Staying low risk for GD

[HRJ]

Is there anything I can do to prevent it? I did not have it with DS but that was 6 yrs ago.

[greenmulberry]

I don't know but I am really worried about this for some reason. My test is in two weeks.

My OB just said "try and get a little extra exercise" at the beginning of my pregnancy when I asked him this question. But then, later I was put on "no activity" because of heavy bleeding. Now that I can move again I am trying to get some exercise but it is very hard when all you did was lay in bed or sit in a chair for weeks.

[EnchantedMamma]

I recall an article that implied (or stated) that getting adequate protein was very important to not develop insulin issues in pregnancy.

At least, I *think* that was the gist.

Here is one article

and

Here is another

[pregnant@40]

If you're overweight & not yet pregnant, lose weight. Otherwise, it can't be prevented. If you are diagnosed w/ GD, it's very controllable through diet for most people. I had to see a dietician & follow the ADA diet, and of course check my blood sugar readings before every meal. Mine was completely controlled by following a well-balanced diet (ie. no sugar or simple/high carb foods). My baby was born at 7.1 pounds and healthy.

[spargel]

I was overweight with this pregnancy to start with (60 lbs over). I was very concerned about GD, so I made some significant changes. I passed my GD screen with flying colors a couple of weeks ago, so take it for what it's worth

I walk every day - usually 30 min to an hour. About 3 times a week I do yoga for stretching and strengthening.

My diet was fairly healthy before - I just ate way too much! With this pregnancy, I lowered my carb intake and almost all of my carbs are complex. There's nothing buy whole wheat bread and flour in my house, and white rice and white pasta are eaten very rarely. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies and keep protein at a reasonable level. My fats are almost all healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats.

A good side benefit is that I've gained no weight during this pregnancy - without watching how much I eat per se, just making sure that I eat well (yes, my doctor approves). I'm at week 29 now, so I may gain some as the baby starts really putting on the weight, but I think keeping my weight gain in check has really helped as well.

[starbyfar7]

im worried about it too. i didnt have it with dd, but like you, this was 7 years ago.
they say its all about diet and exercise, but when m/s started i said sayonara to both of those. i had the hellish food aversion to vegetables and fruits and im a vegetarian! so for me, it was all simple carbs all the time the first few months. now that im coming up on 18 weeks, im feeling better about eating fruits and veggies.. but its still a concern. im so worried about risking out of my homebirth preeclampsia, breech baby, and gd have all been on my mind

[krizzanne]

Originally Posted by pregnant@40

Otherwise, it can't be prevented..

That is not true.

The inability of the body to move sugar from the bloodstream is the problem in GD (or any type of diabetes). That problem can arise from 2 situations: 1. there isn't enough insulin available 2. the body has resistance to the insulin present, so it can't do it's job.

The easiest way to prevent too much sugar in the bloodstream is avoid foods which stimulate the insulin response: sugar/ carbohydrates / high amounts of protein (due to gluconeogenesis).
The best food you can eat for fuel...(which does NOT cause you to gain any weight) is fat (Only insulin spikes store fat...from sugar - that is what causes weight gain).

There is one other factor that may prevent GD, and that is eliminating FRUCTOSE from your diet. Fructose has a very special, very evil effect on metabolism. (check out fructose sources - it is in EVERYTHING).

there is a video by a pediatrition who specializes in overweight, diabetic kids - every parent should watch it...shoot, everybody should watch it, and read the rest of his research, it's astounding.
Here is the video: http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=16717
(there is a youtube video version, just put in the title).
The MD's name is Dr. Lustig, if you just want to google him, he has shown that fructose is the culprit.

Good luck

[EllisH]

Originally Posted by krizzanne

That is not true.

The inability of the body to move sugar from the bloodstream is problem in GD (or any type of diabetes). That problem can arise from 2 situations: 1. there isn't enough insulin available 2. the body has resistance to the insulin present, so it can't do it's job.

The easiest way to prevent too much sugar in the bloodstream is avoid foods which stimulate the insulin response: sugar/ carbohydrates / high amounts of protein (due to gluconeogenesis).
The best food you can eat for fuel...(which does NOT cause you to gain any weight) is fat (Only insulin spikes store fat...from sugar - that is what causes weight gain).

There is one other factor that may prevent GD, and that is eliminating FRUCTOSE from your diet. Fructose has a very special, very evil effect on metabolism. (check out fructose sources - it is in EVERYTHING).

there is a video by a pediatrition who specializes in overweight, diabetic kids - every parent should watch it...shoot, everybody should watch it, and read the rest of his research, it's astounding.
Here is the video: http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=16717
(there is a youtube video version, just put in the title).
The MD's name is Dr. Lustig, if you just want to google him, he has shown that fructose is the culprit.

Good luck

Indeed. I'd just like to add: keep exercising regularly, and go for a small walk after a meal. You cannot counter the gd as such (the insulin problem), but you can counter the bad effects that it gives rise to. After all, the first line of treatment for gd is precisely diet.

[EllisH]

PS I got a glucose monitor from the drug store to check my fasting and postprandial levels. That way I can monitor my glucose levels in the real situation (and without having to drink the equivalent of two cans of soda - something I would never do in real life anyway).

[pregnant@40]

You can minimize risk, but you cannot prevent GD from happening. We know the contributors to GD, but no one knows if doing all the right things will absolutely prevent GD. In fact, some people who do all of the right things (ie. healthy diet, weight and lifestyle) can still get it. If someone is concerned about their own risk, it definitely makes sense to optimize lifestyle choices.

[pregnant@40]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshel...s26&part=A4483

(epidemiology section)
"Pregnant women demonstrate a range of glucose intolerance, exemplified by normal to slightly or greatly elevated glucose levels. Physiologic changes during pregnancy impair peripheral insulin action, inducing a degree of glucose intolerance that increases as pregnancy progresses."

The risk of GD decreases w/ lifestyle changes, but there is still a risk for all pregnant women in the third trimester because changes in insulin sensitivity that occur due to pregnancy itself. There is decreased sensitivity to insulin at the peripheral receptors, but not a corresponding increase in insulin secretion as glucose levels increase throughout pregnancy. Thus, all women are screened in the 3rd trimester.

[myk]

Originally Posted by EnchantedMamma

I recall an article that implied (or stated) that getting adequate protein was very important to not develop insulin issues in pregnancy.

At least, I *think* that was the gist.

Here is one article

and

Here is another

i just wanted to say THANK YOU for posting these links! fascinating! i knew there was a correlation between gest/type 2 diabetes and depression.. if they're both modulated by serotonin, that totally explains it! it also explains a LOT of the medical phenomena in my family.. about 1/4 of us are fat, depressed, and diabetic (gestational most commonly, type 2 after age 40).

i've got depression myself, and have in my previous pregnancy beat the odds and didn't end up diabetic i think i might this time too, because i'm morbidly obese.. but the protein link is heartening because i was a total carnivore for the entire first trimester, and still crave protein regularly! maybe i'll beat the odds again

i "passed" a glucose tolerance test once already. i test again this week.. can't wait to see the results we're checking more often because of family history, obesity, and the fact that this baby is BIG. measuring 11 days ahead according to the last u/s, plus i've got lots of amnio fluid so between us, i'm huge OB says it's probably diabetes.. so we're testing multiple times (thank god for the canadian medical system, it's covered).