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32-36 weeks

32-36 weeks red plastic figure with worried looking face

Blood sugar levels Featured Posts GD Basics

32 – 36 weeks, the toughest time for most

31st October 20169th January 2021 Jo Paterson 14522 Views 32-36 weeks, high blood sugar levels, high readings, insulin resistance worsening, toughest time

32 – 36 weeks the toughest time… My levels have gone crazy?! Between 32 – 36 weeks are what we know

Just diagnosed

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Please Note: Due to Storm Arwen, my power went out

Please Note: Due to Storm Arwen, my power went out on Friday at 8pm and has still not been restored (time of posting: 30th Nov)
This means that I have extremely limited access to emails, social media & the GD UK website, with limited battery on my mobile phone and using mobile data.
My wonderful Facebook admin team are ensuring the Facebook groups are running as normal, but please be mindful that I may not be able to respond to emails etc.
I hope everyone who has been affected by the storm is keeping well & safe and thank you to the workers who are out there day & night trying their best to clear the roads & fix the power lines 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Here’s a few pics from where I live in the forest (well what’s left of it) in the beautiful Scottish Borders, #StaySafe Jo (Founder of Gestational Diabetes UK)

#GDUK #GDUKMums #SorryForAnyInconvenience

#StormArwen #stormarwen🚨 #NoElecrticity #NoHeating #NoHotWater #RuralLife #AfterTheStorm #Ashiestiel #ScottishBorders

HIGH FASTING LEVELS Fasting levels are THE HARDES

HIGH FASTING LEVELS

Fasting levels are THE HARDEST levels to control
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The dawn phenomenon is one of the typical causes of high fasting levels and it is completely out of our control
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The dawn phenomenon occurs when the body releases hormones in the early hours of the morning (hence ‘dawn’) in ALL people, diabetic and non-diabetic. These hormones cause blood sugar levels to rise, giving the body a boost and wake up call to start the day. This can typically happen anywhere between 3am and 8am
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In people with diabetes (including those diagnosed with gestational diabetes) not enough insulin is produced, or insulin is not able to be used effectively enough in order to process this boost in glucose, resulting in high fasting levels
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It’s very hard to control fasting levels. I have a few tips here which are worth trying, but if these do not work then it’s best to discuss high fasting levels with your diabetes team as they will be able to support you with medication such as Metformin and/or insulin. Remember, it is not your fault if you need that bit of extra help and even when on meds/insulin it can still take a lot of playing around with these tips and titrating doses to try to keep levels lowered and stable
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To read the full post, please swipe up in the Instagram stories or visit:
https://www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/high-fasting-levels/
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#dawnphenomenon #fastinglevels #highfastinglevels #fastingbloodglucose #fastingbloodsugar #A1c #HbA1c #bloodglucose #bloodsugars #gestationaldiabetesproblems #gestationaldiabetespregnancy #diabeticpregnancy #pregnantdiabetic #gestationaldiabetes #type2diabetes #MODY #LADA #type2pregnancy #pregnantwithdiabetes #Metformin #Insulin #basalinsulin #gestationaldiabetessucks #gestationaldiabetessupport #gduk #gdukmums #gestationaldiabetesuk #gestationaldiabetesukmums #teamgduk
#damnhormones

What can you do if you are diagnosed with gestatio

What can you do if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes late in pregnancy?
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1. Change your diet straight away
Hit the ground running with dietary advice that we know works for a majority of those diagnosed with GDM. Don’t mess around with the riskier choices such as breakfast cereals, fruit as snacks, baked beans, or low fat diet foods. Go straight for a low-carb, high-protein diet. Pairing small amounts of complex carbs with natural fats & lots of protein, serve with plenty leafy green vegetables or green salad, following the #8GoldenRules of #GDFoodPairing
GD UK Diet: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/gestational-diabetes-diet/
Shopping List: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/shopping-list/
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2. Keep a food diary & monitor your blood glucose levels
By keeping a food diary alongside your blood sugar levels it will be much easier to see which foods are causing spikes in levels meaning they can be avoided for better alternatives at this late stage.
With an earlier diagnosis you have more time to tweak foods which may cause higher levels, reducing the carbs & increasing the protein & fats to make them more tolerable. When diagnosis is late in pregnancy, there isn’t enough time to do this
How to test: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/testing-blood-sugar-levels/
When’s best to test: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/blood-sugar-levels/
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3. Harvest colostrum if you plan on breastfeeding
Babies born to diabetic mothers often struggle with their own blood sugar levels after birth. With late diagnosis, baby will have been overproducing their own insulin to process the sugar being fed from the mother. After birth the baby continues to do this and their blood sugar levels can drop very low. To counteract this, the baby has to feed, feed, feed. Lots of skin to skin and breastfeeding helps lots but sometimes baby will need additional top up feeds in between breastfeeds. Having a store of colostrum to hand means you have this ready to go.
Formula also works but much more is needed than with colostrum
www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/colostrum-harvesting/

#GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesUK

When should you take your fasting levels? ⠀ The

When should you take your fasting levels?
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The majority of women with GD will be asked to take a daily fasting reading
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This is a blood glucose [BG] level taken first thing in the morning...
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1. Wake Up 🥱
2. Wee (I’ve added this in because I don’t know a pregnant Mumma who doesn’t need a wee as soon as she wakes up!) 🚽
3. Wash hands 🧼
4. Test 🩸
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If you brush your teeth, have a shower, run around after your kids, have a coffee etc and then test this can impact your fasting level and give a false fasting reading ❌
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You may have noticed your fasting BG level is better or worse depending on different factors, like getting up and having a shower etc.
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Don’t try to manipulate your readings so that you achieve a recorded lower than target reading - this is only cheating your baby! We are gathering this information so that we can truly see what our body is doing when fasting
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Stick to the same rules every day, whether you’re up early for work or on the school run or having a lie in
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Fasting levels are an important level to evaluate as they show an indicator of your true baseline BG levels (what your body is doing when we are not active and when food or drink has been processed)
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For a guide on testing BG levels check out: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/testing-blood-sugar-levels/
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And for help with high fasting levels check out: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/high-fasting-levels/
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#FastingLevels #FastingBloodGlucose #FastingBloodSugar #Fasting #FastingBloodGlucoseLevels #FastingBloodSugarLevels #FastingLevel #FastingPlasma #GTT #TestingBloodSugar #TestingBloodGlucose
#GDUK #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GDPregnancy #DiabeticPregnancy #DiabetesInPregnancy #HighRiskPregnancy #Type2Pregnancy #GDM #GlucoseToleranceTest #GDDiagnosis #BloodGlucose #BloodSugar #BloodGlucoseLevels #BloodSugarLevels
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A simple sentence that can break a mother and play

A simple sentence that can break a mother and play on the mind throughout the rest of pregnancy
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then the thoughts...
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...you failed the glucose tolerance test
...you failed this pregnancy
...you failed your baby
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Y O U F A I L E D 😢
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I’m not sure why it has become the norm to say we ‘failed’ the glucose tolerance test? With all other tests in pregnancy, you get results and you’re told that you have a condition, or have tested positive. So why does failure come into it at all?
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Therefore I’d like everyone to share this message loud and clear:
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“YOU HAVE NOT FAILED ANYTHING!”
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This message of failure is what upsets so many mothers.
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A positive result of GD means that due to hormones produced in pregnancy, the mother cannot use, or make enough insulin in order to keep their blood sugar levels at a low and stable level which is safe for the growing baby.
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Let’s take the blame, guilt and bad feelings of failure away from mothers with GD.
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Please, like and re-post to raise some awareness
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If you’re newly diagnosed with GD, a great place to start is this post on my website: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/gestational-diabetes-diagnosis/
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#GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #GD #GDM #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #GDProblems #GestationalDiabetesSucks #DiagnosedWithGestationalDiabetes #GTT #OGTT #GlucoseToleranceTest #Glucola #GlucoseTest #PregnancyTests #YouHaveNotFailed #NoFailuresHere #Midwife #Midwives #DSN #DiabetesMidwife #DMW #DiabeticNurse #DiabeticSpecialistNurse #Diabetes #NoOneHasFailed
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My Autumnal spin-off of my Breakfast Muffins, thes

My Autumnal spin-off of my Breakfast Muffins, these Pumpkin Breakfast Muffins are a great choice if you struggle with carbs at breakfast, or if you’re looking for quick & easy breakfast ideas that you can eat on the run

These muffins are packed with natural fats, protein & fibre so they will fill you up and give you a great start to the day without spiking blood glucose levels

Sweet Pumpkin Spice flavours of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg & cloves, these self-paired muffins are the perfect companion to your morning cuppa!

This recipe is now live for all GD UK Bronze & Silver members gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/pumpkin-breakfast-muffins/

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

#PumpkinBreakfastMuffins #BreakfastMuffins #LowCarbMuffins #SugarFreeMuffins #GlutenFreeMuffins #PumpkinSpice #PumpkinSpiceLife #PumpkinSpiceEverything #GDUKMembershipRecipe #GDUKMembershipRecipes #LowCarbBreakfast #PumpkinMuffins #LowCarbPumpkinMuffins #SugarFreePumpkinMuffins #GlutenFreePumpkinMuffins #JosGDRecipes

Are you ready for Halloween? You can still enjoy

Are you ready for Halloween?

