Gestational Diabetes Support Group - Page 57

[amydiane]

Originally Posted by OneLove

Those numbers are good, especially if are just eating your regular diet and not adjusting to super low carb meals.
But you don't want your blood sugar too low, or you will be hypoglycemic, which is just the other side of the same coin.

Also you do have to wait 1 hour after you start eating, bc that is supposed to be the "peak." So, testing earlier than an hour can give you a false low, as your blood sugar may still be rising.

Andee

That's good to know....I only did it that once since I was about to head to bed and I wanted to make sure I knew how to use the monitor before officially starting first thing in the morning.

I've been following the diet for the most part, but my numbers have been so good that in the last couple days I've started adding things back in and increasing the quantity of carbs and my numbers have stayed fine.

[Junegoddess]

Tips on passing the one-hour?

My docs want to test me early and often, so sometime in the next couple of weeks I need to go in for the one-hour GTT. I was smart enough to check before I left my appt, and I do NOT need to be fasting. That'll help me not pass out. I have fought so hard over the years to avoid this test, after getting super sick from it with my daughter. So, here I am, 11 years later, consenting to it. Weird.

Let me say that I am not trying to trick the test... I don't want a false pass. However, I just... I dunno. Yes, I have glucose issues. I am clearly insulin resistant. My fasting sugars are generally around 105 these days. Which, if I weren't pregnant, wouldn't lead to any medical intervention at all. But, if I get a number that high on this test, I'll be labeled... but what? Will they say that it was pre-existing diabetes? Because clearly it is not. 120 is required for diabetes. But it's also clearly not gestational diabetes, as I'm only 9 weeks pregnant, so it's not placental hormones causing this.
Either way my risk rating climbs through the roof. Not that it matters... not trying for a homebirth.

I'm just trying to make sense of it.

Anyway, I've heard that a bit of carb-loading in the days before the test helps to "prime the pump." Do I have that right?

I know that fasting sugars of 105 are not considered good during pregnancy, but they were about that high during my pg with my second son, and he turned out fine. Big, but fine. I just... have a hard time accepting a disease label and all the fear attached when my experience has been that it's not a problem.

For what it's worth, IF I remember right, and that's a big fat IF, I scored a 151 on my one-hour with my firstborn. Fail. My CNM apparently didn't know that was too high (why even test, then??) and said everything was fine. My daughter was 8 pounds, 5 ounces, but born under stress (passed meconium) and whisked off for lung suction and all sorts of things. I didn't even get to touch her until she was 12 hours old, and breastfeeding was rocky. Shockingly, her blood sugar did nosedive on her 3rd or 4th day. That's supposed to be one of the biggest risks from a diabetic pregnancy, but I don't see how it was caused by my blood sugars. I think it was caused by all the stress and needles and separation. Mama-related hypoglycemia in the baby would happen pretty soon after birth, wouldn't it?

I don't know what the point is with trying to make sense of this... if my team of doctors don't agree with logic, it's pretty much moot.

I have thought about asking for metformin or glyburide, though, as those actually help a body use the insulin it already has. Makes more sense than injecting even more insulin. I'm sure I've get plenty of insulin.

[purplestraws]

Hey everyone! I was just diagnosed last week and I'm feeling confused on a couple things. I'm on 1000 mg of Metformin right now (PCOS) and my numbers have all been fine...they've pretty much been in the low-90s 2-hrs post meal. And this morning when I checked my urine I was spilling ketones...so the dietitian said that I'm probably not eating enough for my bedtime snack since my numbers have been OK. (I have a medium apple and a big serving of PB.) I BARELY failed my test...missed one of the numbers by one point...but I'm glad that I'm keeping track of things because I was feeling pretty cruddy after I ate a high-carb meal...and I've been feeling a TON better since going on this diet.

Anyways...here are my questions:

Do any of you have to test before bedtime? I'm supposed to test before my bedtime snack and it's really weird and inconvenient. I'm not sure I understand the point of it? Like, I eat dinner at 5:30ish and test at 7:30ish. I'll start to get hungry again by 9:00 and I can't eat until I go to bed at 10:30? Tonight I ate a dinner that was pretty big and little higher in carbs than it probably should have been and my 2-hr number was 118...barely made the cut...however, I'm not starving like I was last night when I stayed very well within my carb servings. I'm getting ready to take my before bed number and wouldn't be surprised if it was higher than 90 (what it's supposed to be)...I'm just not sure what to do because I obviously can't eat a big meal like this every night. How do I keep from getting so hungry between bedtime and my bedtime snack at 10:30 with having to test before the snack?

