Fasting levels

Try and eat earlier - I had a similar issue and then started having my last meal by 6:30pm and this seemed to have done the trick - my fasting sugars were way better

I think that’s what I did the first night I don’t remember eating really late and then still got 5.7 🥲 I will try that again tonight though so fingers crossed 🤞🏻 thank you!

I was exactly the same when I was diagnosed at 28 weeks. I’m now 38 weeks and it has not been easy. I’m unsure what you’ve been told but if it is only your fasting samples that are high, you are usually put on insulin as metformin is to take with meals, it won’t help your overnight levels as they are caused by your placenta and hormones. If your evening bloods after food start to creep up then they will likely add in metformin.
I don’t really have any advice, just that I have found having GD really hard and unfortunately for me absoloutely nothing I’ve done has helped and I’m now on 64 units of insulin before bed and 1000mg of metformin after dinner and I’m still getting reading of 5.3 every morning and they want me 5.2 or under. The reason I’m on metformin as my after meal samples are now .1/.2 over aswell 🤦🏻‍♀️
I was really upset about it at my last appointment with the diabetes team but they were really kind and said it’s not an exact science.

So essentially, don’t beat yourself up if you do all you can and it still doesn’t work. My baby is slightly on the larger side but they have been very happy with him throughout despite this.

Hi! I was diagnosed at around 26 weeks and by week 32 started having the same issue they put me in 1 pill of metformin after dinner to help with my fasting levels. I remember crying lots when they told me and feeling really down about it. However it has almost been a month since I started taking metformin and I have only had 2 high fasting sugars in all this time. It has worked wonders for me, so my advice is don’t be scared of medication it might actually make things much better for you and your baby! Best of luck!

I mean insulin is the one I really would love to avoid if I can the thought of having to inject myself is scary! I’ve only just got over having to prick my finger 😂 I will call the diabetes team later and see what they say though! Thank you 🥰

have you had any side effects from the metformin as I’ve seen that’s quite a thing too?

Your fasting levels are completely out of your control. It's the hormones being released when you're asleep. If your after food readings are on track then you are doing everything you can already.

I was having spikes in the morning with my fasting readings and the only thing that stopped it was Metformin and insulin. Even then I have to increase the insulin as the pregnancy progresses because the hormones are increasing. It isn't anything you are doing wrong so please don't feel like that. I was so upset at the beginning of this journey but my food readings were all good so it literally just is hormones and you can't control that! It's just something that happens.

Also I am the biggest tit ever and I got used to the injections really quickly! You'll be fine if it goes that route. I think it's worth reminding yourself how strong you are already.

it’s really funny to me too though as the diabetic nurse I saw said when I did my gtt test my fasting level was actually fine it was after the glucose levels that were high but now it seems to be the other way around 😂 but thank you! I’d be so fine if someone else was injecting for me but the thought of doing it myself is awful haha and I know for a fine fact my boyfriend won’t do it for me as he’s more of a wuss with needles than I am hahaha x

Hey Toni, I was told to absolutely have a snack about 1-2 hours before bed that has to contain protein and carbs (about 15g). I have been enjoying alot having whole wheat crackers with tofu spread or hummus. You can also simply have a toast with cheese or peanut butter.

The nurse told me this prevents your sugars from going too low overnight and your liver secreting blood sugars to try and balance, which could cause a higher fasting sugar.

They do say that fasting levels are out of your control but at one point I started having some higher than usual readings and I honestly don’t know if it made a difference but I started having a Granny Smith apple before bed as my nighttime snack and kept waking up with good levels! Again no idea if it’s just a coincidence but maybe you could give it a go 🤷🏻‍♀️

I had 3 spikes (5.3/5.4/5.6) when I first started out, but then I found that eating pistachios/peanut butter/walnuts as a late night snack or if I wake up to go to the bathroom at night I would grab a few pistachios (plus drink water) has really worked for me in terms of fasting sugar levels the next day.