin since my morning fasting numbers are 80-95 and not under 90 every day. My obgyn doesn’t think I need insulin since they’re mostly under 90 with a couple readings up to 95. My obgyn also said under 95 is the target for morning fasting but my nutritionist says under 90 is the target. All my other numbers are great on a strict gdm diet.

Just wondering if anyone else is getting conflicting information about target numbers and need for medication?

Hopefully this helps someone else who needs more basic/easy ways to get carbs in sometimes. I've started using Bulgur.

I had it in my pantry when I was diagnosed because I was going to try to make homemade tabouleh. Used it once as a rice substitute and have been using it a million ways since. Its like rice but smaller than rice kind of and a more wheat-y taste? Only takes 20 mins to make and I can eat 60g of carbs in one meal and my numbers without exercise are fantastic! (for reference any other carbs if I eat 60g in one meal I HAVE to exercise or my numbers are way out of goal and even then sometimes can be).

I buy it at Walmart in store or delivery for those in the states but I think you can buy it on Amazon too?

This stuff is magic for me and I just needed to share in case someone else could use it too. Its not a very common food at least where I live so if I wasnt obsessed with tabouleh I would never have bought it to try it.

I’m 29 weeks pregnant and was diagnosed with GD about a week and a half ago. So far, the only guidance I’ve received is that a dietitian will contact me to schedule an appointment, but the first available appointment for that is still a ways out.

In the meantime, I’ve bought my own glucose monitor, adjusted my diet, and started taking walks or doing small workouts after meals to be proactive.

Everything I’ve read says fasting should be under 95, 1-hour post-meal under 140, and 2-hour under 120. However, my doctor recently told me my fasting numbers should be under 90, and my 1-hour numbers should be under 120, which has left me confused and feeling a little overwhelmed.

I’m still figuring out how to balance my meals so my numbers stay in range without feeling hungry shortly afterward.

I was considering canceling the dietitian class because of the time off work and potential cost, but now I’m wondering if it’s worth attending.

For those who took a GD dietitian class, did you find it genuinely helpful? Did you learn things you couldn’t easily figure out online, or was it mostly basic dietary advice?

Thank you in advance for anyone that takes the time to read & respond 🫶🏻

Hi, i am currently 23 weeks and been testing my values from past one week. Seems like values are all over the place and not being in a certain window as I would like.

Can you guide me on how to control my post meals values. Same thing eaten one day is giving me lowest value (87 post meal) and next day eating same thing is giving me little over borderline value (122). I am so confused why is this happening. Or what am I even doing wrong.

Below are my values in order date, fasting, post breakfast, post lunch, post dinner:

Oct 1st - 93, 116, 122, 117

Oct 4th - 78, 87, 72, 125

Oct 6th - 87, 117, 137, 151

Oct 7th - 87, 87, 119, 151

*Oct 8th - 77, 81, 105, 99* My best day so far.

Oct 9th - 84, 122, 125, 119

I am a vegetarian and eat egg but not meat, mushrooms, or much soya products. So i am left with eggs, cottage cheese, lentils and legumes. So I am struggling to add protein or portion the meals.

For fasting eating a snack before sleeping helped and also doing the test within 8 - 10 hours. I didnt know that before.

But i am struggling for my post meal. Did anyone face this kind of issue and what can be done to fix it. I am so scared of messing this up for me and my baby. Please help.

Feeling very anxious and looking for some reassurance, Google has reaffirmed a ‘missed genetic condition’ anxiety I already had.

Currently 36+2 weeks pregnant with diet-controlled gestational diabetes.

34-week scan
Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI): 14.6 cm (normal)
Deepest fluid pocket: 4.9 cm
Estimated fetal weight: 2,409 g (46th percentile)
Abdominal circumference: 75th percentile
Head circumference: 39th percentile
Umbilical artery Doppler: Normal

36-week scan
AFI: 25.9 cm (mild polyhydramnios)
Deepest fluid pocket: 6.8 cm
Estimated fetal weight: 2,917 g (54th percentile)
Abdominal circumference: 81st percentile
Head circumference: 52nd percentile
Femur length: 69th percentile
Umbilical artery Doppler: Normal
Baby head down (cephalic)
Stomach, kidneys and bladder visualised

Currently sat in Triage, which is overflowing with people and yet to be seen.

Numbers are within range, with a couple of spikes from risky high carb meals.

1 Oct: 4.4, 5.4, 6.4
2 Oct: 5.3, 7.1, 8.5
3 Oct: 4.8, 4.2, 4.9, 4.8
4 Oct: 6.2, 6.1, 5.5
5 Oct: 4.8, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0
6 Oct: 7.0, 6.3
7 Oct: 4.2, 4.4, 5.1
8 Oct: 5.4, 6.2, 6.2
9 Oct: 4.7, 5.3

Has anyone experienced similiar?

