Skip to content
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Latest:
  • Ramadan and gestational diabetes
  • Coconut Macaroons
  • Easter
  • Egg Custard Tart
  • Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Gestational Diabetes UK

Gestational Diabetes UK

Created by a Mum for other Mums

  • Diagnosis
    • What is Gestational Diabetes?
    • Just been diagnosed
    • Borderline diagnosis
    • What happens at the clinic?
    • Support from family & friends
    • How exercise helps
    • Can gestational diabetes cause stillbirth?
  • GD Pregnancy
    • Blood sugar levels
      • Test times, targets & spike testing
      • A guide to testing
      • What is a spike?
      • High fasting levels
      • What if I get a high reading?
      • Low levels, how low is too low?
    • Ketones
    • Driving & GD
    • Medication
      • Starting medication
      • Metformin
      • Glibenclamide
      • Insulin
    • Hypos
    • False Hypos
    • 32 to 36 weeks, the toughest time
    • Falling off the GD wagon
    • GD & other conditions
      • Colds & sickness
      • Heartburn & indigestion
      • Anaemia
      • Constipation
      • Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)
      • Whooping cough & flu vaccinations
    • Complications
      • Possible complications
      • Reduced movements with GD
      • Placenta deterioration or insufficiency
      • Birth stories with GD related complications
        • Late GD diagnosis
        • Shoulder dystocia
        • Undiagnosed v’s diagnosed GD
        • Stillbirths caused by GD
        • Leanne’s story (stillbirth)
  • Diet
    • GD UK’s Gestational Diabetes Diet
      • Example meal plan
      • Shopping List
      • ‘Typical’ GD dietary advice
      • What is food pairing?
      • Understanding carbs
      • Fat
      • Slimming World & GD
      • Protein supplements
      • Breakfast
        • Breakfast cereal – GD kryptonite!
      • Lunches
      • Main Meals
      • Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Takeaways
      • GD diet on a budget
      • Sugar free sweets, biscuits and chocolate
      • Foods that naturally lower blood sugar levels
    • Drinks
    • Food Recommendations
      • BBQs
      • Bread
      • Chocolate
      • Ice cream
      • Nuts, seeds, peanut butter
      • Party food
      • Soup
      • Sweeteners
      • Yogurts
    • Celebrations & Occasions
      • Baby Showers
      • Chinese New Year
      • Valentine’s Day ♥
      • Pancake Day
      • Mother’s Day
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Bonfire night
      • St Andrew’s Day
      • Christmas
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Birth
    • Gestational diabetes birth
    • Colostrum harvesting
    • Hypnobirthing
    • GD hospital bag list
    • Induction of labour
    • Induction birth stories
    • C-section birth stories
    • What is a sliding scale?
    • Home & water birth with GD
      • A home water birth story
      • A home birth story
      • Louise’s story – home birth
      • A water birth story
    • What happens after baby is born?
    • Breastfeeding after GD
  • Life After GD
    • Post birth diabetes testing
    • Preventing Type 2 diabetes after GD
    • GD risk factors & future diagnosis of diabetes
    • Second gestational diabetes pregnancy
  • About Us
    • GD UK & Jo
    • Testimonials
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Make a donation
    • Raise Awareness
      • GD leaflets & posters
      • Screen ALL pregnant women for GDM
      • Supporting Irish mothers with GD
  • Membership Area
    • Login
    • Account
    • Membership Options
    • Membership troubleshooting & FAQs
    • Recipe Index
    • 7 day meal plan (original)
    • 7 day vegetarian meal plan
    • 7 day vegan meal plan
    • 7 day dairy free meal plan
    • 7 day nut free meal plan
    • 7 day gluten free meal plan
Gestational Diabetes UK

Tiramisu

low carb tiramisu
Membership Recipes 

Tiramisu

28th February 202128th February 2021 Jo Paterson dessert, pudding, Tiramisu, trifle

To access membership content, become a member today! If you have already subscribed to GD UK Membership, please log in

Read more

Just diagnosed

Diagnosed with GD ad

Support

GD UK Mums FB Group Advert

Follow on Instagram

gestational_diabetes_uk

gestational_diabetes_uk
#TodaysMealOnTheWall is Fishcakes... Most superma #TodaysMealOnTheWall is Fishcakes...

Most supermarkets sell big chilled fish cakes like these with various fillings. Typically they have around 20-25g carbs per fish cake but as they contain potato and have a breadcrumb coating it can really be pushing things to add an additional complex carb to the plate. And can mean that’s it’s tricky to identify which element is causing any issues if you do end up with a spike in blood glucose levels.