Also...is there a time in pregnancy where your numbers are higher? Like, will my numbers continue to go up from here (30 weeks right now)...or will the go down a bit...or just stay the same? Generally speaking, that is...

[snowmom5]

Originally Posted by purplestraws

Hey everyone! I was just diagnosed last week and I'm feeling confused on a couple things. I'm on 1000 mg of Metformin right now (PCOS) and my numbers have all been fine...they've pretty much been in the low-90s 2-hrs post meal. And this morning when I checked my urine I was spilling ketones...so the dietitian said that I'm probably not eating enough for my bedtime snack since my numbers have been OK. (I have a medium apple and a big serving of PB.) I BARELY failed my test...missed one of the numbers by one point...but I'm glad that I'm keeping track of things because I was feeling pretty cruddy after I ate a high-carb meal...and I've been feeling a TON better since going on this diet.

Anyways...here are my questions:

Do any of you have to test before bedtime? I'm supposed to test before my bedtime snack and it's really weird and inconvenient. I'm not sure I understand the point of it? Like, I eat dinner at 5:30ish and test at 7:30ish. I'll start to get hungry again by 9:00 and I can't eat until I go to bed at 10:30? Tonight I ate a dinner that was pretty big and little higher in carbs than it probably should have been and my 2-hr number was 118...barely made the cut...however, I'm not starving like I was last night when I stayed very well within my carb servings. I'm getting ready to take my before bed number and wouldn't be surprised if it was higher than 90 (what it's supposed to be)...I'm just not sure what to do because I obviously can't eat a big meal like this every night. How do I keep from getting so hungry between bedtime and my bedtime snack at 10:30 with having to test before the snack?

Also...is there a time in pregnancy where your numbers are higher? Like, will my numbers continue to go up from here (30 weeks right now)...or will the go down a bit...or just stay the same? Generally speaking, that is...

I'm still new at this but I can tell you about what I'm doing. I also have PCOS and am on metformin ER 1000mg. I passed the one hour but the doc wanted me tracking blood sugar anyway, and it turns out that I have blown the limits on a few occasions (before I started following the diet more closely). I eat a couple more snacks per day than I am supposed to. I usually end up having a snack right after I've done the 2-hour check from the last meal. I end up having two separate afternoon snacks, a couple hours apart. I eat a late dinner after my kids are in bed, like 8-8:30pm, and then right after I test (which ends up being at bedtime because it's so late), I have a bedtime snack (usually about one-third of a bottle of Boost Plus). So for me, it would not be unusual to be over 90 at bedtime; it varies. But I don't have any specific requirement to test before bedtime - I don't think I've heard of that one before. Then I eat another third or so of the bottle around 2 am for a middle of the night snack. If I have anything later during the night than that I might be over 90 on my fasting level the following morning.

So far, it seems that later in the day - lunch and dinner - I can eat a slightly larger amount of carbs than I was prescribed by the dietician (like, say, 55 or 60 instead of 45) and still stay well within my 2-hour limit of 120. For snacks I try to stay close to my 15, though it might end up being 20 or so sometimes. For breakfast, I'm allowed 30 and I'm sure I go somewhat over because I haven't been measuring my cereal and I drink extra milk, but I try not to stray too far - I blew through the limit with both pancakes and granola. At the moment, the docs are very happy with my blood sugar control.

Yesterday at my 34w checkup, the doc asked if I usually follow this same weight gain pattern. Apparently I've hardly gained anything since starting the third trimester. I was like, duh, it's the testing (which makes me wait before having a snack) and the diet (for obvious reasons). But now it worries me a bit, that I'm not eating enough. Unfortunately I guess that means I'd need to eat more protein/fat and not carbs, if I wanted to gain more (I've been having a huge protein aversion this pregnancy, which is very irritating on the diet and the reason why I end up with things like protein drinks).

My vague understanding is that my blood sugar numbers might go up the further along I get in pregnancy.

What I wonder about is what happens postpartum - while it would seem the baby is no longer affected, what should I expect to happen with my blood sugar numbers? Anyone know? I already have an endocrinologist who I plan to see at some point (he doesn't see pregnant patients). But I expect it'll be a couple months before I do. I'm probably going to stay on metformin during nursing, which I've never done before.

I have to agree that I'm feeling better while following the diet than before. And since I'll be trying to stave off type 2 anyway, it's good practice to be eating correctly. So as irritating as this GD stuff is, I think ultimately there are positives that will come from this experience.

