Gestational Diabetes Support Group - Page 3

[lifeguard]

Maybe it sounds careless but I would have rathered take the chances with the metformin throughout the pregnancy. My reason being that with pcos & a family history my chances of developing diabetes is already elevated. Through in a bout of gestational diabetes & it goes up even more. I may be irrationally terrified of diabetes - but it is what it is at this point. I have been working SO hard with diet & exercise the last several years & I'm finding this really hard to cope with that it just isn't enough.

My fasting was 140 & the one hour was 249. I'm really not looking positively to the outcome of the 3 hour.

[Katerz2u]

Does anyone know if waterless hand sanitizer can throw a reading off? I was in a hurry after changing a diaper and just grabbed a squirt of Germ-X. My reading was 134! I washed with soap and water and redid the reading cause Ive never been that high..and it was 75. What the heck? Was it the hand sanitizer?

[avivaelona]

Yeah anything on there can mess up the reading, handsantizer usuallly had alcohol in it.

Lifeguard talk to your doctor about it, they may be willing to perscribe it to continue or perhaps Glyburide would work?

[lifeguard]

I already brought up metformin & said no. He did mention another drug but the spanish name is beyond my memory.

I did the 3 hour yesterday. Almost passed out about a half hour in but that passed fairly quickly & the rest of the time went ok.

I get my results tomorrow - so - fingers crossed!

[Katerz2u]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

I already brought up metformin & said no. He did mention another drug but the spanish name is beyond my memory.

I did the 3 hour yesterday. Almost passed out about a half hour in but that passed fairly quickly & the rest of the time went ok.

I get my results tomorrow - so - fingers crossed!

Yuck, I felt terrible for a while during my test also. I passed out for a few hours once I got home. Apparently this is quite normal even with people who dont have GD. They kept offering me a bed to lay down in, saying that lots of moms need to. Crossing my fingers for you!

[lifeguard]

Got the results today. Abnormal for all 4 readings so I am GD. DARN!!! Anyway, he gave me a prescription for glyburide (sp?) & I am going to e-mail him my readings while I'm away. He said I can wait to see the endocrinologist until I get back in September (which is good since I hardly doubt I can get in to a specialist on one days notice & I leave Wednesday). I tried to get in to the dietician but they had no appointments - I'm just going to get a good book when I get back to Canada.

I'll go this aft to the pharmacy for the prescription & look into the blood glucose meters but I might wait until I get back to Canada to buy one. I'll just have to see if they come in English here or not - lol!

[Mommy StormRaven]

Originally Posted by Katerz2u

Does anyone know if waterless hand sanitizer can throw a reading off? I was in a hurry after changing a diaper and just grabbed a squirt of Germ-X. My reading was 134! I washed with soap and water and redid the reading cause Ive never been that high..and it was 75. What the heck? Was it the hand sanitizer?

Look at the ingredient list. I looked at mine and it contains glycerine and propylene glycol - both of which are natural sugars - so I would not doubt at all if that gave you a high reading. Incidentally I didnt' think of this AT ALL until I saw your post and checked mine with the gel stuff vs soap and my numbers dropped equally as much as yours did jsut between the time I took it the first time with gel and washed with unscented soap and water. I never knew it could make a difference but obviously your bG levels arent' going to plumet that fast if it's not somethign on your hands that is causign the numbers.

[Katerz2u]

Originally Posted by Mommy StormRaven

Look at the ingredient list. I looked at mine and it contains glycerine and propylene glycol - both of which are natural sugars - so I would not doubt at all if that gave you a high reading. Incidentally I didnt' think of this AT ALL until I saw your post and checked mine with the gel stuff vs soap and my numbers dropped equally as much as yours did jsut between the time I took it the first time with gel and washed with unscented soap and water. I never knew it could make a difference but obviously your bG levels arent' going to plumet that fast if it's not somethign on your hands that is causign the numbers.

Yep, I asked about this today at my appointment. My OB said it depends on the ingredients but yes, yes, yes it can mess with it. Phew lesson learned, use regular soap and water, lol.

[avivaelona]

Lifeguard, it will be fine! Simple dietary advice...always eat a carb with a protein and fiber. Eat frequent small meals rather than larger more spread out ones, try not to go more than four hours at most between eating. Carry almonds around as a snack food if you like them, they are good for blood sugar regulation. Don't eat added sugar if you can help it and avoid soda or fruit juice or most really "white" carbs (like white rice, mashed potatos, or white flour) If you start feeling symptomatic (peeing a lot, thirsty, fast pulse,) take a walk and get a little excercise and eat something that is just protein to get things more balanced. If you feel faint or dizzy or nauseous eat something a little carbier but also balance it with protein. That's really what most dieticians are going to tell you in a nutshell. Have fun on your vacation and don't worry too much.