An additional issue is that whilst protein & natural fats help to pair the carbs in a meal (reducing the spike in glucose levels from the carbs), fish tends not to pair things as well as other proteins. 

This means that if you want to enjoy some fish cakes like this, it’s wise to just have the fish cakes alongside a big salad or lots of green veg

Here I have a big mixed green salad (salad leaves, chives, baby cucumber, celery) with avocado, shredded cabbage & carrot with a homemade vinaigrette dressing, mozzarella balls, sundried tomatoes and ricotta stuffed sweet peppers
.
.
. 

#MealOnTheWall #GestationalDiabetes #GDUKMums #JosGDRecipes #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GestationalDiabetesFood #GestationalDiabetesMeals #Type2Pregnancy #MODYPregnancy #LADAPregnancy #DiabeticPregnancy #DiabetesInPregnancy #Fishcakes #GDFoodPairing #8GoldenRules #NeverEatANakedCarb #LowCarb #LowCarbPregnancy #LowCarbNotKeto
Fasting levels are the HARDEST ones to control He Fasting levels are the HARDEST ones to control

Here are a few things that are worth trying:
⠀
It is a slight misconception that NOTHING impacts fasting levels and that it’s purely down to hormones, as there ARE a few things that can contribute to raised fasting levels:-
⠀
🍏What you ate earlier in the evening
⏰When you last ate
💧Hydration levels
😴How well you sleep
☀️The ‘Dawn Phenomenon’
📈The ‘Somogyi Effect’
😫 Stress
🤒 Illness

Swipe to see all the infographics 👉🏻 there’s also a glimpse of my own high fasting levels and the rapid increases in insulin doses that I needed to make in my third GD pregnancy 😖
⠀
However, it’s important to understand that fasting levels are the HARDEST levels to manage and you should not feel upset or disheartened if you cannot lower fasting levels enough and require meds and/or insulin to help lower them. Many of us (including myself) just need that extra help and THAT’S OK 👌🏻
⠀
For more information please see the link in bio @gestational_diabetes_uk and find the ‘fasting levels’ link to read my full post
⠀
.
.
.
#FastingLevels #HighFastingLevels #dawnphenomenon #somogyieffect
#GDUK #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #Diabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GDPregnancy #DiabeticPregnancy #DiabetesInPregnancy #HighRiskPregnancy #GlucoseToleranceTest #GDDiagnosis #BloodGlucose #BloodSugar #BloodGlucoseLevels #BloodSugarLevels #BGLevels #FastingGlucose #AppleCiderVinegar #BedtimeSnack #MyoInositol #highproteinsnack
Tuna Niçoise salad 🥗 🐟 🥚 What are you ha Tuna Niçoise salad 🥗 🐟 🥚 What are you having for lunch? 

#JosGDRecipes #TodaysMealOnTheWall #MealOnTheWall #GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetesFood #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GestationalDiabetesLunch #GestationalDiabetesMeals #GDFoodPairing #8GoldenRules #DiabeticPregnancy #TunaNicoise #TunaNiçoise #TunaNicoiseSalad #TunaNiçoiseSalad
Monday Motivation! Let’s hope the only stabbing Monday Motivation! Let’s hope the only stabbing you’re doing is your own poor pinkies ✋🏽 🩸 

Happy Monday everyone! 

#MondayMotivation #YouGotThis #WeCanDoThis #GestationalDiabetesSucks #GestationalDiabetes #GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetesSupport 

Image credit to @sweatpantsandcoffee 🤎 ☕️
Sunday Brunch? Don’t mind if I do! Wholemeal pi Sunday Brunch? Don’t mind if I do!

Wholemeal pitta pocket packed with avocado, chicken sausages, streaky bacon, sausage meat, mushrooms and fried egg 🍳 YUM! 

#JosGDRecipes #TodaysMealOnTheWall #MealOnTheWall #SundayBrunch #GDUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GestationalDiabetesFood #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes
It used to be a paid membership page on the GD UK It used to be a paid membership page on the GD UK website, but I’ve spent some time rewriting this page to launch as a new FREE page for all to access
⠀
A guide to choosing takeaways with gestational diabetes
⠀
https://www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/takeaways/

