The New Gestational Diabetes Support Thread - Page 2

[msmiranda]

Hi new folks to the thread!  I am 38 weeks and almost done with this mess, thank goodness, but here are a couple of things off the top of my head:

(1) I totally understand feeling defensive and having to adjust your feelings about the diagnosis.  That's how I felt the first time around.  I really resented having to alter my diet at first.  But once I got used to it, I was really glad that I knew so that I could eat healthier for the baby, and because I gained less weight. 

(2) You probably already know this, but wash your hands every single time before you test your blood sugar.  Having something on your hands can totally throw off your reading.

(3) I found that I could either make special low-carb meals OR adjust the proportions of otherwise regular meals.  E.g. if we were having spaghetti, I ate a ton of sauce (which I made with meat and lots of chunky veggies) and very little whole-wheat pasta.  When we made gumbo or stir-fry (two of my stand-bys) I would sprinkle maybe 1/4 c. rice on the bottom of my bowl and then fill it up with the protein/veggie combination.  As long as the proportions were right and the servings weren't too large, I was able to eat foods that we normally made such as lasagna.  I did pretty much stop eating bread, except for breakfast I had low-carb toast with peanut butter because I could not stand the sight, smell or taste of eggs most of the time. 

This time around, I discovered a great recipe for crustless quiche, which if you like quiche is a fabulous low-carb meal.  Basically, mix together a dozen eggs, two cups of milk, about two to three cups shredded cheese (I usually use a combo of swiss and cheddar but any kind of cheese will work), whatever meat or veggies you like (I usually use chopped broccoli or spinach), salt and pepper to taste, and pour/ladle into muffin tins and bake at 350 for about 25-28 minutes.  [These will stick to a metal muffin tin something awful so use silicone or get foil baking cups and don't skimp on the cooking spray].  Makes 24 mini quiches (and it's easy to halve the recipe to make a dozen).  I would eat 4 for lunch with some baby carrots or sliced tomatoes and still be able to have a little dessert because they are so low-carb. 

Grilled chicken and steamed/sauteed veggies was another standby meal for us.  Also, taco salad: bed of lettuce, seasoned meat, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, salsa and sour cream.  (That one can exacerbate heartburn though).  Stir-fry, as mentioned above: chicken and tons of veggies in a ginger-soy sauce with a little brown rice.  I made Indian food with jarred sauce and tons of veggies.  For lunches I ate a lot of salads with grilled chicken and hard-boiled eggs.  I like sweet dressings so I saved my carbs for honey-mustard dressing and didn't use any croutons or legumes on the salad.  For snacks: cheese and lots of it.  I ate a ton of string cheese. 

Finally, I have a sweet tooth, so here are a few things that I ate when I craved sweets: strawberries and banana with cottage cheese; low-carb ice cream bars (yes, artificial sweeteners are bad, but I loved these); smoothies (frozen strawberries and blueberries or peaches, a banana, plain kefir or yogurt, and some ground flaxseed -- yum).

HTH!

[Mommy2Brayden]

Thanks alot! That is a start, please keep the ideas coming.  I feel like I am not alone in all of this.

[KnittingKara]

Originally Posted by msmiranda 

This time around, I discovered a great recipe for crustless quiche, which if you like quiche is a fabulous low-carb meal.  Basically, mix together a dozen eggs, two cups of milk, about two to three cups shredded cheese (I usually use a combo of swiss and cheddar but any kind of cheese will work), whatever meat or veggies you like (I usually use chopped broccoli or spinach), salt and pepper to taste, and pour/ladle into muffin tins and bake at 350 for about 25-28 minutes.  [These will stick to a metal muffin tin something awful so use silicone or get foil baking cups and don't skimp on the cooking spray].  Makes 24 mini quiches (and it's easy to halve the recipe to make a dozen).  I would eat 4 for lunch with some baby carrots or sliced tomatoes and still be able to have a little dessert because they are so low-carb. 

