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Saturday, January 16, 2021

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Vegetable soup
Vegan shepherd’s pie
Cottage Pie
Cauliflower mash
Biscof Trifle

Gestational Diabetes UK

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condiments

raw chia seed jam

Jam (Raw Chia Seed Jam)

18th August 201820th July 2020 Jo Paterson berries, condiments, dairy free, gluten free, jam, jelly, low carb, nut free, preserves, refined sugar free, vegan, vegetarian

Jam is something that is generally a no go for women with gestational diabetes as it causes rapid, high blood

Sugar Free Mint Sauce

Mint sauce

14th March 201618th July 2020 Jo Paterson condiments, dairy free, gluten free, low carb, mint sauce, nut free, sauces, vegan, vegetarian

Sugar free mint sauce Store bought mint sauce can contain a teaspoon of sugar per serving! If you would like

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Homeschooling included home economics for my 12 ye

Homeschooling included home economics for my 12 year old this week, but as the vegetable soup recipe sent by the teacher wouldn’t download we made up our own recipe today!

If my 12 year old son can make this by himself from scratch, then you have no excuse! This is a beautiful warming vegan soup (but we did make a batch of cheese scones to serve with it which are vegetarian not vegan but ingredients could be tweaked to make vegan)

Soup can be really tricky to tolerate with gestational diabetes, especially vegetable soups as they lack in high protein ⚠️

If you would like to find out more about soup, how to choose better soups and some hints, tips and recipes, then please check out my soup post @ https://www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/soup/

And if anyone would be interested in this homemade chunky vegetable soup recipe let me know below and if enough people are interested I can add it onto the website as a free recipe. It was blooming delicious! Even Mackinley was shocked he’d managed to make a vegetable soup that was SO tasty!

You can find my cheese scones recipe on the website already (please search for scones in the recipe index 🔗 in bio on Instagram)

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#TodaysMealOnTheWall #MealOnTheWall #JosGDRecipes #VegetableSoup #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet

Rule No 8. of my #8GoldenRules is exercise! Did yo

Rule No 8. of my #8GoldenRules is exercise! Did you know that exercise has an insulin type effect on the body? This is why it is part of my 8 golden rules, because it has such a huge beneficial impact after eating! It can really help pull those levels down ⬇️
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Now I’m not suggesting you try sledging on your tummy down a hill whilst pregnant! But any SAFE activity after eating WILL be beneficial, from going for a stroll, to dancing around your living room. Do what feels comfortable and enjoyable for YOU!
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Disclaimer: I’m not currently pregnant! This is me with my crazy sugar babies in the snow yesterday 😝 ❄️ 🛷
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If you’d like to read a guest post on exercise written by Mel C @thehealthcarpenter
for pregnant and postpartum women then please check out this link: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/exercise/
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#GDUK #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GDPregnancy #DiabeticPregnancy #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnantDiabetic #Type2Pregnancy #MODYPregnancy #PlusSizePregnancy #GeriatricPregnancy #SlimmingWorldPregnancy #HighRiskPregnancy #GlucoseToleranceTest #GDDiagnosis #BloodGlucose #BloodSugar #BloodGlucoseLevels #BloodSugarLevels #PregnancyExercise #AntenatalExercise #PostpartumExercise #MummyFit #TheMummyTrainer #TheHealthCarpenter
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I had to take lunch outside today just so I could

I had to take lunch outside today just so I could do a snowy #MealOnTheWall We’ve had lots of lovely snow in the Scottish Borders last night & today 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ☃️

#TodaysMealOnTheWall was lunch (it’s on a side plate, but you could eat much more if you wanted...no need to feel hungry on a GD diet as long as you pack it with protein & good natural fats)

Here I have 1 small @hovisbakery lower carb seeded toast with plenty of @grahamsthefamilydairy salted butter, scrambled eggs courtesy of my 🐓 (who are still laying every day despite the ❄️) 2 x @morliny_uk 71% pork content Berlinki Classic Hot Dogs (however if you don’t eat pork then they also do a chicken version which is 84% meat content) so both work fab on a GD diet & half a tomato with salt & pepper

I’ve been asked in my group a few times if hot dog sausages are ok to eat and the answer is yes, but try to look for ones which have a high meat content like these (which are in the chilled section), rather than the mechanically separated low meat content ones (which tend to be the ones in tins or jars) These ones are currently on offer @asda

#JosGDRecipes #LowCarbLunch #LowCarbHotDogs #LowCarbEasyMeals #LowCarbBrunch #LowCarbSimples #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #PregnancyDiabetes #DiabetesInPregnancy #WeCantAllAffordOrganicGrassfedMeat #BudgetFriendlyLowCarbMeal #QuickAndEasyMeals #NoTimeWhenImHomeschoolingAndWorkingToo #LockdownMeals