Happy Saturday ladies 😘 
⠀
.
.
.
#GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #8GoldenRules #GDFoodPairing #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #DiabeticPregnancy #Type2Pregnancy #GestationalDiabetesSucks #DiagnosedWithGestationalDiabetes #Diabetes #LCHF #LowCarb #LowerBloodSugarLevels #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GDUK #GestationalDiabetesMealPlan #GestationalDiabetesSupport #GestationalDiabetesUK
Posted @withregram • @mentalhealth_midwife ⭐️ S T O P ⭐️
.
.
.
Take 30 seconds to follow these instructions. It’s amazing how a few little physical changes can release some of the tension we hold in our bodies. Even during something as simple as scrolling through @instagram ! Do you feel a little better for doing this? Click save and use when you need to reset!
.
.
.
🎥 @mellow.doodles (such a great account, check it out)
.
.
.
#mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #maternalmentalhealth #perinatalmentalhealth #perinatalpositivity #pregnancy #birth #pnd #anxiety #anxietyawareness #anxietyinpregnancy #depressionawareness #depressioninpregnancy #antenatal #prenatal #postnatal #postpartum #newmum #mumsmentalhealth #dadsmentalhealth #maternalocd #birthfear #birthtrauma #stress #tension
Some of you may love this, others may run a mile! Some of you may love this, others may run a mile! But there’s no doubting that this is a power house of a meal/snack during pregnancy and it’s economical too!
⠀
Sardines in tomato sauce on buttered seeded sour dough bread with a little salad 🐟 🍅
⠀
This little 90g tin of sardines contains 1.8g carbs, a whopping 15.6g protein and 6.7g fat, with a HUGE 909mg Omega-3 💪🏻
⠀
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that must be consumed via diet or supplementation. They are vital building blocks of the fetal brain & retina and are associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes for the child. Omega-3 fatty acids may also play an important role in determining length of gestation & in preventing perinatal depression (Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Pregnancy, Jaclyn M Coletta et. al, 2010)
⠀
The results of large study comparing 70 RCTs of 19,927 women found reduced rates of preterm birth [< 37 wks] and very preterm birth[< 34 wks], reduced risk of perinatal death, of neonatal care admission, and reduced risk of low birth weight babies (Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy, Philippa Middleton et. al, 2018)
⠀
Links to these 2 research studies can currently be found in the link in my bio (15/04/21)
⠀
Note: recommendation for eating oily fish during pregnancy is a maximum of TWICE per week due to possible pollutants
⠀
Oily fish are:
🐟 salmon
🐟 trout
🐟 mackerel
🐟 herring
🐟 sardines
🐟 tuna
⠀
So who’s with me? 🙌🏼 Would you tuck into this?
⠀
[ode to my Dad. Because my poppa bear LOVES pilchards on toast 🐟 ❤️]
⠀
.
.
.
#pregnancy #pregnant #TodaysMealOnTheWall #HighRiskPregnancy #MumToBe #PregnantMummy #Preggo #Preggers #MamaToBe #InstaPregnancy #BabyOnBoard #PregnantLife #FutureMama #Mother #Mummy #Mama #MummyToBe #BabyOnTheWay #DiabeticPregnancy #GestationalDiabetes
#GestationalDiabetesDiet #PregnancyFood #FishInPregnancy #GestationalDiabetesFood #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #RealFoodForDiabetes #SardinesOnToast #CheapNutritionalFood #GoodFood
⠀
⠀
⠀
This is my Creamy Coconut Basmati Rice Pudding or This is my Creamy Coconut Basmati Rice Pudding or Kheer, a lightly spiced version of traditional rice pudding with cardamom. Slightly lower carb it uses basmati rice instead of traditional pudding rice, I wash the rice really well to remove as much starch as possible and I add plenty of full fat tinned coconut milk and cream to help to pair the carbs