This does help - thank you!  It is reassuring to hear from someone a little further down the road than I am, for sure!  And, wow, you'll be holding your baby in your arms very soon

And, I'm going to give your quiche a try - thank you for sharing!

I had a little breakdown yesterday.  Well, more of a temper tantrum, really.  A friend, also pregnant, said something to me along the lines of, "Oh, I don't have to worry about GD because we don't eat much sugar."  I guess the implication is that I have GD because we DO eat a lot of sugar????  Um, no.  We have a pretty good diet and have for a while (not perfect, but pretty good) and I do very carefully watch sugar and dyes and we eat mostly whole foods. 

I don't think she meant to offend me, but she did.  It didn't help that when I started to explain to her about the hormones of pregnancy and how they affect the pancreas, she cut me off and changed the subject.  I stewed about it for a long time and poor DH ended up having to listen to me vent last night

I'm still learning so much about this new way of eating.  Yes, we eat pretty healthy but with a big emphasis on things like pasta, bread, potatoes, and rice - which aren't so great for me.  And, portion control?  Nope.  Never had any before LOL

This is my second week on the GD diet and I have to admit, I'm noticing that I seem to feel better and have some more energy.  I'm wondering now, in hindsight, how much of what I assumed was normal mothering/pregnancy tiredness was my body trying to tell me something, you know?

And, silly, but I finally seem to have the hang of the lancet.  I was slicing my fingers nearly every time because I just couldn't control that "jerk away, a needle is about to stab your finger" instinct, but on week two things are better and I don't wince (well, as much)

I'm drinking water and unsweetened almond milk.  Orange juice, which I love, seems to spike my numbers.  I'm already envisioning a post-birth tall, cold glass of oj ...

So, that is me the past few days.  How about for the rest of you?  How are things going?

[bethany42309]

Originally Posted by KnittingKara 

This does help - thank you!  It is reassuring to hear from someone a little further down the road than I am, for sure!  And, wow, you'll be holding your baby in your arms very soon

And, I'm going to give your quiche a try - thank you for sharing!

I had a little breakdown yesterday.  Well, more of a temper tantrum, really.  A friend, also pregnant, said something to me along the lines of, "Oh, I don't have to worry about GD because we don't eat much sugar."  I guess the implication is that I have GD because we DO eat a lot of sugar????  Um, no.  We have a pretty good diet and have for a while (not perfect, but pretty good) and I do very carefully watch sugar and dyes and we eat mostly whole foods. 

I don't think she meant to offend me, but she did.  It didn't help that when I started to explain to her about the hormones of pregnancy and how they affect the pancreas, she cut me off and changed the subject.  I stewed about it for a long time and poor DH ended up having to listen to me vent last night

I'm still learning so much about this new way of eating.  Yes, we eat pretty healthy but with a big emphasis on things like pasta, bread, potatoes, and rice - which aren't so great for me.  And, portion control?  Nope.  Never had any before LOL

This is my second week on the GD diet and I have to admit, I'm noticing that I seem to feel better and have some more energy.  I'm wondering now, in hindsight, how much of what I assumed was normal mothering/pregnancy tiredness was my body trying to tell me something, you know?

And, silly, but I finally seem to have the hang of the lancet.  I was slicing my fingers nearly every time because I just couldn't control that "jerk away, a needle is about to stab your finger" instinct, but on week two things are better and I don't wince (well, as much)

I'm drinking water and unsweetened almond milk.  Orange juice, which I love, seems to spike my numbers.  I'm already envisioning a post-birth tall, cold glass of oj ...

So, that is me the past few days.  How about for the rest of you?  How are things going?

I don't know what kind of orange juice you like but try the new tropicana 50 juice.  From what I've read it's got no artificial sweetners in it.  It's just not from concentrated juice.  It's got about 12g sugar per 8oz.  Be good to drink with a snack thats low carb like nuts, if you're really missing the oj.  

[KnittingKara]

Originally Posted by bethany42309 


I don't know what kind of orange juice you like but try the new tropicana 50 juice.  From what I've read it's got no artificial sweetners in it.  It's just not from concentrated juice.  It's got about 12g sugar per 8oz.  Be good to drink with a snack thats low carb like nuts, if you're really missing the oj. 