🍱 Far from being the neatest, but you get the i

🍱 Far from being the neatest, but you get the idea of this snacks plate! When you fancy sushi but rice is impossible for your blood sugar levels!...
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Full fat cream cheese @philadelphia_uki Scottish smoked salmon, seafood sticks, cucumber, pepper, avocado, nori & sesame seeds with a side of tempura battered king prawns 🍤 as the main carb on the plate
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I usually make this as a picky plate with chopped veggies, seafood sticks, prawns, a tub of Philadelphia with a teaspoon, a little bowl of sesame seeds and skip the nori. Then I literally grab a tsp of Philly, add veggies sticks, wrap with salmon and dunk in the seeds! You can add ginger & wasabi if you like too. But if you want to make fake looking sushi then you could roll it up and slice it like this. I warn you now, without any rice it is quite squishy! Another option is using cauliflower rice but I personally was not a fan of cold cauliflower rice 🥴
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#JosGDRecipes #MealOnTheWall #TodaysMealOnTheWall #NoRiceSushi #SushiWithoutTheCarbs #LowCarbSushi #GettingASushiFix
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I wish you had smellivision! Fajitas anyone? ⠀ T

I wish you had smellivision! Fajitas anyone?
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This is one of my FREE recipes on the website. Make it with meat, tofu, or even halloumi cheese if you like!
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No added flour or sugars, just simple store cupboard ingredients 👌🏻
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www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/fajitas/
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#fajitas #lowcarbfajitas #JosGDRecipes #TodaysMealOnTheWall #MealOnTheWall #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #8GoldenRules #GDFoodPairing #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #DiabeticPregnancy #GestationalDiabetesSucks #DiagnosedWithGestationalDiabetes #Diabetes #GDDiagnosis #GestationalDiabetesMeals #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #JustEatRealFood #LCHF #LowCarb #LowerBloodSugarLevels #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GDUK #GestationalDiabetesMealPlan #GestationalDiabetesSupport #GestationalDiabetesUK

We often get posts in the Facebook group asking ab

We often get posts in the Facebook group asking about what foods are suitable because the mother has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes but also needs to follow a gluten free (GF) diet for other reasons
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As dietary requirements go, needing a GF diet actually lends itself well to the GD diet!
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Gluten is a group of proteins found in grains like wheat, barley & rye. But a common factor in these foods is that they are high in carbs, therefore are not a type of food that we need to consume with GD, but one that we reduce or swap out for other lower carb options
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Therefore the majority of recipes I share on my website are naturally gluten free! Because not only do my recipes not use sugar, but the majority do not use wheat flour too because it is too high in carbs
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However, reaching for gluten free foods in the supermarket because of a diabetes diagnosis will not necessarily help achieve better blood glucose levels as many marketed GF foods are actually higher in carbs and sugar than the original versions. So don’t be fooled into thinking gluten free pasta, bread & biscuits (apart from Nairn’s oat biscuit breaks which are lower carb) are better alternatives if you don’t actually need to follow a GF diet for other reasons
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An exception to this is sausages! Sausages marked GF do not contain the wheat bulking agents and tend to be much higher meat content which is great for a GD diet!
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To find GF recipes on my website, please use the recipe index and filter the results with the ‘Diets’ drop down box, selecting ‘GlutenFreeDiet’
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#GlutenFree #GlutenFreeLowCarb #LowCarbGlutenFree #Celiac #Coeliac #GlutenIntolerance #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #8GoldenRules #GDFoodPairing #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesSucks #DiagnosedWithGestationalDiabetes #Diabetes #GDDiagnosis #GestationalDiabetesMeals #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #JustEatRealFood #LCHF #LowCarb #LowerBloodSugarLevels #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GDUK #GestationalDiabetesMealPlan #GestationalDiabetesSupport #GestationalDiabetesUK

I’ve finally got round to sharing my Vegan sheph

I’ve finally got round to sharing my Vegan shepherd’s pie recipe on the website (and it’s a FREE recipe for you all to enjoy!)
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Warm comforting filling food, low carb vegan shepherd’s pie is a delicious meal great for batch cooking and a perfect winter’s day family meal.
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Following a low carb vegan diet can be tricky as many of the typical pairing foods which are high in protein and fats are not plant based. Also higher protein sources of plant based foods tend to be higher in carbs, meaning that carb servings need to be balanced carefully!
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In this Vegan shepherd’s pie I use a celeriac mash to top the pie which is lower carb than a mashed potato topping but tastes delish!
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Check out the recipe @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/vegan-shepherds-pie/ or on Instagram use the 🔗 in bio to find the recipe on my recipe index (or in the stories feed for a direct swipe up 🔗)
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#JosGDRecipes #MealOnTheWall #TodaysMealTheWall #VeganShepherdsPie #LowCarbVegan #Vegan #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #8GoldenRules #GDFoodPairing #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesSucks #DiagnosedWithGestationalDiabetes #Diabetes #GDDiagnosis #GestationalDiabetesMeals #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #JustEatRealFood #LCHF #LowCarb #LowerBloodSugarLevels #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GDUK #GestationalDiabetesMealPlan #GestationalDiabetesSupport #GestationalDiabetesUK