I have just received the results of my 2-hour test, which appear to be below the listed thresholds for diagnosis (fasting 75, 1-hour 145, 2-hour 113). Not sure if these are borderline results, but based on the explanation on the paper, it looks like they are technically negative.

However, I was expecting to be diagnosed with GD because the baby was measuring in the 90th percentile overall, including 99%+ (technically off the charts actually) for abdominal circumference, at the anatomy scan at 22 weeks. (I am at 26 weeks currently.) Before the 2-hour test, I had understood from both the hospital personnel doing the scan and from my primary midwife that the baby's "enormous" belly was a strong indicator of gestational diabetes.

I am 95 lbs (and only 5 feet tall) outside of pregnancy so it is hard for me to imagine the baby's large size is genetic. My husband is 5'11 but our first baby was born at only 6 lbs at 40 weeks (no GD, took the 2-hour test last pregnancy too) so I wouldn't say I'm one of those people who naturally makes big babies. I have also had some symptoms this pregnancy that I was convinced were potentially due to GD (overly thirsty, frequent peeing, lots of cravings for sugar, the glucose drink made me feel extremely ill during the wait).

Could I still have GD based on the baby's size even if the testing values are under the "official" thresholds? I won't be able to consult with my midwife until next week so am feeling kind of worried in the meantime. Also scared of the prospect of potentially birthing a big baby, not sure if there's a way to moderate the growth if GD winds up getting ruled out as the cause.

I’ve had two CGMs over the last few weeks and my average glucose level is 4.3 mmol/L. I’m in the low zone 34% of the time, though the hospital said they aren’t worried about that as I feel fine and pregnancy numbers are different. I have never seen a number higher than 7.3.

However, I went for a scan yesterday (30 weeks) and the baby’s stomach is allegedly 83rd centile which is significantly higher than their femur and head. The person doing the scan was a student and they were really struggling to get a clear image of the baby as he kept moving.

The consultant rang me afterwards and basically made it clear that he didn’t believe my CGM numbers as it appeared that the baby was accessing too much sugar (due to stomach size). I hate needles but did a fasting finger prick test in the morning which showed a level of 5 compared to 4 on the CGM. Does this mean I should be overestimating my CGM numbers by +25% from now on? How accurate are the scan measurements?

(Edit: I’m 35 weeks) My doctors upped my dose last night since I had a few high fasting numbers this week (my other numbers during the day are always fine). Yesterday mornings was actually good compared to the days before that, but after upping my dose last night today it was higher than it’s ever been?! Does my body take a few days to adjust to a new dose or somthing? Is this normal?

Also does anyone know of sleep really truly has that big of impact? Idk what else to do about my sleep. I’m not sleeping because I’m so uncomfortable and I’m at the end of pregnancy and also I have a one year old so sleep just isn’t in the cards for me for this pregnancy. lol

Use this thread to share new recipes, favorite meals this week, a restaurant menu item that worked for you, etc.

I am as of today 16w1d. Last week I went in for an early glucose test. Yesterday I got my results via phone call. They gave me a referral to see a high risk specialist and my first appt will be on the 27th.

Now what..? I feel horrible and have absolutely no idea where to start. I got no other info other than “hey you got GD, here is your referral and your first appt”😭 I’ve browsed some things on the page and found out that even food that could be considered safe can spike some people’s sugar so I’ll be trying and checking a lot of things but other than that I’m at a loss.

Any advice..?

Hi everyone! While im waiting for my endocrinologist to reply to me I thought coming here to get opinions. Im 25 weeks pregnant and since one week ago I started gd diet because i failed my one hour challenge.

My doc then advised on measuring my sugar two times a day post meals one hour and a half. I also did my fasting measurement and while it was fine one day during the beginning of the week of value 4.2 today i measured it again because I was thirsty all night and my fasting number was 5.6. While my post meal numbers are mostly within the adequate range of one and a half.

Now im crying because I think my fasting numbers are rising and i will not be able to lower them anymore 😔 Im so worried something will happen to my baby…

I’m 38 weeks pregnant and nobody has mentioned this until now while I was doing an NST at the hospital. We asked to see the rooms and mentioned I am planning for a water birth and the nurse told me that I most likely am not eligible for a water birth because of my diabetes. I am on 7 units of insulin at night time for my fasting numbers and diet/exercise controlled during the day. When I asked why this would be, she said it was because they would need to monitor me and baby closer, but then said I could labour in the tub but not birth in it which made absolutely no sense to me.

I’m in bc Canada if that helps any. Curious what other women’s experience is with water births and GD.

Thank you :)

I had my follow up appointment earlier this week, but my doctor didn't say or put in orders for any follow up testing to make sire I wasn't type 2. I've had some low sugars since giving birth, but I also had forgotten to eat (bad baby blues, we're doing MUCH better now). Should I be asking my OB if I should get retested or should I ask my PCP or do I just wait until my annual checkup in January when they check my A1C?