Thanks Bethany!  I will have dh pick some up on his way home (cuz' yes I am really missing the oj) 

[lifeguard]

Kara - I like the line "gd (or diabetes really) is NOT about sugar but CARBS". Most people just do not get this. I had people comment also that they didn't worry about it 'cause they were thin which made me feel like they felt it was all my fault for being heavy but the fact is I'm quite a bit thinner this time around & still am looking at a gd diagnosis most likely.

For juice - I had to avoid it completely last time (& have pretty much since). My dietician had said that really the body cannot differentiate it from pop as far as sugar goes. Not to be discouraging.

[NicaG]

How about a small splash of orange juice in a glass of seltzer, if you're missing the taste.

[Mommy2Brayden]

They have purevia http://www.purevia.com/

Originally Posted by KnittingKara 

Thanks Bethany!  I will have dh pick some up on his way home (cuz' yes I am really missing the oj) 

[Mommy2Brayden]

I am doing pretty good, I go see the doctor on monday.  My numbers seem to be better, at least I think so.  I did have a day where they got in the 200's but I ate like crap.  I am just seeing what I can and can not eat and what makes my numbers higher.  I did eat a bowl of ice cream with fruit on it last night and my numbers were lower then they have been in the mornings.  It was actually in the 90's.

[bethany42309]

You're welcome!  They have several other flavors too, if you get bored of the oj. 

[mamadonna]

Originally Posted by Mommy2Brayden 

I am doing pretty good, I go see the doctor on monday.  My numbers seem to be better, at least I think so.  I did have a day where they got in the 200's but I ate like crap.  I am just seeing what I can and can not eat and what makes my numbers higher.  I did eat a bowl of ice cream with fruit on it last night and my numbers were lower then they have been in the mornings.  It was actually in the 90's.

Mommy2Brayden, with my last pregnancy, I had ice cream, fruit, and nuts almost every night for my night time snack.  It was the one small thing (that and the occasional piece of dark chocolate slathered with peanut butter) that made me feel like I wasn't completely depriving myself of all things I loved.

Well, I'm checking in since I've had gd with both my previous pregnancies.  The first time around I was diagnosed at around 28 weeks.  The second time, I was diagnosed early (around 11 weeks, I think), so I figured I would probably have the same luck this time.   Sure enough, I've started monitoring my blood sugars and already they are not good.  I'm only 11.5 weeks, but already my fasting #s are high (they've been 101 the last two days) and I have yet to get my after meal numbers under control (they've been in the mid- to high-100s).

I've been frustrated and close to tears a lot the last couple days.  You'd think I'd be old hat at this the third time around, but I still have the same feelings of frustration and anger that my body has "betrayed' me and I cannot control the way it's acting that I remember having the first two times.  I've read the beginning of this thread and some of the previous one--I even went back to some of my old posts during my last pregnancy--and I'm feeling better, but I'm still not totally over feeling sorry for myself, even though I know, logically, that I can do this, and that I actually don't even mind it that much once I get the regimen down and my numbers under control.  I guess I just have to allow myself a day or two of feeling frustrated about it.

I am fearful that I'm going to have to go on medication again.  I was on glyburide in the evenings last time to keep my fasting numbers down.  My biggest fear is needing more medication this time around.  My number after dinner last night was 197, which is way higher than I remember ever having last time once I started monitoring what I was eating.  Of course, I had a very stressful day, ate too much bread at dinner and not enough protein and then promptly slept for an hour, but still, I'm worried that I'll need more meds this time around.

Anyway, here I am and glad to have a place to talk about these things and hear about others' experiences and ideas (and recipes--I can't wait to try the quiche one!).  I'm hoping to show my OB-Gyn my diet log this week or next and get the referral to diabetes management without having to do any testing.  The NP said that if I keep a log showing elevated numbers along with my previous history, my insurance should accept that--I hope they do.  I don't want to do the g.t. test just for stupid insurance purposes.

