Low levels with gestational diabetes – How low is too low? Many mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes are not given much information or advice about low levels. A question that we get asked frequently in our Facebook support group, is “how low is too low?” Levels below 2.0mmol/L should be reported to a health care professional, but if they are just lower than what you consider normal then please continue reading. The answer to this question differs depending on how your gestational diabetes is controlled: If you take Insulin or Glibenclamide:- If you are taking Glibenclamide or Insulin ..read more

False hypos A false hypo can be where someone experiences hypo-type symptoms but their blood sugar levels are within what is classed as normal levels, or where a diet-controlled or Metformin treated patient with diabetes experiences slightly lower blood sugar levels. The name ‘false hypo’ may sound insignificant or dismissive to what a person is experiencing by suggesting it is ‘false’, but it simply means that the patient does not need to eat or drink something sugary to raise the blood sugar levels as the body can self-regulate. What is a true hypo? The word hypo is short for hypoglycaemia ..read more

Hypoglycaemia (Hypos) Hypos are the main side effect of insulin treatment.  This can happen if your blood sugar levels drop below 4.0mmol/L (although some professionals will advise that hypo levels are below 3.5mmol/L)  A handy phrase to remember once you start insulin is “four is the floor”. If you are NOT controlling your gestational diabetes with insulin or glibenclamide, then you should read our information on false hypos. Symptoms of a hypo: Sweating Anxiety or bad temper Trembling/shaking Tingling of the lips or fingers Intense hunger Going pale Dizziness Palpitations (heart ..read more

Can you eat chocolate with gestational diabetes? Chocolate is a sweet treat that has added refined sugar and so many mums may prefer not to push the boundaries and choose not to eat chocolate with gestational diabetes. Too much, or the wrong kind of chocolate can easily spike blood sugar levels too high. However, for many, it is an extremely hard thing to avoid and a small amount of the right kind of chocolate, paired well can be a safer small sweet treat that keeps blood sugar levels at safe levels. The fat in chocolate means the glucose from it releases slower than some other swee ..read more

Breakfast cereals are notoriously hard to tolerate with gestational diabetes, but porridge oats are often one of the only breakfast cereals which are tolerated by many. Pinhead Steel-cut Porridge is the best type of porridge to try. This recipe is for traditional Scottish or Irish Porridge made with pinhead or steel-cut oats. Instead of the better-known porridge oats which are flat and have been rolled, pinhead steel-cut oats are the inner kernel (groat) of the whole grain which has been cut into small chunks. They are less processed than rolled oats and have a slightly lower GI (gl ..read more

Everything you need to know about holding a Gestational Diabetes Baby Shower This post is for all those lucky mamas that are fortunate enough to be surrounded by some lovely family and friends who want to throw them baby showers. Having never had a baby shower myself, or attended one, I’m going by what I’ve heard about them in my Facebook group and will try my best to explain how having gestational diabetes can make a mother filled with dread when they hear the words “baby shower“. Most think of baby showers and imagine finger foods or an afternoon tea packed with carbs and sugar-laden ca ..read more

Sugar-free, no added sugar, and diabetic specialist foods Sugar-free sweets, biscuits, and no added sugar chocolate; Wooohoooo! When looking in the shops, you may see items which are labelled as sugar-free and no added sugar, which is marketed as suitable for diabetics… Hurrah! All the naughty things you may be craving and yet no sugar to cause high blood sugar levels, which is something we are trying to avoid. So can you have your ‘cake‘ and eat it too, or is there more to it than meets the eye? Sugar-Free Sweets, Chocolate and biscuits you can freely eat! (or not?) Every week or so, we get ..read more

Happy Chinese New Year! Kung Hei Fat Choi! Lunar New Year, also called Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in China. Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar. In Chinese and other East Asian cultures, the festival is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival (Chinese: 春節 / 春节, Chūn jié) as the spring season in the lunisolar calendar traditionally starts with  ..read more

Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cheesecake is my newest addition to the GD-friendly, no-bake cheesecakes for Christmas 2022. If Terry’s chocolate orange is something that makes your Christmas, then you have to make this treat! It’s really easy to make, and although a food processor to grind the biscuits and a hand whisk is helpful to whip the cream, you can just do this by hand meaning no special equipment is needed. You don’t even need a loose-bottom cake tin like I have used here, as you can make this cheesecake in any baking dish, bowl or just in ramekins. The amount of cream cheeses and cream in ..read more

Pancetta Pollock Parcels served on a bed of lemon-dressed potatoes and roasted vegetables. Using sustainable white fish fillets such as pollock keeps this dish a more budget-friendly alternative to cod or haddock, however, any white, skinned and boneless fish fillets can be used. Print Pancetta Pollock Parcels Pancetta Pollock Parcels with lemon roasted veg | Gestational Diabetes UK Course Main Meals Cuisine Mediterranean Diet Diabetic, Gluten Free Keyword fish Free or Subscription Recipe Free Recipe Free from coconut, dairy, eggs, gluten, nuts Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 45 minutes ..read more