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Tuesday, June 15, 2021

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Diet Cola Chicken
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testing blood sugar levels

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Testing blood sugar levels – a guide on testing

29th August 20151st June 2020 Jo Paterson 591 Views blood glucose monitoring, testing blood glucose levels, testing blood sugar levels

Why are we testing and monitoring blood sugar levels? Anyone diagnosed with gestational diabetes should regularly test their blood sugar

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Do you have questions about gestational diabetes?

Do you have questions about gestational diabetes? If so join us live on Instagram this Thursday @ 7pm where I’ll be talking to Dr Matt Cauldwell, Consultant Obstetrician @drmaternity

Feel free to send messages in via Instagram messages and we’ll try to answer as many as we can!

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#GDUK #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #Type2Pregnancy #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GDPregnancy #DiabeticPregnancy #GD #GDM #DiabetesInPregnancy #GestationalDiabetesBirth #GestationalDiabetesPregnancy #PlusSizePregnancy #GeriatricPregnancy #SlimmingWorldPregnancy #Pregnancy #HighRiskPregnancy #Midwife #Midwives #GTT #GlucoseToleranceTest #GDDiagnosis #BloodGlucose #BloodSugar #BloodGlucoseLevels #BloodSugarLevels #PregnancyProblems

Following my last post, many of you have asked for

Following my last post, many of you have asked for advice around what to do if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes late in pregnancy
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Here are my tips on what to do if you are faced with late diagnosis:
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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/

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ⚠️
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Why is it so important that gestational diabetes is diagnosed and managed properly?
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Unfortunately there is much more to be concerned with than ‘𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢’ with gestational diabetes
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Undiagnosed or poorly controlled gestational diabetes can cause many complications and it is important to share a harsh reality of undiagnosed GDM... stillbirth
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For diabetes week in 2018 I shared Leanne & Matt’s story, which is the pregnancy and birth of their son William who was born sleeping due to undiagnosed GD
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I also share Abby’s story and Charly’s story. Two more mothers that experienced stillbirths due to UNDIAGNOSED gestational diabetes
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I don’t post these stories to scare and worry people, but to try to raise awareness over gestational diabetes diagnosis and how important it is
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‼️‼️‼️‼️
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👀 An important thing to note (especially if you are reading this and have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes) is that 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗢 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗜𝗙 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗗𝗠. This was found in a English study part funded by SANDS by Stacey T et.al published in March 2019
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Read more @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/can-gestational-diabetes-cause-stillbirth/
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www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/gestational-diabetes-stillbirth/
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#babylossawareness #babylossawarenessmonth #babylossawarenessweek #babylossawareness2021 #stillbirth #stillbirthawareness #gestationaldiabetesstillbirth #gestationaldiabetes #gestationaldiabetesawareness #pregnancydiabetes #gestationaldiabetesuk #gestationaldiabetesukmums #GDUK #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #gestationaldiabetespregnancy #gestationaldiabetessupport #GDM #notjustbigbabies #gestationaldiabetesdiagnosis #GTT #diabeticpregnancy #pregnantdiabetic #knowtherisks #getscreened #gettested

Rewritten for Summer 2021, a post dedicated to ice

Rewritten for Summer 2021, a post dedicated to ice cream, ice lollies, milkshakes, iced drinks, slushies & frozen yogurt
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Full of helpful info, best products & what to watch out for such as 100ml versus 100g nutritional information, and ‘diabetic’ ice creams which claim they are better for blood glucose levels (when actually they contain the same amount of carbs as normal ice creams!)
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www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/ice-cream/
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#LowCarbIceCream #LowCarb #SugarFree #DiabeticIcecream
#GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #Diabetes #Type2Diabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #8GoldenRules #GDFoodPairing #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesSucks #DiagnosedWithGestationalDiabetes #Diabetes #GDDiagnosis #GestationalDiabetesMeals #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #JustEatRealFood #LCHF #LowCarb #LowerBloodSugarLevels #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GDUK #GestationalDiabetesMealPlan #GestationalDiabetesSupport #GestationalDiabetesUK

I just wanted to share this Mums post with you all

I just wanted to share this Mums post with you all (with permission)

This is a member of my Gestational Diabetes UK Facebook group

What a wonderful thing to see and to be caught on the scan picture too, a beautiful skittle baby waving you on ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