⠀
⚠️ Creamy coconut basmati rice pudding is higher carb than many of my other GD friendly puddings
⠀
✋🏽 Please only try this recipe if you tolerate rice well
⠀
You need to have tried rice with well-paired meals before giving this recipe a go as it is not as low carb as most of my other recipes and if you personally do not tolerate rice well then this would not be a suitable recipe for you
⠀
🌰 🥜 🥥 This recipe benefits from extra pairing to play safe, adding nuts, seeds and extra cream will help make the rice pudding more tolerable
⠀
www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/creamy-coconut-basmati-rice-pudding/
⠀
If you like this recipe, or want to try a slow cooker version, try out my basmati rice pudding recipe
⠀
www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/basmati-rice-pudding/
.
.
.
#Kheer #BasmatiRicePudding #Ramadan #HappyRamadan #RecipesForRamadan #RamadanMubarak
#GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #8GoldenRules #GDFoodPairing #DiabetesInPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesSucks #DiagnosedWithGestationalDiabetes #Diabetes #GDDiagnosis #GestationalDiabetesMeals #RealFoodForGD #RealFoodForGestationalDiabetes #JustEatRealFood #LCHF #LowCarb #LowerBloodSugarLevels #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GDUK #GestationalDiabetesMealPlan #GestationalDiabetesSupport #GestationalDiabetesUK
Hands up who’s been told by a partner, family me Hands up who’s been told by a partner, family member, friend, or colleague not to worry about your blood glucose levels as ‘they’re not too high’, or ‘not that bad’?
⠀
Something I see time and time again is mothers being told this and feeling confused about what’s right 😢
⠀
Levels outside of pregnancy are different.
⠀
Acceptable levels for people with diabetes who are not pregnant are higher and depending on how well controlled that persons blood glucose levels are can determine their thoughts/opinions on your levels and targets
⠀
Just because your Type 2 Uncle gets levels in the teens and twenties, does not make it OK (it’s not going to be good for them either, but I’ll not get into that here)
⠀
And because your friend who is Type 1 aims to be below 7.0mmol/L in the morning for a fasting level, it doesn’t mean your much lower target is not correct or that it’s an acceptable level for YOU
⠀
It is purely down to the fact that you are growing a baby and these are the current levels that are deemed as safest to minimise effects of diabetes in pregnancy
⠀
So if you get stuck with some ‘helpful’ 🙄 comments, ‘advice’ from a fellow pro person with diabetes, and/or judgement, it may be helpful to remind that person that you are growing a baby🤰🏻
⠀
.
.
.
#GDUK #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #DiabeticPregnancy #PregnancyDiabetes #Type2Pregnancy #Type1Pregnancy #MODYPregnancy #LADAPregnancy #PregnantDiabetic #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GDPregnancy #DiabeticPregnancy #DiabetesInPregnancy #PlusSizePregnancy #GeriatricPregnancy #SlimmingWorldPregnancy #HighRiskPregnancy #GlucoseToleranceTest #GDDiagnosis #BloodGlucose #BloodSugar #BloodGlucoseLevels #BloodSugarLevels
I’m so excited to see this post from @livlifebre I’m so excited to see this post from @livlifebread that I had to share it on the grid too! Finally my favourite and best low carb bread is going to be stocked in 600 @coopuk stores! 🎉 