You can still enjoy Halloween and have loads of fun with these ideas!

Check out my Halloween post now @ gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/halloween/

#JosGDRecipes #LowCarbHalloween #SugarFreeHalloween #GDFoodPairing #8GoldenRules #GestationalDiabetesHalloween #DiabeticHalloween #DiabeticHalloweenRecipes #SugarFreeHalloweenFun #LowCarbHalloweenFood #GestationalDiabetes #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #Type2Pregnancy #PregnantDiabetic #HalloweenPregnancy #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums

If you’re carving Halloween pumpkins then make s

If you’re carving Halloween pumpkins then make sure you save all those seeds! 🎃

Pumpkin seeds make for the perfect GD-friendly snack and they are a great pairing tool to use with carbs to lower your spike in blood glucose levels as they are high in natural fats & protein👌🏻

You can roast pumpkin seeds plain or with herbs & spices to your liking

This Halloween I’m sharing my Pumpkin Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe, so if you’re a fan of that pumpkin spice flavour then give it a go!

Check out the recipe @ gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/roasted-pumpkin-seeds/

#JosGDRecipes #PumpkinSeeds #RoastPumpkinSeeds #RoastedPumpkinSeeds #PumpkinSpiceRoastedPumpkinSeeds #PumpkinSpice #HalloweenSnacks #LowCarbHalloween #SugarFreeHalloween #LowCarbSnacks #LowCarb #LCHF #DiabeticSnacks #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #GDUKMums #GDDiet #GDFoodPairing #8GoldenRules

Seeing this post on my Facebook group last night m

Seeing this post on my Facebook group last night made my heart sing 💜

The membership on my website funds the work I do, pays for the running costs of a professional website and means that the GD UK site remains a free website for anyone to benefit from without annoying pop ups and adverts. Everything you NEED to know to have a successful and better GD pregnancy is absolutely FREE for all to use and there are also lots of free recipes to try 🥰

🥉Bronze membership at £5 a month gives access to additional recipes
🥈Silver membership at £7 a month gives access to additional recipes and 7-day meal plans all based on my 8 Golden Rules of eating

The minimum membership is 1 month, meaning you can join & cancel the same day and this will give you access to the membership area for exactly 1 month for just £5/£7. Or you can continue with the membership for as long as you wish. The monthly subscription continues until you cancel

If you’d like to find out more about GD UK membership check out gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/membership-options/ or for those on Instagram, use the link in my bio

Special thanks to Elizabeth @immrsoreganxx fellow GD Mum and GD UK Facebook Admin for letting me share her famous lasagne recipe within the membership area and for all the help & support she gives me in running the Facebook groups and as an amazing friend 😘 (believe it or not, we’ve never even met in person, just like the rest of my team 😱…one day ladies, one day 🤞🏻) xxx

#GDUKMembership #GDUKMembershipRecipes #JosGDRecipes #GDUK7DayMealPlans #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GestationalDiabetesMeals #GestationalDiabetesRecipes #GestationalDiabetesSnacks #GestationalDiabetesSupport #GDUK #GDUKMums #8GoldenRules #GDFoodPairing #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #DiabeticRecipes #LCHF

You know you want it 😉 Need help with a hospi

You know you want it 😉

Need help with a hospital bag list specifically for those who have gestational diabetes or diabetes in pregnancy? Including a GD-friendly snack list, then check out gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/hospital-bag-list/

#GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #Pregnancy #Maternity #Pregnant #HospitalBagList #HospitalBag #HospitalBagEssentials #HospitalBagChecklist #ReadyForBirth #ReadyForHospital #IsMyBagBigEnough #GDUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #TeamGDUK

2 new recipes on their way, but which would you pi

2 new recipes on their way, but which would you pick?

Vegan Sausage Hotpot or Lancashire (Lamb) Hotpot?

#JosGDRecipes #GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetesUK #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes

Hi everyone 👋🏻 That’s me back after a lo

Hi everyone 👋🏻

That’s me back after a lovely half term holiday break with my family. We went to the Isle of Skye again, back to a lovely house in Elgol and had a wonderful week away doing all the things we love ❤️
🌊 beach combing for seaglass, shells, pebbles & crabs
🛥 a boat trip (I highly recommend the @mistyisleboat trip from Elgol if the weather permits. My boys loved it, we saw lots of huge seal pups and the scenery is absolutely beautiful)
🦅 loads of Birdwatching
🦦 🐮 🦌 Spotting lots of local wildlife like my beautiful otter that I managed to catch on camera (we were super lucky!) and highland coos
🛍 shopping for random holiday tat!
🍦 ice cream
🔥 toasting marshmallows and making s’mores on the hill

Now I’m back I’m going to be working hard to share some of my favourite cold weather family recipes, so I wanted to ask, what’s your favourite winter comfort food dish?