Mommy storm raven did you get a chance to retest yet? I made an appointment to go see my endocrinolgist next week because I've had a high reading or two with stuff that didn't seem that carby. So far most of my readings are good but I want them to be up to date with what's going on in case we are going to need to step in with insulin at some point. I really hope that doesn't happen, i'd really really like to avoid insulin.

[Mommy StormRaven]

I'm seeign my new doc tomorrow and goign over everythign with him then. See what he wants to do with it all. I know my "educator" told me santizer was fine with no restrictions, didnt' say anythign about scented soap and told me specificly NOT to use alcohol. THe monitoring I've done with sanitizer vs soap vs alcohol all mad teh world of difference (sometimes up to 50 points drop fromt eh sanitizer to the soap and then 10+ more points depending on whether it was scented or unscented with the alcohol wipe. With the alcohol wipe my numbers have consistently been below 105 on my regular diet (including my average daily carb intake returning to the pre-mealplan level which was lower per meal) and my eliminating artificial sweeteners has eliminated the worsened symptoms of RLS (in dopamine deficient patients - which I am and am on Requip because of it - artificial sweeteners are found to exacerbate tremors) so numbers are well within my normal pre pregancy range using standard alcohol wipes - so I'll be relayign everythign to the new doc tomorrow.

[rhysmom]

Hello!

This is my 2nd GD pregnancy and my first on insulin... So far so good. It's a relief to eat what I should and finally get good numbers! I'm not saying it's fun, but it's what I have to do right now.

Anyone trying for a VBAC???? I'm hoping with a better controlled pregnancy, I'll have a smaller baby (not much, we have big babies in this family!) and will also gain a heck of a lot less weight. I'm 24 weeks and have gained 3 lbs. My jeans are looser now than they were when I got pregnant!

Hope all are well.....

[avivaelona]

Welcome Rhysmom!

[kohlby]

Welcome and good luck rhysmom! I didn't have official GD in either of my pg but did try for a VBAC with DD. It didn't work out. BUT, she was 11lb 4oz and had the chest pudge of a GD baby, so wide that she couldn't fit to come down. They had to put 6 month t-shirts on her in the hospital and those were stretched way out to fit her. But, if your GD is controlled, then I'd think your chances of a VBAC are quite good! I have no regrets that I got to try for a VBAC. It's so worth it to go through all that pain of trying just so I have no what-ifs.


Did anyone have a three hour GTT early? I figured I'd be given the one hour early and would likely skip the one hour one in later pg. But my dr wants me to skip the one hour even now! I have a three hour GTT scheduled for next week, when I'm only 13 weeks along! (A reminder that I don't have GD but have insulin resistance (IR), so I'm on a diabetic diet for life and have similar concerns of someone who has diabetes/GD but the standard medical care lines aren't really set up for IR).

[Mommy StormRaven]

Well, I saw my new doc and went over everythign with him. He said watch what you eat and eat what feels right - your not spillign anythign and yoru weight gain thus far gives me no indication of GD (and he is a High risk specialist) so I'm gonna jsut watch it a bit and eat my usual diet.

[brandyk]

Hello all - I just got my numbers back and they don't look great! 101, 205, 184, 79.

I talked to another PG woman and found that the instructions we were given were different. She said that the nurses said if she was hungry the night before she could have a sandwich. My instructions nurse told me to eat a sandwich between 10:30-11:30 & drink a glass of milk. So I ate a PB&J (um, no lunchmeat, what else do you make a sandwich out of?) at 11:30. My first draw was at 8:20. I had a major sugar crash later after I got back from the test.

I had my 24 week appt last friday, doctor said I was measuring right on target. I have Kaiser where treatment is one size fits all, so I'd like any advice/insight on my numbers. I really really really don't want an induction/c-section.

ETA: I also fell asleep between the 1 hour blood draw and the 2 hour blood draw.

[purplemama]

Originally Posted by brandyk

Hello all - I just got my numbers back and they don't look great! 101, 205, 184, 79.

I talked to another PG woman and found that the instructions we were given were different. She said that the nurses said if she was hungry the night before she could have a sandwich. My instructions nurse told me to eat a sandwich between 10:30-11:30 & drink a glass of milk. So I ate a PB&J (um, no lunchmeat, what else do you make a sandwich out of?) at 11:30. My first draw was at 8:20. I had a major sugar crash later after I got back from the test.

I had my 24 week appt last friday, doctor said I was measuring right on target. I have Kaiser where treatment is one size fits all, so I'd like any advice/insight on my numbers. I really really really don't want an induction/c-section.

ETA: I also fell asleep between the 1 hour blood draw and the 2 hour blood draw.

I have Kaiser, as well. My instructions were to fast for 8 hours, but no more than 10 hours, so to have a light snack around 10:30-11:00 pm. I did not pass, either.

