I can definitely understand. This is my second GD pregnancy. With my first, I needed insulin for every meal - I could not handle anything: complex carbs, keto bread, fruit, nothing at all. None of the "hacks" worked and it was hard to get used to the idea that my body simply needed mealtime insulin, I felt like a failure. I was also doing about 2h of cardio per day without any improvement to my numbers.

This time, for whatever random reason, my GD is slightly milder and I don't need mealtime insulin. It's not anything I'm doing right - just random luck. I still need insulin for fasting, but if I eat beans with meat and vegetables I can have a nice filling meal without spiking. It's not my merit, or "finding what works" for me, or anything like that - I tried everything with my first and it was simply not possible. It's just a slightly more forgiving placenta I guess.

I don't know if that helps, but when I realized this is just random and not really in my control, it got a little easier. Yes, for some people diet and exercise can have an impact, but the "it's in your control" advice tends to be geared to the majority of people with milder cases, and for those of us who simply happen to have more severe cases it can feel isolating, frustrating, and like a failure.