As far as your schedule goes, it sounds like it's far too long to go without food, from 5:30 to 10:30pm. Is that really what they expect from you? I can hardly go two hours LOL. Will they let you have a snack at 7:30?

[purplestraws]

Thanks snowmom! I totally agree that while this GD stuff is a pain...it's probably for the best...at least in my situation.

I have another question for everyone...

Is it normal to get such different numbers when you test in a different place. I tested this morning and got a 95 which seemed pretty high for me...so, I went ahead and tested on a different hand and I got an 83! That's a huge difference! Should I just be testing once...and going with that number?

And I STILL have ketones in my urine...I don't think they're ever going to go away. My midwife told me to give it about a week to get used to the diet and see if they go away then...

Anyways...can anyone help??

[amydiane]

Originally Posted by purplestraws

Hey everyone! I was just diagnosed last week and I'm feeling confused on a couple things. I'm on 1000 mg of Metformin right now (PCOS) and my numbers have all been fine...they've pretty much been in the low-90s 2-hrs post meal. And this morning when I checked my urine I was spilling ketones...so the dietitian said that I'm probably not eating enough for my bedtime snack since my numbers have been OK. (I have a medium apple and a big serving of PB.) I BARELY failed my test...missed one of the numbers by one point...but I'm glad that I'm keeping track of things because I was feeling pretty cruddy after I ate a high-carb meal...and I've been feeling a TON better since going on this diet.

Anyways...here are my questions:

Do any of you have to test before bedtime? I'm supposed to test before my bedtime snack and it's really weird and inconvenient. I'm not sure I understand the point of it? Like, I eat dinner at 5:30ish and test at 7:30ish. I'll start to get hungry again by 9:00 and I can't eat until I go to bed at 10:30? Tonight I ate a dinner that was pretty big and little higher in carbs than it probably should have been and my 2-hr number was 118...barely made the cut...however, I'm not starving like I was last night when I stayed very well within my carb servings. I'm getting ready to take my before bed number and wouldn't be surprised if it was higher than 90 (what it's supposed to be)...I'm just not sure what to do because I obviously can't eat a big meal like this every night. How do I keep from getting so hungry between bedtime and my bedtime snack at 10:30 with having to test before the snack?

Also...is there a time in pregnancy where your numbers are higher? Like, will my numbers continue to go up from here (30 weeks right now)...or will the go down a bit...or just stay the same? Generally speaking, that is...

My understanding is that you have to either fail 2 of the 4 numbers or have an exceptionally high fasting number in order to fail the test, so it seems odd that they diagnosed you with one number one point high.

I haven't heard of testing before bed, but I'm pretty new at this. Hopefully someone else will chime in. I am not a doctor, but IMO, it's not good for a pregnant woman to be hungry. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I also seem to remember that going too long without eating can make your b/s go up also (hence why a lot of people have trouble with their fasting numbers).

Originally Posted by purplestraws

Is it normal to get such different numbers when you test in a different place. I tested this morning and got a 95 which seemed pretty high for me...so, I went ahead and tested on a different hand and I got an 83! That's a huge difference! Should I just be testing once...and going with that number?

And I STILL have ketones in my urine...I don't think they're ever going to go away. My midwife told me to give it about a week to get used to the diet and see if they go away then...

Anyways...can anyone help??

I've had pretty different numbers even testing in about the same place. I generally retest if the number seems high. A couple times, it's been 13 points different. I've read that the home monitors can be 10-20% off.

[KarlaC]

Originally Posted by purplestraws

Thanks snowmom! I totally agree that while this GD stuff is a pain...it's probably for the best...at least in my situation.

I have another question for everyone...

Is it normal to get such different numbers when you test in a different place. I tested this morning and got a 95 which seemed pretty high for me...so, I went ahead and tested on a different hand and I got an 83! That's a huge difference! Should I just be testing once...and going with that number?

And I STILL have ketones in my urine...I don't think they're ever going to go away. My midwife told me to give it about a week to get used to the diet and see if they go away then...

Anyways...can anyone help??

Idk about the #'s. Have you used your control solution with your machine to make sure it's calibrated? I've never had that problem with mine.

Unless I get something really off the wall(really high when it has no reason to be pp) I don't double test anymore.

[bemommy]

So I'm at about 38 weeks now. It looks like my insulin resistance is diminishing (my fasting numbers for the past week have all been in the low 80's mostly 70's). I'm looking forward to it all being over soon.

Things are looking mostly good. My blood pressure has been borderline so I'm trying to monitor that and do all I can to keep it down (magnesium, cream of tartar, accupuncture).