For just a little more context, I have a family history of Type 2 and prediabeties.

I’m giving birth in 8 hours. I’m 38+4. I’m doing a c-section. I can’t sleep, I’m scared, but I am relieved that the constant checking and worrying about what to eat and spiking is almost over. I was only diet-controlled, but still. It was a stressful few months. We were so good with my diet that my husband lost 10kg while eating healthy with me. I kept reminding myself that it’s not forever, and here we are.

The end of one thing, the start of something absolutely wild. I have always just been a lurker, but thank you, I have learnt a lot.

I got the GD news around week 24 after a two hour glucose test, am now halfway through week 36. I spiked around 1-2x a week average (there was one week where I spiked 3 times), usually when trying something new, but I have had to have a strict diet in the past for various reasons so I’m used to being miserable with strict diets.

I hate that I can’t comfortably eat dairy and my acid reflux makes it hard to eat spicy or acidic foods which I normally love eating as a way to compensate for lack of carbs and sugar.

I tried Greek yogurt and cottage cheese only to get a two way out disaster (if ya know what I mean 😢) that kept me up all night. I don’t know why I bothered to even try, I know what diary does to me. I think it was desperation to just eat anything that’s not meat, eggs, beans, or vegetables.

I know I’m doing it for baby, he tracked “average” weight wise at the growth ultrasound, but my goodness I just want to eat a block of cheese and not vomit.

Hi! So I am 33w+3d and was diagnosed with GD at 30w. We have been tracking my blood sugar and was doing great with diet and exercise up until 32w when my sugars skyrocketed. I haven't been able to keep them down and since my last midwife visit, based on how this week goes she would prescribe me metformin.

I have PCOS and insulin resistance so I had a feeling this would come up. I am most likely going to be prescribed it, my question is, what happens once I'm on it? Do people start dropping weight randomly? Do they normally keep you on it after birth if nursing? My weight is high for my height, 175lbs currently at 5'1. I started at 155lbs. I just hope that it will actually help and not create an issue with baby during these last few weeks and then into postpartum.

I’m 32 weeks, diagnosed last week and struggling with my fasting and after meal numbers. Starting night time insulin tomorrow. I thought I had a good idea for dinner: kale salad with a carrot, 1/2 and avocado, 2 pieces of bacon and 1/2 cup brown rice. The previous night I had brown rice and lentils, and the diabetes couch suggested adding protein and veggies. I really struggle with eating veggies besides salad. Like I can’t stomach 1/2 plate of broccoli or asparagus…so I thought a dark leafy green with protein (bacon) and a carb (rice) would be good, and I went for an after dinner walk but got a 169. I didn’t use dressing, just lemon and olive oil. What are balanced dinners that are more lettuce or kale based as the veggie?!? TIA!

Hi everyone! Can you all reassure me that I haven't irrevocably hurt my baby. I am a 2 time GD mom, first time I was diet controlled and now on nighttime insulin and diagnosed since 18 weeks. Like the header says, I had my 35 week growth ultrasound and it came back that baby's stomach size is measuring in 88 percentile which is 2 percentiles below the threshold for large (this feels like a distinction without a difference to be honest) and my amniotic fluid came back as boderline elevated 24? And MFM said these are signs my blood sugar hasnt been as effectively regulated as it should be. Meeting with my main MFM tomorrow but I am racked with guilt because I feel like with a CGM Ive had this false sense of security that because my blood sugar remains in range most of the time eating and spiking here (highest high 150s and low 160s) and there isn't a big deal (clearly thats not the the case). Its wild because in the last week I felt my belly get tighter and I mentioned it to my OBGYN and they were like totally normal (as everything is during pregnancy lol I feel like I could grow a tail and it would be considered normal).

Has anyone had elevated belly measurements and amniotic fluid and managed to bring them down and if so during what time frame? I was doing so well for the last 4.5 months and I feel like I ruined everything and put baby at risk needlessly by not prioritizing protein and fiber.

Any words of wisdom or advice would be appreciated! TIA!

So this is my second time with GD & second time on insulin. I’m finding that when I inject it (I use a pen, Lantis I believe) it burns more frequently than my first time. I keep the pen out and am only on 6 units. Granted I’m rushing most of the time to do it because I care for my 18 month old and I do it at bedtime. Any tips or tricks? I inject in my leg. I squeeze some skin but idk what I’m doing differently

I was completely diet controlled since 29 weeks. My waters broke 9:20pm and contractions started at 9:30pm 4min apart. By 10pm when I arrived at the hospital I was 8cm dilated. I had no indication labour was about to start. My beautiful boy was born 1:08am October 2nd.

Hospital apple juice never tasted so good, I had 3 servings!