The New Gestational Diabetes Support Thread - Page 15

[alicatj]

I have had PCOS for the last 12 years.  I'm 28 weeks pregnant with baby #2 and got the call yesterday that I failed 2 of my 3 hour tests.  I meet with the NP at my doc office for GD Counseling next week.  I thought I'd be fine with this diet because I've done low GI diets before since it's really the only way I've ever lost weight with the PCOS insulin resistance.  The more I read the more I'm getting stressed.  With a 19 month, a rough pregnancy anyway, working 40+ hours a day, and a husband that works night shift (opposite of mine) I'm just not sure I have the energy or time to make this work as well as I want it to.  NOT TO MENTION the money.  It doesn't seem like it's the best budget friendly diet or treatment.  The costs of the testing strips and lancets with all the testing most people have to do on top of all the food is stressing me out too.  I know I should probably just wait and see what the NP says.  I guess I need some encouragement that I can (and HAVE) to do this!! 

[lifeguard]

alicatj - sorry for your diagnosis. We all have bad feelings through it but ultimately you can do it! As for budget - I actually find when I'm on with my diet we save money & budgetting is easier because our week to week grocery cost is more consistent.

[jbk21]

I didn't think it was too expensive, either.  I wasn't buying as many bread products or baking desserts as much, which significantly reduced our bill.  I think our bill was higher in general during pregnancy, because we bought a lot of convenience foods that we don't normally purchase but I couldn't cook as much for a bunch of different reasons....

Your insurance should cover the cost of the test strips.  Have your doc or midwife write a prescription for them.  

[iixivboots]

So I'm in the process of switching doctors after the NP at my old practice was rude to me and lectured me about not coming in for the glucose test when no one had even asked me to do so.

I have a glucometer and I have been testing PP and fasting. I got a reading of 126 this morning fasting, immediately retested and it was 123. (Once when it was over 120 I washed my hands, retested and it was 86). I'm feeling discouraged about finding a good doc who will make me feel empowered in managing this, whether I end up testing as GD or not, both my parents are type II and I know I need to watch my diet. Last night I had a lot of sugar before bed (two popsicles) more than I've had in weeks.

I'm 16 weeks and I am wondering what the protocol is about early testing and the advantages and disadvantages.

p.s. Do expired test strips matter? My parents gave me a TON of them that expired in '10.

[azohri]

Looks like this thread hasn't been active in awhile, but I'm hoping someone will be able to shed some light on my glucometer readings.  Most of my 1 hour post meals are good, right around 100.  My morning fasting numbers are right around 85-90 though, where they were more like 78 in my last pregnancy.  I've also had a couple of 1 hr readings in the 160s - once after eating a breakfast with eggs, gluten free bread and jam, and juice to wash down my floridix, and once after having cake and ice cream at my son's birthday party.  By 2 hours I'm always back to 100-110.  I also did a home version of the glucose screen this morning with 50g sugar from grape juice and had 108 at 1 hour, which is reassuring.  Still, if I'm spiking into the 160s it seems like that's too high and I need to be even more careful.

And I can't find much information about what it means to have a few spikes in blood sugar.  Any insight?

[jbk21]

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Edited by jbk21 - 10/6/12 at 10:22pm

[azohri]

I'm 25 weeks.  I actually didn't have GD last time, I chose to test with a glucometer rather than take the GTT and had low numbers.  This time I'm with a midwifery practice that really stresses the GTT, so I'll be taking it at 28 weeks with grape juice.  Happily it looks like that won't be a problem but I still want to understand the peaks.

I've been eating a low carb and low sugar diet since I got pregnant.  We actually have been trying a gluten free diet on and off for the past couple of months to see if it controls my DS's eczema, whereas in my first pregnancy I ate more whole wheat toast, crackers, etc.  I've cut out most grains and have replaced them with lots of green leafy vegetables this time around.  I'm wondering if that contributes to my body not appreciating the occasional sugary treat, but as you said it sounds like it's mostly doing fine.  I'm just trying to figure out if it's okay to have the occasional treat or if I really need to have absolutely no sugar whatsoever and very limited carbs.

[jbk21]

Oh, sorry!  I misunderstood.  I thought since you mentioned your fasting #s from last time that you had GD. Oops!