Hope that everyone is hanging in there. I know this whole GD thing can be a major drag.

[ZoraP]

Hi All,

I just found this thread and thought I'd join. I'm 24 weeks in my 3rd pg and have had GD with all of them. Actually, I haven't been officially diagnosed this time because I don't plan to do the glucola testing (which always wipes me out for the whole day!). My dr. agreed to just let me start the diet and home monitoring, so I did that around 12 weeks. So far I've had no issues and things are looking good, but I do expect my insulin resistance to start increasing from this point onward. (Already if I eat a meal full of pasta, for instance, my numbers are too high -- but I rarely eat that way even under normal circumstances.)

Anyway, last two times I controlled it with diet only. Fortunately I never have trouble with fasting numbers (and I don't eat any evening snacks!) so it's just sensible eating for me.

As many other posters have mentioned, the nutritonists are often not really very helpful. I've basically worked out my own diet because the prescribed ones don't work for me. Mine has to be very low in carbs (no pasta, no rice, very little bread, not even whole grains work for me), high in protein, and fairly high in fat (such as olive oil). I eat tons of veggies as salads or cooked with olive oil, tomato sauce, etc. plus high-quality protein (lots of fish, nuts, poultry, eggs, etc.). Most fruit works fine for me too (but not dried fruit like raisins or dates). My advice to anyone struggling with the diet is to experiment and test like crazy -- write down what works and what doesn't. Any time you're left feeling hungry try to fill up on veggies; you can pretty much eat a limitless amount and it's good for both you and the baby.

To answer someone's question above, after you give birth the baby will have to be monitored for possible hypoglycemia (mine were both fine) -- frequent nursing is a good idea for both of you, of course. Anyway, my numbers were all over the board the first few days after delivery but then they settled down and I haven't had any blood sugar issues while not pregnant.

So I'm just hoping that my age doesn't make a difference this time (I'm 40). We'll see. It's nice to find this group for support in any case.

[ZoraP]

Originally Posted by ellairiesmom

I am looking for some food ideas...a big downer is that DD is still showing an allergy to both egg whites & yolks (I recently tried to add eggs back into my diet but then immediately noticed the patch on her face again after nursing )...

I am especially having a hard time with breakfast & snack ideas...other than the egg issue, I worry a little bit about my cholesterol/fat intake.

What are you favorites???

Thanks so much!

How do you do with yogurt? I tend to eat really unorthodox foods for breakfast: veggies (tomatoes or cukes) with some low fat yogurt and a handful of nuts for protein; or fish (smoked salmon on a rye cracker or thin slice of rye whole grain bread - yum!). (And no, I don't worry about eating this kind of fish while pregnant.) Too bad about the egg issue -- that's a good standby for me, too.

For snacks it's similar; maybe yogurt with a small amount of whole-grain unsweetened granola, maybe a salad with a bit of chopped chicken or some canned tuna. Or an apple with natural peanut butter. Or low fat cottage cheese with a few berries and nuts.

You can have your cholesterol levels measured any time to see how you're doing. I eat a lot of fat (mostly monounsaturated) but always have good chol. levels, so I see no reason to cut back on it. Frankly, I don't see how any pregnant woman can function without eating a decent amount of "good fats" - you and the baby both need them.

[Norasmomma]

failed 1 hour

Well my 1 hour came back high. I am scheduled for the 3 hour test. I have to fast tonight and go in at 9 am, drink the gross orange drink and the get my blood drawn 3x's, ugh....Is there anything I can do to make this go easier and to my advantage.

I honestly can't really do much else for my diet I already am eating small portions of lean protein, veggies and brown rice. I hardly eat any sugar, so I really don't know what else can be done. The only thing is more exercise, but the hard part for me is walking is extremely painful because of my pelvis so I am at a loss.

I've read the incidence of GD are only about 1-3%, if any of you have had to take the 3 hour did it come back normal? or is this just one of those things where if the 1 hour comes back abnormal more than likely my 3 hour is going to. I am trying to not freak out about this.

[bemommy]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

I've read the incidence of GD are only about 1-3%, if any of you have had to take the 3 hour did it come back normal? or is this just one of those things where if the 1 hour comes back abnormal more than likely my 3 hour is going to. I am trying to not freak out about this.

When pregnant with my first my one hour number was high but I passed the 3 hr with flying colors. (The one hour is really more of a screening, than an actual test).