[Amber09]

I'm not sure if anyone still pays attention to this or if I'm even posting on this right. But I'm 26 Weeks and 3 Days pregnant with my second pregnancy, but will be my first born. I'm 19 so I'm young and I don't understand things very easily, and I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes I was told that I need to poke my fingers and watch what I eat and handed paperwork with a bunch of confusing numbers and things that I don't quite understand.. My mom is working with me on it, and I'll be seeing a nutritionist soon to learn to test my levels and learn to eat a bit better on my own.. Believe me when I tell you I am extreamly frustrated, angry and only doing what the doctors say for my unborn little girl. This pregnancy has been hard, stressful and has come with many complications.. This is obviously just another bump in the road I know I can over come with the right education on GD and some time to adjust. I'd do anything for this little girl, but right now I'm just frustrated with this whole situation and confused. I've been put on a 2,000 cal. diet and tomorrow is my first day starting it, even though I don't have to poke my fingers yet.. I'm still confused to how such small amounts of food is supposed to fill me up, and I feel like if I leave myself go hungry I'm starving the baby.. I don't know.. I guess I'm just venting a bit.. Anybody out there, with any kind of advice? I'm all ears. Thanks for listening.

[bethany42309]

Originally Posted by Amber09 

I'm not sure if anyone still pays attention to this or if I'm even posting on this right. But I'm 26 Weeks and 3 Days pregnant with my second pregnancy, but will be my first born. I'm 19 so I'm young and I don't understand things very easily, and I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes I was told that I need to poke my fingers and watch what I eat and handed paperwork with a bunch of confusing numbers and things that I don't quite understand.. My mom is working with me on it, and I'll be seeing a nutritionist soon to learn to test my levels and learn to eat a bit better on my own.. Believe me when I tell you I am extreamly frustrated, angry and only doing what the doctors say for my unborn little girl. This pregnancy has been hard, stressful and has come with many complications.. This is obviously just another bump in the road I know I can over come with the right education on GD and some time to adjust. I'd do anything for this little girl, but right now I'm just frustrated with this whole situation and confused. I've been put on a 2,000 cal. diet and tomorrow is my first day starting it, even though I don't have to poke my fingers yet.. I'm still confused to how such small amounts of food is supposed to fill me up, and I feel like if I leave myself go hungry I'm starving the baby.. I don't know.. I guess I'm just venting a bit.. Anybody out there, with any kind of advice? I'm all ears. Thanks for listening.

Sorry you are having such a hard time.  I know all this sucks.  There is an old thread on here that is really long but has a lot of information, here is the link, http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/945665/gestational-diabetes-support-group

It should give you lots of information, including food and recipe ideas.  The diet is hard at first but it's do-able.  You can do it!  And more than likely after you've been on the diet for a few days you'll feel better too.  Hopefully you'll have a good nutritionist that will help you learn the diet.  But like I said, read the old thread, you will learn so much!  If you need to talk or anything, feel free to message me.  Good luck!
 

[Amber09]

I've read threw the old thread that's how I found out about this one. I've been reasearching this for quite a while, and I'm still confused on things.. I'm hoping the nutritionist helps alot, but until I see her I have a feeling this is going to be a constant struggle to figure things out.

[bethany42309]

You just have to figure out what works best for you.  It will take awhile.  Different foods work differently for everybody.  You will have to sort of experiment with foods until you find what you can and cannot eat.  All this will probably start making more sense when you actually start checking your sugars.  Try not to stress too much, that'll just make it all worse (I know that's easier said than done, believe me).  Just keep telling yourself it's only temporary and it's for the health of the baby.  It will end! 

What are u confused about exactly? 

The usual GD diet is like this:

Breakfast - 1 carb serving (15g)

Snack - 1 carb serving (15g)

Lunch - 2 carb serving (30g)

Snack - 1 carb serving (15g)

Dinner - 3 carb serving (45g)

Snack before bed you will probably have to play with to make your fasting numbers within limits that your doctor sets, if they arent already. 

