You may be having palpitations, which is generally defined as heartbeats that you are aware of because they feel like skipping, quivering, fluttering, flipflopping, or jumping. The following provides information on palpitations: http://www.temple.edu/heart/html/palpitations.html Your situation may be complicated by other medical factors such as the recent birth of your child, your diabetes, and your weight. There are way too many factors involved for a simple explanation of your palpitations. If your physician is unable to provide education or resources, including diet, regarding your Type 2 diabetes, you may benefit from a referral to an endocrinologist (discuss hypo- and hyperthyroidism with him/her). I would question your physician s advice regarding carbohydrates, but a referral to a registered dietitian (RD) can also help you regarding meal planning and healthy eating. A referral to a cardiologist may be needed for testing such as EKG, echocardiogram, or a Holter Monitor to evaluate your palpitations. You have a number of medical issues, complicated by your family history of cardiac disease. There are a number of specialists who can help you. I know all these issues may be overwhelming to you, but if you address each issue one at a time, perhaps starting with an endocrinologist, you should be able to control your diabetes, lose weight, decrease your palpitations, and stay healthy for yourself and your family.