Honestly i think you're doing great.  Those numbers don't sound concerning to me.  It probably is due to your general low-carb/low-sugar diet, like you said.  Gluten-free isn't always low carb (sometimes higher carb, in fact) so be aware of that.  Obviously if you're replacing with veggies and greens, that is low carb, but gluten free grains have lots of carbs :-)  I'm sure you know that, I am just mentioning it because when I had GD I thought "oh hey, maybe if I eat GF stuff it will be low-carb" which was not the case.

Good luck on your GTT!  

[azohri]

No worries, and thanks for the info about the 2 hours readings being the most important for many care providers.  That's helpful! Yeah, I suspect that the GF bread I had for breakfast spiked it that morning.  When I checked it this morning it has 30g of carbs per slice!  Good to know since I did think I was being healthier by having that than a slice of whole wheat toast. Not so much apparently.
 

[jenrford]

I know this thread isn't very active, but I am hoping someone can answer a question for me!

I had a brownie for dessert last night, and I took my blood sugar level 2 hours after eating it (I also went for a brisk walk after the brownie), and my BG was 85. I didn't have anything else to eat before bed (does toothpaste count?), and when I took my BG this morning upon waking (about 11 hours later), it was 93. 

I am thinking it's due to the fact that I didn't have a bedtime snack, because when I do, my morning numbers are usually mid/high 80s. It's just so weird (to me) that my BG was higher when I hadn't had anything to eat. 

It's so hard to find good, reliable, consistent knowledge on the internet! I have not been diagnosed with GD, but I am overweight, so I am monitoring to be on the safe side. Some of my numbers are high-I had a 138 two hour reading once after a meal with lots of BBQ sauce, but for the most part I am back around 120 or lower at the 2 hour mark, and I had a 151 once (that completely freaked me out, but when I re-stuck myself, it was 8 points lower), after a totally off-plan meal.

My numbers are even better when I exercise--even a short but brisk walk helps (hence the 85 after eating a big brownie!)... but it's all still confusing and kind of scary.

I am planning for a home birth (this is my third child, but first home birth), and I am fearful of ending up with a macrosomic baby who just won't come out. I don't think I will, given that my numbers aren't insane, and I am being mindful of my diet and BG numbers... but it's still scary.

Would love to hear from... anyone at all. haha :) Thanks in advance!

[jbk21]

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Edited by jbk21 - 10/6/12 at 10:19pm

[azohri]

Doesn't sound like anything to worry about to me either.  93 fasting really isn't that high - it's only this year that they dropped it down to 90-95.  Previously it was less than 100, and before that it was less than 110.   My midwife says around 90 is normal for many people.

I haven't been diagnosed GD either (taking a version of the GTT soon but don't expect it to be a problem based on home testing with juice and post prandials) and am monitoring just to be safe since I had some unexpectedly weird numbers, especially with fasting.   The other thing about the GD stuff that I find strange is that when you dig a bit deeper, you realize that they are making these decisions without a whole lot of data.  They're basically saying "in one or two large studies this is what was average, so we want all women to be around this average and we're willing to use insulin to get them there if necessary."  Those women also were not necessarily eating great diets.  There's an article where Dr. Brewer, of the Brewer diet, suggests that well nourished women may have higher fasting levels because their bodies are better able to keep them from having the lows and highs.   I haven't seen that anywhere else, but who knows. Henci Goer also has some great articles questioning the link especially between controlled glucose issues and negative outcomes.   I also read that insulin ages the placenta!  Yikes.  Not something I would want to do just for borderline fasting numbers.  Obviously full blown GD would require more analysis...

[Monkey Keeper]

Seeking some guidance from those of you who have BTDT!

I failed the 1hr GTT and declined the 3hr in favor of monitoring at home. My week + of monitoring showed good numbers (2 hour pp under 100) with the exception of breakfast. After my provider reviewed my results, she requested diet changes for breakfast and continued spot-checking. After 2 days of borderline breakfast numbers, I decided to do a full day of monitoring yesterday. I did not have a single number under 120 at 2 hours pp. I was not being "careful" about my food but neither was it a complete splurge day. 

What are some quick, easy modifications you have found to diet that result in better postprandials? 

thanks!

[azohri]

The simple thing to do is to cut out all sugar/sweeteners and refined carbs, and to always pair something with natural sugars like fruit with a protein.  Whether it's easy to do is another thing!

[Monkey Keeper]

Thanks azohri!  I had my consult with the dietitian yesterday, and I think I actually wasn't eating enough or frequently enough. Since I started following the 3 meals/3 snacks plan I've had awesome numbers. 

[azohri]

That's great!  Glad you figured out what would work for you.