After the storm comes a rainbow and what a rainbow it is 🌈 🥰

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[skittles are a name for gestational diabetes (or sugar) rainbow babies - a baby born after the loss of a baby]

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#GestationalDiabetes #GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #DiabeticPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #DiabetesInPregnancy #RainbowBaby #RainbowBaby🌈 #StillbornButStillBorn #NeverForgotten #BabyLossAwareness #Miscarriage #BreakTheSilence #StillBirth #PregnancyLossAwareness #AlwaysInMyHeart #AngelBaby #BornSleeping #BabyLoss #BLAW #InfantLossAwareness #MumsSupportingMums #StrongWomen #AfterTheStorm #RainbowAfterTheStorm #HelloLittleOne #AwesomeScan #SendingLove #TeamGDUK

All you can do is #tryyourbest Be kind to yourse

All you can do is #tryyourbest

Be kind to yourself 💜

Stay strong ladies xxx
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#GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #DontGiveUp #StayStrong #GestationalDiabetes #pregnancy #pregnant #PregnancyDiabetes #HighRiskPregnancy #Diabetes #MumToBe #PregnantMummy #Preggo #Preggers #MamaToBe #InstaPregnancy #BabyOnBoard #PregnantLife #BellyBump #FutureMama #Mother #Mummy #Mama #MummyToBe #BabyOnTheWay #Bump #DiabeticPregnancy #Mom #Mammy

🥕🥬🧅Coleslaw can be a great accompaniment

🥕🥬🧅Coleslaw can be a great accompaniment to dishes to help increase the fibre and natural fats, both helping with reducing the postprandial (post-meal) spike in blood glucose levels
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Full-fat coleslaw is best, as we need those fats found in full-fat mayonnaise, however if you need to follow a low-fat diet for other dietary reasons, then low-fat versions can also be used. Likewise, if you need to follow a plant-based diet, vegan mayonnaise can be used in these recipes as an alternative
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Coleslaw is so quick & easy to make, and it can be so cheap to whip up a big bowl to last a few days, so I’ve just added my trusty coleslaw recipes to the website, FREE for all to try:
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•Coleslaw (a tangy yet creamy coleslaw)
•Kickin’ Coleslaw 🌶 (a coleslaw with a big spicy kick!)
•Pink Pickled Slaw (a slaw without mayo, instead it is pickled)
•Waldorf Salad (a low-carb version of a Waldorf salad, with white cabbage, celery, green apples, walnuts in a mayonnaise dressing)
•Celeriac Remoulade (a French classic of julienned celeriac in a creamy mayonnaise dressing)
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Find the recipes in the recipe index www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/recipe-index/ (link in bio & stories for those on Instagram)
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#JosGDRecipes #TodaysMealOnTheWall #MealOnTheWall #Coleslaw #CreamyColeslaw #TangyColeslaw #KickinColeslaw #ChilliColeslaw #PinkPickledSlaw #PinkSlaw #Slaw #CeleriacRemoulade #CeleriacColeslaw #WaldorfSalad #LowCarbWaldorf #LowCarbWaldorfSalad #LowCarbSalads #LowCarb #LCHF #Keto #SummerRecipes #HomemadeColeslaw #DiabeticRecipes #LowCarbRecipes #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesUK #GDUKMums #GDFoodPairing #8GoldenRules #GestationalDiabetesDiet

When you really love a side of cheesy garlic bread

When you really love a side of cheesy garlic bread alongside your meal, but you have gestational diabetes can mean cutting back on those starchy carbs to enjoy a tiny piece OR making a low-carb alternative that you can safely eat alongside your favourite dish... check out my Cheesy Garlic Bread and serve it up with any of my GD-friendly pasta dishes!
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Get the FREE recipe @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/cheesy-garlic-bread/ (🔗 in bio if you’re on Instagram)
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#JosGDRecipes #TodaysMealOnTheWall #MealOnTheWall #LowCarb #LowCarbGarlicBread #LowCarbCheesyGarlicBread #CauliflowerGarlicBread #CauliflowerCheesyGarlicBread #LCHF #LowCarbRecipes #GDRecipes #DiabeticRecipes #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GDFriendly #GDUK #GDUKMums #GDM #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GestationalDiabetesFood #GestationalDiabetesMeals #Type2Pregnancy #DiabeticPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #DiabetesInPregnancy #MODYPregnancy #Type1Pregnancy #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes

“Have I been misdiagnosed?” ⠀ This is someth

“Have I been misdiagnosed?”
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This is something that comes up A LOT
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You’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes after having a glucose tolerance test (GTT) you start monitoring blood glucose levels, but all your levels are BELOW the recommended targets. How can this be? Surely this means that you’ve been misdiagnosed?
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YES, of course misdiagnosis CAN happen. However, it is not something seen often. From examples I’ve seen in my Facebook group, false-positive misdiagnosis has been more common due to human error, as opposed to the accuracy of the GTT ie. the patient did not fast before the GTT, bloods being taken before the 2-hour time limit, or a patients data being muddled up
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It’s important to know that you can be diagnosed from any of the blood samples taken during a GTT. A fasting level, or the post glucose level (in some hospitals they take blood samples at 1hr & 2hrs post glucose) any 3 of these readings being over a threshold can mean a diagnosis of GDM
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You may also be diagnosed from a single blood test, such as a fasting blood glucose, or a HbA1c test
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With the GTT, you are given a measured glucose amount, 75g of carbs. Bloods are taken after fasting, then again at 2hrs to see how well the body has processed the glucose
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During this time, the patient should NOT drink water or walk around as these 2 things will help process the glucose & reduce the post glucose result which can cause a false-negative result
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A 75g carb load is a very large amount of glucose to be ingested at one time. It is the equivalent to 18.75 tsp of sugar!
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It is unlikely that you will consume this amount of sugar/carbs within your normal daily diet in one hit, so this may be one reason you don’t see above target readings when you start monitoring daily blood sugar levels
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Another important point to note is that insulin resistance worsens as the pregnancy progresses so many will monitor levels, be fine to start with, but as the pregnancy goes on, they start to see higher levels. The time where we are most insulin resistant is around 32-36 wks
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Read more @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/gestational-diabetes-misdiagnosis/
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A new membership recipe for a gorgeous sunny weeke

A new membership recipe for a gorgeous sunny weekend for all my Bronze & Silver Members
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Here are my new Caramel Nut Bars!
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These bars contain two sugar-free caramels, a chewy caramel and a gooey caramel. Packed with lots of nuts & seeds, with a layer of chocolate and finished with another good drizzle of chocolate, these self-paired GD-friendly treats will knock any cravings of sweets and chocolate straight out of the park!
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These bars are low-carb, have no added sugar, are gluten-free, egg-free and vegetarian
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These bars are perfect being kept in the freezer in this weather, ready to be eaten when you have a snack-attack!
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Recipe now live in the recipe index for all Bronze & Silver GD UK members
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#TodaysMealOnTheWall #MealOnTheWall #JosGDRecipes #CaramelNutBar #CaramelNutBars #NuttyCaramelBars #LowCarb #NoAddedSugar #SugarFree #Keto #GDUKMembershipRecipe #GDUK #GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GestationalDiabetesSnacks #GDFriendly #GestationalDiabetesFood #GDFoodPairing #8GoldenRules #GestationalDiabetesRecipes #Type2Pregnancy #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #DiabeticRecipes #LowCarbRecipes

🥵 ☀️ Hope you’re all doing ok ladies! Sta

🥵 ☀️ Hope you’re all doing ok ladies! Stay cool 😎

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#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 #Birth #GDUK #GestationalDiabetesUK #SummerPregnancy

