Been scared out of my mind by the doctors, re: blood sugars and need help!

[mkpgoddess]

I know there's a support thread but I'm not sure how active it is and I'm in a panic. I've had a rather horrible two days with Kaiser. I'm newly pregnant (6 weeks tomorrow) and they found out that I GD with #1, so they ushered me downstairs to take the 1 hr glucose test, despite me telling them that I wouldn't pass it. Well, I didn't (197), so they insisted on sending me to a dietitian, and now the high risk doctor next week.

I've been tracking my numbers since before we TTC, and my post prandials are brilliant, but my fasting since pregnancy isn't the greatest, between 94-99 and they want it below 89. I've already been carb counting (15 g for breakfast and snacks, 45 g for lunch and dinner) and now know to shift that last snack to later in the evening (I've been falling asleep around 8 pm, so it's been earlier). I'm going to start exercising after dinner (which hopefully will help shift my bedtime ), but any other suggestions???

I really, really, really want to have a birth center birth with the midwives, but they won't keep me if I'm insulin dependent. The fact that I have to worry about this so soon makes me really, really scared.

TIA,
Samantha

[lifeguard]

My goodness - 89 is low. With my gd the goal was under 100.

I'm sorry you are having a rough time with this. Gd was nothing but stress for me. Best wishes.

[mkpgoddess]

LOL! That's what my wife said, and she was so spitting mad that their threshold was so low she could barely see straight. Ugh! Unfortunately, my midwives are really uncomfortable calling the shots with GD, so they'll go with the doctor's rec on this one. So...89....:sigh

[tngirl11]

Oh man, I had GD in my last two pg, and I was always so frustrated with their "expert" guidelines and recommendations. I swear, if I had followed their diet my sugars would have been horrible! I always had the most trouble controlling my first thing in the morning reading. I found that the biggest key was to eat plenty of protein and fat. They had some silly limit on the amounts of both of these, but I found (and read) that the more protein and fat you can take in, especially late at night, the more balanced your sugars will be. Cinnamon is really helpful too because it lowers blood sugar. You can just eat lots of it, or you can buy cinnamon capsules at the health food store. You could pop a couple before you check your sugar. Good luck to you!

[starkyld]

Originally Posted by tngirl11

Cinnamon is really helpful too because it lowers blood sugar. You can just eat lots of it, or you can buy cinnamon capsules at the health food store. You could pop a couple before you check your sugar. Good luck to you!

Be careful about this because cinnamon is a uterine stimulant. I discontinue my use of cinnamon tea in pregnancy and watch cinnamon-containing things in the first trimester.

[ellairiesmom]

My issue also tends to be my AM fasting. And same as last time-at around 32 weeks it gets really tough to keep them under 95-100. One trick that is helping is waking up halfway through the night to eat a hard boiled egg (or some other pure protein source). I also have to really watch my carbs in the evening though. I can have some carbs but they have to be the right ones for me. (i had to give up my glass of milk with dinner a few weeks ago-it was definitely causing issues in the AM)

There are some other herbal/natural type things (cinnamon, gymnema, chromium etc) but of course you should check with your provider & do your own research on those. There is tons of info out there & if you search any of them here you will find lots of discussions.

And yes-exercise closer to bedtime will help with the AM fastings...but I found that tough for me to get done with a toddler & my lazy/exhaustion by the end of the day.

[umsami]

I had GD through three pregnancies, and I rarely got my fasting AM blood sugar below 95. Even hitting in the 90s required carb counting at dinner, plus a long walk after bedtime, plus glyburide (insulin with first baby, glyburide with other two babies)!

Definitely add exercise after dinner and see if that helps.

If this helps, these are the recommendations from NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)...

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/gestational/#9

On awakening not above 95
1 hour after a meal not above 140
2 hours after a meal not above 120

They match what I was given by three different MFMs/perinatologists for what it's worth.

[Plummeting]

Shiitake mushrooms are also good for keeping blood sugar down, if cinnamon makes you uncomfortable or you want other alternatives.

[mkpgoddess]

May who/whatever you believe in bless and keep all of you. I'm so grateful for your posts, I could cry. I got the results of my fasting and A1c, and passed both of them. Now to create decent numbers for the rest of this pregnancy.

Re: Cinnamon and chromium, I've been researching those but every bottle says for preggo chicks not to use without doc supervision. What dosage is everyone gone with?

Plummeting - thank you for the heads up on shiitake mushrooms. I've not cooked with them, but I imagine it's the same as any other. Is there an amount that's more helpful than not?

Umsami - hi, fellow DDC'er I thought the numbers that they're asking for is ridiculous too. I vaguely remembered from last time that my doc let me get to 95 without too much of a hissy, and as long as it was below 100 occasionally, he didn't get upset. At first, I thought it was because I'm so early, therefore trying to get me really under control, but that's what they were telling the 36 weekers today too.

Again, all of you. Thank you. Keep the suggestions coming. I CANNOT spend this pregnancy freaking out and I resent that they were almost making me sad that we got pregnant at all.

[PaytonPlace]

When I was first diagnosed as having GD with this pregnancy, my waking fasting number was the only one that would give me problems. The only thing that ended up working was keeping a small dish of dry roasted nuts (peanuts, almonds, etc.) and a glass of ice water on my nightstand and snacking on a few nuts when I would wake up in the night to use the restroom, seriously it only took maybe 6 or 7 almonds or a small handful of peanuts. I would then wash them down with the water. I know that would mean my waking number wasn't really "fasting" but it didn't matter, it was keeping my number down and that's what mattered to me in order to avoid insulin, medication, or being deemed "high risk".

[umsami]

mkpgoddess... on your numbers.

Do not let them ruin your pregnancy or take the joy you should feel right now. I don't think the added stress would be good for you, your baby, or your blood glucose

You're going to have a great, happy, healthy pregnancy. Any Mom who is already doing everything she can to keep her blood glucose numbers in a healthy range is definitely on top of things... so don't worry. Enjoy your pregnancy.

[mkpgoddess]

Well, this morning's true fasting number was 97 ince: soooo.....I like the idea of the nuts (thank you, PaytonPlace) and I'm going to have to make myself hit the treadmill. I was so exhausted last night, but that doesn't get to be an excuse any more :sigh

Umsami - thank you for being my cheerleader I really need one of those right now