The Gestie Podcast

Gestie

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HEALTH & FITNESS

A podcast for women experiencing gestational diabetes, pregnancy, and the emotional layers that come with it. Hosted by Celia, Gestie exists to make this season feel less lonely. Each episode blends lived experience, practical wisdom, and conversations with professionals - covering everything from diagnosis and daily management to mental health, and preparing for what comes next.

3D AGO

Sweets, snacks and special occasions

This is part four of our four-part nutrition series with dietitian Megan from Joy Nutrition Studio. In this final episode, Megan tackles the real-world stuff: sweet treats, special occasions, and all the moments where sticking to a routine feels impossible. We cover why a one-off glucose spike from a hot cross bun or a birthday cupcake is not something to stress about, how to time treats to minimize the impact on your levels, and what to actually eat for snacks throughout the day - including before bed if your fasting levels are giving you grief. Find Megan at joynutritionstudio.com.au or on Instagram @joy.nutrition.studio. Full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/sweets-snacks-and-special-occasions Chapters 00:00 Intro: can you still enjoy food with GDM? 00:58 Sweet treats and why one-off spikes aren't the whole story 02:32 The best time to eat something high GI 04:13 The Coke craving: what actually happens to your blood sugar 05:23 Are zero-sugar alternatives a good swap? 06:44 Navigating Easter, Christmas, and holiday food 09:28 Why skipping breakfast before a big meal backfires 10:22 Baby showers and GDM: how to enjoy it without the stress 12:00 Weddings, conferences, and eating when you're not in control 13:39 Best snacks to keep in your bag 14:15 What a balanced daytime snack actually looks like 17:12 Bedtime snacks and fasting levels explained 20:30 Robyn Compton: an Instagram worth following 20:56 Wrap-up and thank you

22 min
MAY 6

Why protein, fibre and fat matter

This is part three of our four-part nutrition series with dietitian Megan Core from Joy Nutrition Studio. You've got your head around carbs - now let's talk about the foods that work alongside them. In this episode, Megan breaks down why protein, fibre, and fat are your biggest allies when it comes to managing blood sugar with gestational diabetes, and how pairing them with your carbs can make a real difference to how steady you feel after a meal. We also get into the portion plate method - a simple, visual way to build a balanced meal without overthinking it. We cover how much protein you actually need in pregnancy, why breakfast might be your secret weapon for the whole day, and what to grab when mornings are chaotic. Plus - the honest story on some of the hacks you might have heard about, including food order, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon, and whether any of them are actually worth trying. Find Megan at joynutritionstudio.com.au or on Instagram @joy.nutrition.studio. Full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-10-protein-fibre-and-fat Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Easy ways to add more protein 01:48 Simple ways to eat more fibre 02:16 Why pairing foods matters for blood sugar 04:13 How to build a balanced plate 06:10 How much protein do you need in pregnancy? 09:36 Managing hunger between meals 10:41 Don't forget healthy fats 12:17 Why breakfast can be your superpower 14:05 Lower GI breakfast ideas 15:07 Quick breakfast options for busy mornings 17:18 Easy ways to boost fibre 20:48 Does food order affect blood sugar? 22:52 Can vinegar help lower blood sugar spikes? 24:29 Can cinnamon improve insulin sensitivity?

27 min
APR 27

Building confidence with carbs

This is part two of our four-part nutrition series with dietitian Megan Core from Joy Nutrition Studio. Carbs are usually the first thing that gets put under the microscope after a gestational diabetes diagnosis - but cutting them out isn't the answer. In this episode, Megan breaks down what carbohydrates actually are, how they work in your body, and why glucose is essential fuel during pregnancy. We cover the difference between simple and complex carbs, how the glycemic index works, what typical carb targets look like for GDM, and how to spread them across the day to avoid those big spikes and crashes. Plus - practical meal and snack ideas, a fridge hack worth knowing about, and why sleep and stress can affect your blood sugar just as much as what you eat. Find Megan at joynutritionstudio.com.au or on Instagram @joy.nutrition.studio. Full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-9-building-confidence-with-carbs Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Let’s talk about carbs 00:54 What are carbohydrates? 02:01 Why your body needs glucose 02:55 Why you shouldn’t restrict carbs 05:58 Ketones and gestational diabetes 07:06 Simple vs complex carbohydrates 10:00 Why high GI carbs can be deceptive 11:38 Understanding the Glycemic Index (GI) 14:15 How many carbs do you actually need? 17:54 Measuring carbs: cooked or uncooked? 18:44 What 45g of carbs looks like 21:19 Can cooling carbs reduce spikes? 22:28 Easy snack ideas for GD 24:51 Why am I still hungry? 28:26 What to do when something spikes you 28:48 Other things that affect blood sugar