I’ve contacted co op to see if they can confirm which stores will be stocking it as this should help so many of you find a bread that a majority will tolerate. 

It is also stocked @waitrose and on @ocadouk but I know many of you and myself do not have Waitrose nearby and I’m in Scotland where Ocado don’t deliver 👎🏻 

Come on @coopuk don’t let us down, #GDUKMums NEED Livlife bread in their shopping baskets and we’re relying on you! (No pressure 😉) 

www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/best-breads/
Head up to my link in bio @gestational_diabetes_uk Head up to my link in bio @gestational_diabetes_uk to read about Ramadan, fasting in pregnancy and fasting with diabetes in pregnancy

Although pregnant women are exempt from fasting, many still choose to fast during Ramadan 

It is individual choice as to whether a woman wishes to fast during Ramadan and this decision should be respected and supported with an understanding of that she should break the fast if feeling unwell

Find out what the evidence-based research has found in pregnant women who fast during Ramadan and some helpful videos and articles to make an informed decision over fasting this Ramadan 🌙 

#ramadan #ramadan2021 #ramadanmubarak #ramadanpregnancy #ramadaninpregnancy #diabeticramadan #ramadananddiabetes #fastinginpregnancy #happyramadan🌙
This year Ramadan is expected to start 13th April This year Ramadan is expected to start 13th April 2021. Ramadan is held during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for spiritual reflection, acts of charity and spending time with loved ones for Muslims all around the world
⠀
It is also a month when many will fast as fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. This means not eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset, allowing Muslims to devote themselves further to their faith
⠀
Pregnant women are one of the groups whom are exempt from fasting if it poses a risk to their health, however some women still choose to fast
⠀
Islamic law gives permission for pregnant and breastfeeding women to opt out of fasting if she fears that it will harm her health or the health of her baby. Missed days of fasting can be made up at a later date, or if this isn’t possible, a ‘fidyah’ can be paid by providing food for someone in poverty for every missed day of fasting
⠀
During Ramadan and gestational diabetes in pregnancy, it is highly advisable to seek advice from your diabetic team and dietitian before making the decision over whether it would be safe for you to fast or not
⠀
According to the Muslim Council of Britain, they state you are high risk if you have diabetes and are pregnant, and they advise not to fast​
⠀
Following a diagnosis of gestational diabetes, or with diabetes in pregnancy, the best way we have found to gain good control of blood glucose levels is to eat little and often. One problem we see often is where mothers leave too long between meals and snacks, blood glucose levels drop low and the liver dumps stored glucose into the bloodstream to raise blood glucose levels back up. For those with diabetes this can mean spikes in blood glucose levels and the dropping and spiking of blood glucose can make the mother feel quite unwell, dizzy and tired
⠀
To read more about Ramadan and fasting in pregnancy with GDM including what the evidence-based research says, take a look @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/ramadan-and-gestational-diabetes/
⠀
Ramadan Mubarak ☪️
.
.
.
#Ramadan #Ramadan2021 #RamadanMubarak #RamadanInPregnancy #FastingInPregnancy #DiabeticRamadan #GestationalDiabetes #GD #GDM #GDUKMums
We see a lot of questions in our Facebook support We see a lot of questions in our Facebook support group about baby’s movements with gestational diabetes
⠀
❤️ Movements of your baby are a sign that everything is well
⠀
🤰🏾If you experience reduced movements OR a change in your baby’s movements, INCLUDING increased movements then you should seek medical advice immediately from your maternity assessment unit 👩🏽‍⚕️
⠀
💗 @kicks.count say:
“Reduced fetal movement can be a sign that the baby is in distress although this is not the only cause.
2 out of 3 mums who have a stillbirth say they noticed their baby’s movements slow down beforehand. It is therefore important that all cases of reduced movement are reported to your midwife or maternity unit.”
⠀
🩸With gestational diabetes you may notice differences in baby’s movements when your BG levels are high OR low.
✅ These changes and differences should ALWAYS still be checked. Don’t just sit back and presume all is well just because your levels are high/low
⠀
❗️With gestational diabetes we have a higher risk of early placenta deterioration / placenta insufficiency. One of the possible symptoms of this is reduced or changes in movements.
⠀
✅ Always play safe and get checked out. You are never wasting anyone’s time, just to call to be seen and get checked 💜
⠀
Read the full article @ www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/reduced-movements/
⠀
.
.
.
#GDUK #GDUKMums #TeamGDUK #KicksCount #BabysMovements #DecreasedMovements #IncreasedMovements #PlacentaInsuffiency #PlacentaCalcification #AgingPlacenta #PlacentaDeterioration #GetCheckedOut #DontWait
#GestationalDiabetesUK #GestationalDiabetesUKMums #GestationalDiabetes #GestationalDiabetesDiet #GDPregnancy #DiabeticPregnancy #DiabetesInPregnancy #PlusSizePregnancy #GeriatricPregnancy #SlimmingWorldPregnancy #HighRiskPregnancy #GlucoseToleranceTest #GDDiagnosis #BloodGlucose #BloodSugar #BloodGlucoseLevels #BloodSugarLevels
You CAN do this! If you fall off that GD diet wa You CAN do this! 

If you fall off that GD diet wagon, then brush yourself off and jump straight back on. Don’t wait for a new day, new week, do it NOW xx

https://www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/falling-off-the-wagon/

#gestationaldiabetes #gdukmums #gestationaldiabetesuk #diabeticpregnancy
Load More… Follow on Instagram

GD Basics

Whooping cough and flu vaccinations
GD & Other Illness GD Basics 

Whooping cough and flu vaccinations

22nd September 202022nd September 2020 Jo Paterson

Whooping cough​1​ and flu​2​ vaccinations are recommended during pregnancy, but what impact will this have with gestational diabetes? Pertussis or

high fasting levels in Blood glucose monitoring diary
Blood sugar levels Featured Posts GD Basics 

High fasting levels

5th August 202015th August 2020 Jo Paterson
Testing blood sugar levels - when do you test yours? a comparison of 1hr and 2hr blood glucose testing
Blood sugar levels GD Basics 

Blood sugar levels, when do you test yours?

16th June 201916th June 2019 Jo Paterson
gestational diabetes birth
Birth GD Basics 

Gestational diabetes birth

27th March 20198th April 2019 Jo Paterson
GD shopping list
GD Basics GD Diet 

Shopping List

4th May 201820th February 2019 Jo Paterson
What is food pairing?
GD Basics GD Diet 

What is food pairing?

18th December 20162nd March 2019 Jo Paterson
As featured in articles on

GD UK Membership

  • Login
  • Account

Member Support

  • Membership troubleshooting & FAQs
  • Terms of Use/Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Terms of Use

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Tools
  • Terms of Use/Disclaimer
Copyright © 2021 Gestational Diabetes UK. All rights reserved.
Theme: ColorMag by ThemeGrill. Powered by WordPress.