Comment below ⬇️

#JosGDRecipes #GeststionalDiabetesUK #GDUKMums #IsleOfSkye #Elgol

Hands up who’s been caught out by the sugar-free

Hands up who’s been caught out by the sugar-free sweets?
💩💩💩😰😱🥴💩💩💩💨💨💨

If you’ve not tried them, then I warn you now… stick to 2 or 3 individual sweets MaX!!!

TRUST ME! 😉
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www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/sugar-free/

#diabeticproblems #sugarfreesweets #sugarfreecandy #gestationaldiabetes #gestationaldiabetesdiet #gestationaldiabetessucks

Chaffles ⠀ These chaffles are the perfect low ca

Chaffles
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These chaffles are the perfect low carb cheesy savoury bread substitute. Especially useful if you want a bigger filling lunch and want a substitute for a sandwich to go with a bag of crisps at lunchtime
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Chaffles or ‘cheese waffles’ are a low carb waffle that are a bit of a craze in the *keto diet world and are basically a waffle made from egg and mozzarella
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I find chaffles are particularly good at being a bread substitute for a low carb sandwich and I’ve tweaked my own recipe to make a lovely savoury chaffle which serves this purpose well
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If you’re looking for a sweet waffle recipe, my coconut flour flaxseed waffles are a much better alternative
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A basic chaffle recipe is made with 1 egg and grated mozzarella cheese. I prefer my chaffles to have a bit more substance and flavour to them and so I achieve this by adding a small amount of ground almonds, baking powder and some herbs
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You can tweak this recipe to suit your tastes, it works very well with different herbs and spices
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Due to the ingredients used, these chaffles are self-paired and pack such a high protein and fat punch that they will actually help pair other carbs eaten with them, such as a bag of crisps, or fruit! Perfect for a filling lunch
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Here I’ve sandwiched 2 chaffles with mayo, lettuce leaves, tomato, ham & cheese 🧀 🍅 🥬 but you can fill them with any of your favourite sandwich fillings!
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www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/chaffles/
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*Whilst chaffles are a keto recipe, I do not recommend following a full keto diet in pregnancy unless you have a good understanding of the impact of ketosis in pregnancy. The idea of this recipe is to eat it alongside a small serving of carbs. Please see my post on ketones if you would like to read more about this www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/ketones/
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#todaysmealonthewall #mealonthewall #josgdrecipes #chaffles #chafflesandwich #chafflesandwiches #cheesewaffles #cheesewafflesandwich #garlicandherbchaffles #garlicandherbchaffle #gestationaldiabeteslunch #gestationaldiabeteslunchideas #diabeticlunch #diabeticlunchideas #diabeticpregnancy #type2pregnancy #pregnantdiabetic #gduk

Gestational Diabetes UK is lighting this candle to

Gestational Diabetes UK is lighting this candle to join the #waveoflight2021 for all the babies that we hold in our hearts but not in our arms💞🕯

Gestational Diabetes UK will support members from TTC, through pregnancy, birth and beyond WHATEVER the outcomes. We will never turn away a post about a baby who has been born sleeping, nor will we censor or demand a trigger warning to be added because baby loss is mentioned. We are there to help and support ALL those who want a place to post about GD in pregnancy, birth & beyond which will sometimes include posts on baby loss, with mothers needing support around what to do following a loss, or because they want their turn of sharing their birth story of their GD baby (all this information is contained within our Facebook group rules, in the pinned posts & announcements for all to see & read on joining so should not come as a surprise)

I refuse to shy away from mentioning baby & child loss and will continue to raise awareness on this matter
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#stillbornbutstillborn #alwaysinmyheart #neverforgotten #yourenotalone #1in4 #Im1in4 #babylossawareness #infantlossawareness #breakthesilence #miscarriage #blaw #blaw2021 #blawweek #blawmonth #waveoflight #babyloss #babylossawarenessweek #babylossawarenessmonth #stillbirth #stillbirthawareness #bornsleeping #pregnancylossawareness #angelbaby #angelbabies #childloss #lifeafterloss #miscarriagematters #GDUKMums #notjustbigbabies

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