Real hugs are something many of us are missing at

Real hugs are something many of us are missing at the moment, so here’s a virtual hug for anyone who needs one 🤗 Stay Strong Mamas! Happy Saturday
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#HappySaturday #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #pregnancy #pregnant #PregnancyDiabetes #HighRiskPregnancy #MumToBe #PregnantMummy #Preggo #Preggers #MamaToBe #InstaPregnancy #BabyOnBoard #PregnantLife #BellyBump #FutureMama #Mother #Mummy #Mama #MummyToBe #BabyOnTheWay #Bump #DiabeticPregnancy #Mom #Mammy #Hug #Hugs #SaturdayHug

I get it, we don’t always have the time or incli

I get it, we don’t always have the time or inclination to cook every meal from scratch and ready meals are convenient, quick, easy and maybe a healthier and cheaper alternative to a takeaway
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Q. What ready meals can you eat with gestational diabetes?
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A. Lots! ⚠️ BUT you need to look carefully at the ingredients, look at the total carb amounts BEING EATEN (not just per 100g/half pack/recommended serving) and think about the pairing ie. do you need to add additional protein and fat to the ready meal to help pair the carbs, and extra salad or green vegetables for more fibre & to help fill you up? Remember my #8GoldenRules when looking for ready meals and try to check off rules 2 ➡️ 6 (pair foods, high protein, high NATURAL fat, low unrefined complex carb, bulk with greens)
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Bear in mind:-
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Many ready meals can be quite carb heavy and lacking in protein (you know what I mean, when you are literally searching for that elusive piece of chicken!)
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It is nearly always going to be better to cook meals from scratch because you know exactly what you are putting into the recipe and can tweak it to meet your (and your partner/family’s) needs
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Nutritionally, many ready meals are not the greatest being high in salt, fats (watch out for transfats), sugars, fillers and preservatives which we wouldn’t normally be adding into our meals
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Ready meals can be expensive and as a mum with a family of 5 to feed, ready meals are not something I buy often as they’re just not cost effective (and I’m told they don’t taste as nice as my homemade versions). I tend to batch cook and freeze so that we have home cooked ready meals to hand if needed instead (something worth doing if you need the convenience of a ready meal)
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It’s for these reasons that I don’t have a list of ‘recommended’ ready meals to try. Also because it would be too difficult to keep up-to-date as ready meals change so frequently, and it would be a huge piece of work to undertake that I honestly do not feel would be beneficial enough
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#GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GDFoodPairing #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesSUCKS
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KETONES ⠀ How many of you have been told you nee

KETONES
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How many of you have been told you need to eat more carbs, drink more, been admitted to hospital for IV fluids due to ketones, or on the other end of the scale been told that they are no concern❓
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Please let me know what you’ve been told (or not told) about ketones and what have you been advised? Pop it in the comments below ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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On my Facebook group we see posts like:
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“I’ve been told to eat more carbs as I have ketones”
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“My midwife says I’m not eating enough as I have ketones”
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“I’ve read my maternity notes and it says ++ ketones, but no-one mentioned them. What are they and should I be worried about this?”

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Ketones are not always explained to pregnant mothers and to make matters worse, it can be quite confusing reading posts in our support group where you may see some mothers saying they have been admitted to hospital for IV fluids due to ketones, or they must avoid having ketones and need to eat more carbs, whereas in another area mothers have been sent home with the same level of ketones and yet the ketones have not been mentioned at all?!
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So what are ketones?
Ketones are a by-product produced by the liver during fatty acid metabolism. Everyone produces ketones, but they are usually completely metabolised.
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Ketones can be a very confusing topic (especially in pregnancy), so for anyone wanting to more, please take a look at my post on ketones and ketosis @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/ketones/
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I asked what recipes some of you would like to see

I asked what recipes some of you would like to see this year and a couple said a few recipes I already have like beef stew.