32 min
APR 27

Let's talk food with gestational diabetes

This is part one of a four-part nutrition series with accredited practising dietitian Megan Core, founder of Joy Nutrition Studio. Food is one of the biggest parts of managing gestational diabetes - but it can also bring up a lot of feelings. Guilt, overwhelm, fear of eating the wrong thing. In this episode, Celia and Megan cut through all of that and start from the beginning. What is the actual goal with food when you have GDM? Why does everyone's experience look so different? And if you've just been diagnosed and you don't know where to start, what should you actually focus on first? Megan shares why you absolutely did not cause your GDM through food, why going low carb is one of the biggest mistakes she sees, and the three simple principles she'd give every newly diagnosed woman in week one. Find Megan at joynutritionstudio.com.au or on Instagram @joy.nutrition.studio. Full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-8-food-with-gestational-diabetes Chapters 00:00 Introduction to nutrition for gestational diabetes 01:14 Misconceptions about gestational diabetes 02:41 Goals of food management in gestational diabetes 05:59 Variability from person to person 07:56 Starting tips for newly diagnosed 09:41 Don't restrict carbs! 11:27 Defining success in food management

14 min
APR 9

Katie’s story: GDM twice, spontaneous birth, induction & why insulin isn’t the enemy

Please note: This episode includes discussion of pregnancy loss. In this first episode of our Gestie Stories series, Celia sits down with Katie - a mum of two and founder of Birth & Baby - to hear her honest experience with gestational diabetes across both of her pregnancies. From infertility and miscarriage to a highly medicalised pregnancy, Katie shares what it was like to receive a gestational diabetes diagnosis after everything she had already been through - and the emotional weight of feeling like it was somehow her fault, particularly following her gastric sleeve surgery. She also opens up about the shift from spiralling to finding routine, what helped her feel more supported, and how her experience evolved across her two pregnancies and birth experiences. If you’ve just been diagnosed, or you’re right in the middle of it, this episode is here to help you feel less alone. Link to full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-7-katies-story-gdm-twice-spontaneous-birth-induction-and-why-insulin-isnt-the-enemy If you’re in Australia and would like to hire a TENS machine for your birth, check out Birth & Baby: Website: https://www.birthandbaby.com.au/ Instagram: @birthandbaby_au Chapters 00:00 Real mums, real stories 01:08 Life before motherhood 01:46 The decision to try for a baby 02:23 When it doesn't happen easily 03:24 Experiencing loss 06:06 A complicated pregnancy begins 07:08 The gestational diabetes diagnosis 08:04 Gastric sleeve surgery & internalizing blame 11:15 Health literacy as a hurdle 12:39 When your partner doesn't know how to help 13:50 From anxiety to daily rhythym 14:18 Navigating other people’s opinions 18:14 Finding relief in starting insulin 18:54 A spontaneous first birth 22:43 Labour encouragement methods 23:35 An undiagnosed GD story 25:12 Surprise! Baby no. 2 26:13 A shift in mindset 28:47 Choosing an induction 30:40 When baby's blood sugars are low 31:31 The role of colostrum 32:48 Katie's advice to newly diagnosed mums 33:55 Advocating for yourself in medical settings

37 min
MAR 23

Your levels, IRL

Testing your blood sugar sounds simple enough - until you're in the thick of it, wondering why your numbers are up when you did everything "right," or stressing about whether you timed that test correctly. This episode is about what blood sugar testing actually looks like day-to-day. Credentialed diabetes educator Melissa Tait shares practical tips for making finger pricking easier and more accurate, explains when it makes sense to retest (and when it really doesn't), and walks through the differences between finger pricking and CGMs. She also gently dismantles a few common myths - including one about post-meal test timing that trips a lot of people up. Less stress about the numbers. More confidence in what they're telling you. You can connect with Melissa on Instagram (@diabetes_educator_mel). Link to full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-6-readings-in-real-life Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Understanding daily blood sugar monitoring 02:11 Different methods 04:06 Making testing easier or more accurate 06:07 Difficulty getting bloodflow 07:10 Changing the needle in your lancet 08:27 Sacrificial finger? 09:11 When your should retest 11:43 Timing of testing 13:48 Fasting blood glucose levels 16:31 CGMS 19:54 Key takeaways

21 min
MAR 9

Finding your way to move

Walking after meals is the classic GDM advice - but what if that's not realistic for you right now? And what else actually counts? Following on from the science in the previous episode, this conversation with women's health exercise physiologist Kristen McCluskey gets practical. From resistance training and swimming to exercise bikes and living room dance parties - there are more options than you might think. Kristen also explains the difference between incidental movement and structured exercise, the idea of "exercise snacks" throughout the day, and how to adapt when pregnancy fatigue, discomfort, or pain makes things harder. For anyone trying to fit movement into real life with GDM - especially when pregnancy is already a lot. You can connect with Kristen through Meri Exercise Physiology or on Instagram (@meri.exercisephysiology). Link to full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-5-finding-your-way-to-move Chapters 00:28 Recap from last episode 00:54 Why walking is the go-to recommendation for GDM 01:34 When walking doesn't work 02:05 Other pregnancy-safe movement options 04:22 Resistance training 05:33 The WHO's updated guidelines 06:07 Kristen's 10 minute mini series 07:09 Incidental activity 08:29 Calf raises 10:34 Exercise "snacks" 11:21 Managing fatigue 12:30 Building a support network 13:15 Pain and discomfort 14:21 Getting your body ready for birth 16:52 Kristen's website and socials