I'm pretty sure this is the diet most start out on, after you see how your body reacts to it you can adjust it to fit you better.  Piece of advice: never eat a carb without a protein with it!  The more protein you eat with a carb the better you process it and the lower your blood sugar spike.  You'll have to pay attention to the labels of everything and count your carbs and calories too since they want that restricted as well.  It'll take some getting used to but you can do it.

[NicaG]

Originally Posted by Amber09 

I'm not sure if anyone still pays attention to this or if I'm even posting on this right. But I'm 26 Weeks and 3 Days pregnant with my second pregnancy, but will be my first born. I'm 19 so I'm young and I don't understand things very easily, and I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes I was told that I need to poke my fingers and watch what I eat and handed paperwork with a bunch of confusing numbers and things that I don't quite understand.. My mom is working with me on it, and I'll be seeing a nutritionist soon to learn to test my levels and learn to eat a bit better on my own.. Believe me when I tell you I am extreamly frustrated, angry and only doing what the doctors say for my unborn little girl. This pregnancy has been hard, stressful and has come with many complications.. This is obviously just another bump in the road I know I can over come with the right education on GD and some time to adjust. I'd do anything for this little girl, but right now I'm just frustrated with this whole situation and confused. I've been put on a 2,000 cal. diet and tomorrow is my first day starting it, even though I don't have to poke my fingers yet.. I'm still confused to how such small amounts of food is supposed to fill me up, and I feel like if I leave myself go hungry I'm starving the baby.. I don't know.. I guess I'm just venting a bit.. Anybody out there, with any kind of advice? I'm all ears. Thanks for listening.

Be patient.  Everything will be much clearer after you meet with a nutritionist.  A nutritionist will ask you what you like to eat and what you normally eat, and she will try to work those things into your diet, with some small changes.  Basically, you will be limiting your carb intake at each meal/snack, you will be eating some protein with each carb serving, and you will be eating small meals and snacks throughout the day.  You may eat unlimited amounts of most veggies.  Based on my experience (I've had 2 pregnancies with GD), you will not feel hungry because you will be eating so often during the day.  Sometimes it was a struggle for me to eat all my assigned food, and I gained very little weight in my third trimesters. It will probably not be necessary for you to count calories.  Controlling your carb intake and following the GD diet will probably naturally limit your overall calorie intake.

A carb serving is 15g.  Some examples of 1 serving of carbs: 1 slice of bread, 1 small piece of fruit, 6 crackers, 3/4 cup unsweetened cereal, 1 cup milk

You can do it.  It's really only a few weeks in the scheme of things, and you will learn some interesting things about nutrition and about your own body.  Just stick with it and do the best you can.  Also keep in mind that GD gets more difficult to control as you get closer to delivery, so sometimes even if you are following your diet very closely, you may not be able to control your blood sugar with diet alone, or with the same foods that worked a few weeks earlier.  Talk to your doctors, and they will help you adjust your diet and medication (if needed).  Personally I ended up on oral medication with my first pregnancy and insulin with my second.  But I have two healthy kids and now I'm expecting a third!  Good luck!

[Hester17]

Hi, everyone! I have some questions about finding a good health care provider. (Some of my questions are cross-posted from the Ohio/Indiana/Michigan "Find your tribe" board.)

I'm pregnant with my first and moving to Ohio at the beginning of August (EDD is early October). I'm 25 weeks now, and I'll be about 30-31 weeks when I move. I need to find a good practitioner in my new state, and fast!

I've also just failed my 3-hour glucose tolerance test rather spectacularly. My numbers were 71, 210, 200, and 149, so I'm not even borderline, sadly. Still, I'm not overweight, have no family history of diabetes or obesity, am committed to keeping up a good diet and exercise, and am really hoping I'll do well monitoring my blood sugar. My question is: will my GD diagnosis affect a provider's decision to take me on as a patient, 30+ weeks into my pregnancy? I was really hoping to use midwives affiliated with a good hospital I've researched, but the hospital's website says the midwives care for low-risk women, and I assume I'm not considered low-risk anymore, even if I keep my blood sugar down. My current doctor will fax my medical records to my new practice, but what do I say in the initial phone call to the new practice? "Will you/do you have to take a patient with GD???"