This slow cooker Scottish beef stew (beef from @rendallsonlinebutcher ) with cauliflower mash is pure comfort food in a bowl for a cold winters day 🤗
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Find the recipe @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/slow-cooker-beef-stew/ or search on the website for ‘beef stew’ (link in bio for those reading this on Instagram @gestational_diabetes_uk )
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#RainRainGoAWAY #comfortfood #slowcookerecipes #slowcookerbeefstew #slowcooker #slowcooked #scottishbeef #beefstew #beefcasserole #cauliflowermash #mashedcauliflower #gestationaldiabetes #GDUKMums #JosGDRecipes #TeamGDUK #gestationaldiabetesuk #gestationaldiabetesukmums #lowcarb #packedwithprotein #LCHF #keto #ketocomfortfood #diabeticpregnancy #pregnantdiabetic #diabetesinpregnancy #pregnancydiabetes #type2pregnancy #diabeticfriendly #gestationaldiabetesmeal #gestationaldiabetesdiet

Should you test after eating snacks? ⠀ I’ll an

Should you test after eating snacks?
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I’ll answer this question with another question... Q. Why are we monitoring blood glucose levels?
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Answers:-
1. To monitor what is happening in the body & impacting growing baby/babies
2. To see the impact different foods/drinks are having & tweak them to achieve better levels
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Therefore the answer to the first question is that in order to achieve best possible outcomes, YES it’s worth testing blood glucose levels after eating snacks, BUT you don’t HAVE to & you may not be advised to (in fact most diabetes teams will say it’s not necessary)
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Testing & monitoring blood glucose levels is a the greatest tool we have to see what is going on, so that we can tweak the foods we’re eating in order to achieve the best possible blood glucose levels. If taking some additional blood glucose levels is going to help you manage & control your diabetes during pregnancy & you have the supplies to do so, then go for it!
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In my pregnancies I tested before & after all meals & before bed every single day. I also tested before driving (due to being on insulin, ensuring I was “5 to drive”), if I felt unwell, AND at the beginning or when my tolerances changed I also tested after snacks so that I could determine which things worked best for me. I didn’t do this for my diabetes consultants to review, I did this to enable me to better control my own levels. When I could achieve pretty reliable levels with certain foods/drinks then I would stop testing after snacks until tolerances changed
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It can be stressful & painful to test so frequently. It also costs more in consumables (lancets & test strips), therefore this isn’t something ‘recommended’. But I want to reassure any mother out there who is dealing with diabetes in pregnancy, that if you feel additional testing would be beneficial to the management of this condition, then go for it! No one can tell you to stop or reduce the amount you test, even if you are using a BG monitoring system such as GDm-Health. Just speak to your professionals - let know that you want to do additional testing to help YOU best manage your levels 💪🏻

Gestational diabetes diagnosis is never easy, but

Gestational diabetes diagnosis is never easy, but at a time of lockdowns, extra restrictions and lots of worry and uncertainty it may feel like it’s just too much to handle
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Covid-19 has meant changes to diagnostic methods for GD, it has also meant that in some hospitals, appointments and clinics have changed from the face-to-face weekly/bi-weekly appointments to telephone or text consultations
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In some areas women are not being physically met and shown how to use blood glucose monitors, and how to test their BG levels, but having monitors sent out in the post with some leaflets on what to do. The same goes for some women who are starting insulin
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In some areas partners or companions are no longer allowed to attend physical appointments for scans, for monitoring and the start of inductions
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Without a shadow of doubt, times are very challenging right now and we completely understand why a lot of this face-to-face contact has been restricted or limited, but I want to reach out to every single newly diagnosed GD Mum out there and say, my team and I are here to help you! We will help to bridge the gap at these uncertain times. No went can’t be there physically by your side to hold your hand BUT we can help answer lots of the questions and worries you may have. Just join our Facebook support group
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I wrote this page for newly diagnosed GD Mums based on the most frequently asked questions following diagnosis. This article does not cover covid-related issues, however it may answer many of the questions you’ve not been able to ask because of Covid-19 www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/gestational-diabetes-diagnosis/
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HIGH FASTING LEVELS & THE DAWN PHENOMENON ⠀ The

HIGH FASTING LEVELS & THE DAWN PHENOMENON
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The dawn phenomenon is one of the typical causes of high fasting levels
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The dawn phenomenon occurs when the body releases hormones in the early hours of the morning (hence the ‘dawn’) in ALL people, diabetic and non-diabetic. These hormones (including cortisol, glucagon, epinephrine and growth hormone) 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 diabetics (including those diagnosed with gestational diabetes) not enough insulin is produced, or insulin is not able to be used effectively 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 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
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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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#damnhormones

I’m doing a question & answer session this eveni

I’m doing a question & answer session this evening on the Instagram stories where I’ll try to answer as many questions as I can.

Please feel free to ask any GD related questions and I will try to answer (please note that I am not a medical professional and cannot offer any medical advice)

Jo, Founder of Gestational Diabetes UK

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#GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesHelp #GestationalDiabetesSupport #GestationalDiabetesPregnancy #GD #GDM #DiabeticPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #PregnantDiabetic #HighRiskPregnancy #DiabetesInPregnancy #GDMum #GDMom #GDMam #GDMama #Type2Pregnancy #Type1Pregnancy #MODYPregnancy

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