18 min
MAR 9

Why they tell you to walk after meals

You've probably heard the advice: take a walk after eating. But why? And does it actually work? This episode gets into what's really happening in your body after a meal, how glucose enters your cells, and why pregnancy hormones make that process harder. Women's health exercise physiologist Kristen McCluskey explains how muscle contraction opens a kind of side door for glucose - one that doesn't rely as heavily on insulin - and what the research actually says about timing, intensity, and how to make it work in real life. Less "you should exercise more," more "here's exactly what's going on and why it helps." You can connect with Kristen through Meri Exercise Physiology or on Instagram (@meri.exercisephysiology). Link to full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-4-why-they-tell-you-to-walk-after-meals Chapters 00:28 Introduction 00:45 Meet Kristen 01:10 What's actually happening in the body after we eat? 01:23 How insulin works 02:24 What changes in pregnancy 03:08 Exercise - the secret side door 04:04 GLUT4 transporters 05:59 Compound exercises 06:38 How long do the benefits of exercise last? 07:23 Timing your movement 09:24 The 150-300 minutes a week recommendation explained 10:06 Why 10 minutes three times a day works better than you'd think 11:32 GDM fatigue 13:29 Kristen's own experimentation with GDM 15:36 The flexibility factor 17:47 Exercise benefits beyond blood glucose 18:14 Takeaways + what's coming in the next episode

19 min
FEB 11

Blood sugar basics

Ever looked at your numbers and thought - but what does this actually mean? This episode breaks down what blood sugar regulation really is, why pregnancy changes things, and what's happening in your body when your levels rise. Credentialed diabetes educator and clinical nurse specialist Melissa Tait explains how insulin works (using a simple petrol tank analogy that finally makes it click), why pregnancy hormones increase insulin resistance, and why the target ranges in pregnancy are tighter than outside it. By the end, the numbers make a lot more sense. Some Australian targets are referenced in this episode. For those who use mg/dL, here are the equivalents: • 4.0–7.8 mmol/L (≈72–140 mg/dL) • ≤ 5.0 mmol/L (≤90 mg/dL) • ≤ 6.7 mmol/L (≤121 mg/dL) You can connect with Melissa on Instagram (@diabetes_educator_mel) or through Connections. Link to full shownotes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-3-blood-sugar-basics Chapters 00:39 Introduction 00:58 Meet Melissa - credentialed diabetes educator and clinical nurse specialist 02:52 Blood sugar regulation explained 04:32 How insulin works (the taxi analogy) 05:48 What happens when there's not enough insulin 06:38 What is a hypo and what does it feel like? 09:52 What else affects your blood sugar levels? 10:51 Pregnancy changes 11:20 Why the OGTT happens at 24-28 weeks 12:39 Easier towards the end? 13:49 Reducing your risk? 15:35 Hhealthy glucose ranges after a meal 16:42 Targets for women with GDM 17:26 Why pregnancy targets are tighter 20:00 Where to find Melissa and connect with her

21 min
JAN 21

Surviving the first week

The first week after a GDM diagnosis can feel like a lot. The shock, the grief, the sudden sense that your pregnancy has become medicalised - it's real, and it's more common than you might think. In this episode, midwife and GDM mum Naomi talks honestly about what that first week actually looks like: what usually happens next, what not to do (spoiler: restriction isn't the answer), and how to advocate for yourself when everything feels uncertain. If you're newly diagnosed and feeling scared or confused, this one's for you. You're not alone, it's not your fault, and you don't have to be perfect to do this well. Link to full show notes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep-2-surviving-the-first-week Chapters 00:00 Meet your host - and today's guest, Naomi 00:43 Who is Naomi? Midwife, mum, and GDM alumni 01:54 Naomi's diagnosis story 03:36 Straight onto insulin 06:05 The emotional side of diagnosis 09:51 What actually happens next: the appointments, the referrals, the system 12:00 What to ask your care provider 13:13 Do not restrict your food 13:50 Your first two weeks 16:08 The isolation of GDM and finding your people 16:49 Practical tips for those very early days 19:47 Self-advocacy 22:25 Where to find more resources

24 min
JAN 6

Introducing Gestie

If you've just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and you're not sure where to start - this is where to start. Gestie founder Celia shares how this platform came to be: the overwhelm after her own GDM diagnosis, the mental load nobody warned her about, and the information gaps that leave so many women feeling lost in those first days. The Gestie Podcast is designed to be a steady companion through GDM - short, focused episodes that make things clearer, not scarier. Follow or subscribe so you don't miss what's coming. Full show notes: https://heygestie.com/blogs/podcast/ep1-introducing-gestie

4 min

11 Episodes

A podcast for women experiencing gestational diabetes, pregnancy, and the emotional layers that come with it. Hosted by Celia, Gestie exists to make this season feel less lonely. Each episode blends lived experience, practical wisdom, and conversations with professionals - covering everything from diagnosis and daily management to mental health, and preparing for what comes next.

Creator

Gestie
Years Active

2K
Episodes

11
Rating

Explicit
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© 2026 Gestie
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The Gestie Podcast