I'm very worried about getting pressured to do fetal growth ultrasounds, getting lectured about macrosomia, getting induced early, increasing my risks of having a C-section, etc. Do you have suggestions for finding a CNM, family practitioner, or OB who *might* take me on and wouldn't be likely to bully me over the GD diagnosis, assuming my blood sugar's kept under control? What questions can I ask of the practice to try to find out how I'll be treated once I'm taken on as a patient?

Finally, my current primary care doctor suspected I was on the PCOS spectrum before I started TTC, but I never got tests done because I didn't have trouble conceiving. Still, I have long, irregular cycles; high triglycerides; and some unwanted facial/body hair. Do you think the GD could be related to PCOS/insulin issues, maybe? And what should I do postpartum to try to stay healthy, besides keeping up regular exercise habits? Since I wasn't overweight before pregnancy, I can't expect to reduce my risk of type II diabetes by losing much weight postpartum, and I'm terrified that I won't be able to keep my wacky hormones in control. What kind of doctor could help me figure this out?

[bethany42309]

I'm sorry I don't know any doctors in Ohio but good luck!  I hope you find someone that you really like!

Surely they won't have a problem taking you on as a patient even if you have GD.  I would think they'd wanna see your numbers with diet before they really decide if you are high or low risk.  But that'd be something I'd ask when talking to different practices.  Hope you find someone soon!

[NicaG]

If you want less intervention, a midwife practice is probably your best bet. In NJ where I live I was able to find a midwife practice who would take me even with a history of GD (I ended up using an ob instead). You might have to have additional appointments with a perinatologist. You might be considered higher risk if you are insulin dependent. Keep in mind that some cases of GD simply cannot be controlled through diet and exercise; this is not a personal failure, it's just a fact. I was a normal weight, no family hist of diabetes, ran 2-3 miles daily until about 36 weeks with 1st ds, followed my diet closely, and still ended up on medication, then insulin with my 2nd pregnancy.

You will probably have to have at least one extra ultrasound to make sure the baby's not getting too big. You will also probably have to have weekly or twice weekly non-stress tests. Induction seems to be pretty common with GD; there are some risks associated with going past your due date. Still, some obs are willing to wait longer than others. I was induced with both my previous pregnancies.

As for post-baby follow-up, I would see an endocrinologist.

Good luck!

[Amber09]

Today is my second day and I THINK I'm getting the hang of things a bit better.. I wasn't told anything about carbs.. Just a 2000 calorie diet, eat healthy ect ect but then again I also havent seen my neutritionist yet, i also have an appointment with a diebetic educator, so hopefully after seeing those two people I will understand this better but as for now i'm doing the best i can with the information i got off the internet, and the information i got from my ob. The thing that I am struggling with the most is I am almost always still hungry after eating my 3 meals and 3 snacks.. Todays lunch was a bit more filling because I learned, the only thing I really have to watch in eating a salad is how much dressing i use, so if i throw a bit of my freebie foods into my salad bowl it tends to be more filling.. The other thing I'm confused about is getting a workout in threw the day.. I did a 30 minute workout video off of youtube today, and took a walk around my block after lunch.. But I find with the extra weight i'm carrying and never having to work out before even just a simple 30 minute workout can become very tiring.. Any suggestions on that? Aside from all of this, and my daughter thinking it's funny to play on mommys ribs while i'm working out i think to the best of my knowlege I'm doing things right.. I'm scared about poking my fingers because i hate needles.. and 4 times a day wow.. how WONT my fingers get sore?! I'm very picky about what I take I will even go as far as to suffer through a headache instead of taking just ONE minimum strength tylonal.. So how could taking medication for GD or having to give myself an insullin shot be good for the baby?? Does anyone know how that might affect the babys ability to produce her own insullin after birth ect?