[Junegoddess]

I just failed my one-hour screen. I actually thought I was going to do well, too. I got a new glucometer recently, and my fasting sugars have been GREAT, for the first time in a long time. I've been taking a cinnamon + chromium supplement, and feeling fantastic, and then having good fasting sugars...

*sigh*

I tested myself 5 minutes before my hour was up, and it was 159.

I have a doctor appt on Tuesday, when I'm sure I'll be told to do the 3-hour. I'm only 10 1/2 weeks, so although they will call it gestational diabetes, it's not really. But it's also not frank diabetes, because when I'm not guzzling 50 grams of pure nauseating sugar I'm just fine. Especially recently... I've been darn fabulous. This is all so ridiculous.

[KarlaC]

Originally Posted by Junegoddess

I just failed my one-hour screen. I actually thought I was going to do well, too. I got a new glucometer recently, and my fasting sugars have been GREAT, for the first time in a long time. I've been taking a cinnamon + chromium supplement, and feeling fantastic, and then having good fasting sugars...

*sigh*

I tested myself 5 minutes before my hour was up, and it was 159.

I have a doctor appt on Tuesday, when I'm sure I'll be told to do the 3-hour. I'm only 10 1/2 weeks, so although they will call it gestational diabetes, it's not really. But it's also not frank diabetes, because when I'm not guzzling 50 grams of pure nauseating sugar I'm just fine. Especially recently... I've been darn fabulous. This is all so ridiculous.

Why not just ask if you can jump right to testing regularly, diet controlling & skip the 3 hour? I've seen quite a few here try that with good results from their hcp.

[KarlaC]

Originally Posted by bemommy

So I'm at about 38 weeks now. It looks like my insulin resistance is diminishing (my fasting numbers for the past week have all been in the low 80's mostly 70's). I'm looking forward to it all being over soon.

Hope that everyone is hanging in there. I know this whole GD thing can be a major drag.

I'm @ 38 weeks also & my #'s have been steadily dropping also. I'll be staying on the gd diet for the most part though to lose weight & hopefully prevent/prolong the onset of DM later on.

[Junegoddess]

Originally Posted by KarlaC

Why not just ask if you can jump right to testing regularly, diet controlling & skip the 3 hour? I've seen quite a few here try that with good results from their hcp.

Good point.

I kinda feel like I need to fight to the death against getting the label. I don't have much choice with the OBs I see, have much too-sketchy of a birth history to birth anywhere other than the hospital, and the docs have already admitted that they're almost certain that I'll have a c-section this time. (Like I'm not involved in that decision? Ugh!) I know that a GD diagnosis greatly increases the odds of a c-section, and... I really don't want one. This is my last birth and all the others have been vaginal, although two did get stuck.

Maybe it's time to just stop fighting. I'm not very good at that, though.

[Norasmomma]

I have to go in for my 3 hour at 9 am, I already feel like I am going to puke. My stomach feels like it is trying to eat itself. This sucks. Last time I fasted before my 1 hour(office staff told me to)I almost threw up and then had a hypoglycemic episode, I am really scared that same scenario is gonna happen today. I already feel totally sick.

[jojojojojo]

Hi there!

I'm almost at 31 weeks now, and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes right around Memorial Day. I was mostly okay for the first couple of weeks of it, but have been really down since then: probably a combination of life stress and the fact that I can't do my usual emotional eating.

No matter what I did, I just couldn't get my fasting numbers down, although my post-prandial numbers are well-managed by diet. I've been taking Humulin (slower-acting insulin) at night for the past two and a half weeks, and that's what it took to get my fasting numbers in range. The insulin itself isn't as bad as I was afraid it would be, but I was planning on being under OB care for the birth anyway.

Anyone around here due close to the end of August?

[mamatoady]

I just thought I'd write a post. I was having some crazy high numbers on my personal glucose meter and posted it a while back. I finally got my 3 hour test done and guess what???? I was completely normal. I'm assuming my meter is messed up. Oh well...glad I'm normal and thanks for the support ladies throught that sticky time.

Sarah

[jojojojojo]

Sarah, I'm so happy for you!

I got a crazy high number after lunch. I thought it might have been because I started a new pack of test strips, so I tried again with a different pack of test strips. The number was even higher. Then I washed my hands really well and tried again. Still high.

As it turned out, I'd had a multi-grain sushi roll (cooked) from Whole Foods for lunch. Who know that they were 33g of carbs per 100g of sushi, and that I was given 200g of sushi? 66g of carbs is nearly two meals for me!

I tested at two hours (155) and three hours (113). Eek, lesson learned.