Gestational diabetes, grief and kicking me while I'm down.

[Belangalo]

I've got hyperemesis gravidarum, high blood pressure, a dead husband and now I have gestational diabetes.

I am 27 weeks and 4 days.

I can barely choke down anything as it is apart from bread which normally comes back up. So now I have gestational diabetes and "no bread". Pretty much broccoli is all I'm allowed. This is beyond painful since broccoli does not sit well in my stomach at all (I loved it but hyperemesis is vicious) and I haven't managed to keep any of it down more than a few minutes.

I'm almost ready to give up now. How much more am I supposed to take? It's been one month since my husband died and my grief is worse not better. My health is clearly going downhill even faster and I don't know what to do. Broccoli...no better, salt or seasoning. Does anyone else have HG, high blood pressure and gestational diabetes (from apparently doing nothing more than eating a slice of bread a day)?

[Nevergiveup21]

I am so sorry I have no useful advice to offer. Just want to say you, your beloved husband and little baby girl have been in my thoughts constantly since that terrible day. Just know a total stranger sends all her love from across the world to you and your precious little girl. Xxxxx

[Millbanks]

Oh love, I cannot imagine how are you feeling right now. Sending you so much love.

My sister in law had HG and she was put on steroids to help ease it, also she was kept on blood thinners which were supposed to help.

She said the only thing she could stomach was ginger nut biscuits and slushies (for the sugar).

xxxx

❤️❤️❤️

[soccerkt6]

Hi lovely

I'm so so sorry that you now have another thing to deal with. You are managing a mind-boggling burden at the moment.

I'm not a doctor or nutritionist but, for what it's worth, I don't think that eating plain broccoli is the best advice. Eating plenty of protein and healthy fats like butter is key in the management of diabetes because fat and protein slow down the absorption of glucose which helps avoid spikes in your blood sugar. Whatever you manage to eat, I would pair it with fat and/or protein wherever possible.

The HG obviously makes it much harder for you to follow a particular diet but if starchy foods are the only thing you can keep down, I would try rice or potatoes that have been cooked and cooled. Once you cook and cool down rice and potatoes, they develop what's called "resistant starch" which doesn't spike your blood sugar and actually actively helps to lower it. I often boil a big batch of potatoes on Sunday, slather them in butter, garlic and spring onions and then refrigerate them. I then have them (warm - it's fine to reheat once they've been cooked and cooled) with eggs for breakfast and they're tasty. If bread is the absolute only thing you can keep down, there's evidence that it has less of an affect on blood sugar if it's been frozen and then re-heated. And even better for blood sugar if you eat it with butter.

If you can, I would seek out a or nutritionist who specialises in gestational diabetes or a functional medicine doctor (as they're very well-versed in nutrition).

I will keep thinking of you. Hang in there, lovely. This too shall pass xxxxxxxx

[soccerkt6 in reply to soccerkt6]

Forgot to mention - you should start taking myo-inositol (2000mg twice per day) for the gestational diabetes. It’s safe to take in pregnancy and increases insulin sensitivity which is a good thing. Inofolic Alpha and Ovasitol are both really good brands but I’m not sure if they’re available in Australia xxx

[Jane8412]

I am so sorry you are going through GD on top of your hyperemis & high BP. I am no expert but they thought I may have it after my baby measured 93rd percentile so I started looking into diet. I have heard that the best book out there on this is Lily Nichols’ book- Real food for Gestational diabetes. She also has a website with lots of useful information about how you can eat a variety of real food to manage your GD.lilynicholsrdn.com/gestatio...

I hope that can be of some help to you.

Sending you lots of love. I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. What you are going through now is totally unfair and unfathomable. I hope you have a good support network to help you. Always here is you ever need someone to talk to xx

[MariaHdz]

Sometimes the lack of food can also wreak havoc in your body. Could it be that your hypertension was caused by insuline resistance that got worse with an increase of cortisol (the hormone we produce while stressed out)? Insuline resistance can be a factor for gestational diabetes. I just found out I am insuline resistance and certain crash diets (where you eat very little... in your case the extreme morning sickness), might worsen it. I send you a hug. I am not ptegnant yet, but I am taking metformin and myoinositol (the last one is a suplement, a vitamine), that helps with gestational diabetes.

[Crazy_girl]

Have you tried quinoa? This is to control the gestational diabetes. Please enquire with your midwife about this and start eating it once you get a go ahead. Agree its a challenge till you figure out your comfort food.

You are a fighter and so is your baby. All the best.

[D38813]

I’m so sorry to hear of your situation. I had HG until 18 weeks and it looks like it rearing it’s head again. My drs tried four different lots of medications before I found one that worked well enough for me to start feeling human again. I’d strongly suggest you get the help from them that you and your body desperately needs. I’m about to have my test this week for suspected diabetes and I’m hoping I don’t have it. It seems that everything is loaded at you at the moment, you’re clearly a strong and determined lady and I truly admire you.

Sending you love and comfort through this incredibly difficult time. X