Frozen Yogurt Bark, the perfect sweet treat for th

Frozen Yogurt Bark, the perfect sweet treat for this warm weather!
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This Frozen Yogurt Bark recipe is so simple, quick and easy to make, plus you can tweak it to meet your own dietary needs and preferences.
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It’s the perfect sweet treat to snack on and even better in warmer weather when you want something cool to nibble on which won’t cause your blood glucose levels to soar.
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If you don’t like to add sweetener to your diet, then no need to, just get sweetness from low GI summer berries instead. Can’t eat nuts, then don’t add them. Love nuts, use lots and swirls of peanut butter! Can’t or don’t eat dairy, use a dairy-free alternative
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The flavours of Frozen Yogurt Bark shown in the images are:
🍓 🥥 Berries & Coconut (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry & coconut flakes)
🫐🍓🥜🌱Fresh Berries, Nut & Seed Mix (berries, almonds, chia seeds & fresh mint)
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Other flavour ideas:-
🥝🥥Tropical: 1 x passionfruit, 1 x kiwi, peeled and thinly sliced, 1 x lime (zest & juice), desiccated coconut & coconut flakes
🍊🍋Citrus: zest of lemon & orange, half an orange segmented, juice of a lemon and half an orange
🥥Lime & Coconut: coconut yogurt with zest & juice of 1 lime, toasted desiccated coconut to top
🍫🥜Choc Nut: Peanuts (as many as you like) & 30g dark choc melted and drizzled
🍒🍫Black Forest Swirl: handful fresh or frozen cherries with 30g dark choc chips
🥜🌰Granola Crunch: mixed chopped nuts, seeds – mixed with sugar-free syrup to taste sprinkled over the top in clusters
🍌🥜Banana & Peanut butter: 1 small greener banana, finely sliced, 3 tbsp melted peanut butter to drizzle and a handful of peanuts
🍰Vanilla Cheesecake Crunch: 2 vanilla pods (split lengthways and seeds removed), 150ml real dairy double cream or Elmlea Plant-Based Double Cream added to the yogurt and whipped in, topped with 2 crushed digestive biscuits
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⚠️ AVOID using dried fruits, honey, syrups, sugar, milk or white chocolate & higher GI (sweeter) fruits
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Get the recipe now @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/frozen-yogurt-bark/ (link in bio on Instagram)
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#JosGDRecipes #TodaysMealOnTheWall #MealOnTheWall #GestationalDiabetes #GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetesUK #FrozenYogurtBark #YogurtBark

“Where can I buy sugar free ice lollies?” ⠀

“Where can I buy sugar free ice lollies?”
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...something that gets asked a lot in my Facebook group
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There’s a few no added sugar lollies you can buy but some peeps struggle to find them in local stores and some lollies can be full of artificial sweeteners that may raise blood glucose levels 😖
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So why not grab some lolly moulds and make your own truly sugar-free lollies?!
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These can be so cheap, made to your own tastes and dietary restrictions/requirements AND absolutely delicious!
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Here is a selection of lollies I made with my boys and some inspiration for you:-
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🍓 strawberries & real double cream
🥥 lime & full fat coconut milk
🍫 melted dark chocolate & double cream
🍏 🌸apple & elderflower no added sugar squash & fresh blackberries
🍊orange no added sugar squash with a tiny amount of fresh orange segments
🥤diet caffeine free cola
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These are just a few ideas using bits and bobs I had around the house, but there’s lots of other flavours you could try!
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Remember if using fruit, stick to lower carb (low GI fruits), keep the amounts small and try to pair using things like cream, peanut butter or coconut milk 🥥🥛

#JosGDRecipes #GestationalDiabetes
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Yes Tango Ice Blasts are sugar free, but they cost $Yes Tango Ice Blasts are sugar free, but they cost a small fortune and are served in a plastic cup 👎🏻 ⠀ If you have a blender at home then it’s so easy to make a slushie whenever you want for PENNIES which is sugar free or has no added sugar too ✅ ⠀ For a large soda glass of slushie, you only need: 🧊20 ice cubes 🍒no added sugar diluting squash or sugar free fizzy drink 🟣🔵 food colouring if you really want it to look authentic and give you a crazy coloured 👅 ⠀ If you don’t have a blender then you can also buy slushie cups which you can pop in the freezer then squeeze to turn liquid into an icy slush ⠀ (I added food colouring to mine just so that it would look just like a real slushie, slush puppie or ice blast, but it’s really not necessary at all) ⠀ Just blitz the ice cubes, add squash and taste, keep adding until you create the strength of flavour you like (if using fizzy drink you may need a lot more ice than suggested) and finish by adding drops of colouring if you really want to have an authentic looking slushie! ⠀ So don’t feel you have hunt down your local shop or cinema (once they’re open) just so you can get a slushie, make one at home instead for a fraction of the price in a reusable glass! . . . #homemadeslushie #sugarfreeslushie #noaddedsugarslushie #homemadeslushpuppie #sugarfreeslushpuppie #noaddedsugarslushpuppie #homemadeiceblast #homemadesnowcone #sugarfreesnowcone #noaddedsugarsnowcone #gestationaldiabetes #gestationaldiabetesuk #gestationaldiabetesukmums #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #JosGDRecipes #GestationalDiabetesDrinks #DiabeticRecipes #diabetesinpregnancy #pregnantdiabetic #diabetic #type2pregnancy #lowcarb #keto #iceblast #makeityourself #saveyourmoney #homemade ⠀$

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