These are the numbers they gave me:

Fasting <94- mg/DL
One hour <179- mg/DL
Two hour <154- mg/DL
Three hour <139- mg/DL

Looks like you passed the three hour one only.

I failed the one and two hour readings, passed the fasting and three hour, but if you have more than one high reading, they consider you to have GD. I had to see a nutritionist, and pick up a meter and go to a nurse to learn how to use the meter. I need to draw my blood four times a day: a fasting, and one hour after each meal. It's kind of a PITA, but you get used to it. I'm 32 weeks today, so about 6-8 weeks left for me. I can't wait until I have the baby and I can stop all this.

Did your docs say you needed an induction? I think if you're careful and stay monitored and on track, you should be fine. No one said anything to me about needing to be induced or having a C-section due to the GD.

[brandyk]

I have moved on to acceptance. I can't go to their silly group class (and I already told my doc after the first group class @ 12 weeks I would not attend any more - they are an utter waste of my time and take several more hours to accomplish what can be done in literally minutes). I am waiting for them to schedule me. I told my doctor I wouldn't consider routine induction/c-section and she said not to worry about the c-section but we'll see about the induction. Umm, no, not if *I* don't think it's necessary. I am perfectly capable of making a decision without delegating it entirely to a doctor.

I despise Kaiser. They almost killed me in December with their cost-saving measures (refusing to administer antibiotics). [Every time I go in I see their stupid signs about how YOU don't need antibiotics. Well I DID!] I ended up in the ER not able to breathe with a massive lung infection. I had to do over 3 weeks of antibiotics until it cleared up. This did not help with my distaste for doctors.

Did they give you an exchange diet or carb counting? I dislike exchanges. I feel like I am eating the same thing every day. I was doing WW before I got PG.

[avivaelona]

Those arent terrible numbers Brandy, if they give you a monitor use it and find out what works to eat, I wouldn't worry too much about a specific diet if exchanges or carb counting makes you nuts. Just balance any carbs you eat with protein and fiber at every meal and test your sugars, you'll quickly find out what makes you spike and what doesn't. Someone early on in this thread posted a sample diet if you want to see.

As far as induction, usually they just monitor you more closely and do growth US and NST's at the end. Watch out for them pulling the "big baby" card. If your GD can be controlled with diet they are much less likely to get picky about it, if you end up needing insulin expect more of a battle. I had NST's with my last pregnancy and they were fairly non-invasive and I was not required to induce. They were reluctant to let me go beyond 41 weeks they said, but I don't know what would have happened since I induced at 39 weeks for completely other reasons.

Avoiding being labled high risk is a really good reason to make the diet work for you.

I don't remember who asked about early GTT..in my first pregnancy I had the GTT at 17 weeks. Failed the 1 hour, passed the 3 hour, got horribly ill, I lost my baby a couple of weeks later. Of course there is no evidence to point to the GTT being at fault but there is no way on this planet you would convince me to do it again for any reason.

My second pregnancy I had sudden GD at 4 weeks pregnant. Found out by accident during a routine follow-up with my endocrinologist.

This one, I don't know if I technically have GD or not, I am already so careful with my diet and I take medication so there is no way to know for certain...officially I'm type II anyway though I probably do not actually have type II, I do have insulin resistance, so it doesn't really matter. I've been having a little more trouble though the last couple of weeks so I'm guessing right around now is when GD is kicking in this time.

[brandyk]

Until I get my meter I am doing my best at exchanges, but they don't really work for a lot of things (fage 0% is totally not a milk even though it is yogurt. 1/2 cup is like 10 g protein & 4.5 g carb). I am 4'11" and my mom was 5'0". I know I weighed 8.5 lbs at birth. So they can go screw on the big baby card

I won't ever ever do that test again. I hated it. It is not healthy to subject your body to that. My arms still hurt and I still feel like I have a hangover. I am so sorry about your first pregnancy. That must have been excruciating.

I actually had a bunch of hormone & sugar testing done in november because I'd been having trouble losing weight. All normal, but I was eating really really healthy. Just a slow loser. I think I should have just stuck with counting my WW points. I have admittedly added some less healthy foods back into my eating but overall I am a healthy eater (just not really really like I was in Nov).

I am going to infant care class tomorrow (it was 12 bucks, figured why not, maybe we will learn infant CPR). So I have planned my food to take with. I have like oatmeal & pnut butter + boiled egg for breakfast. Who eats like this? It's like something out of the 50s. The sample plan they gave me via email was crazy. It was like 2-3 times the carbs I normally eat, but WAY less food eve than I was eating on WW before pregnancy & losing weight. And weird crap like 2 pc toast + 12 oysters. Ummm. You are not even supposed to eat oysters while PG.

I am also trying to work on my iron count. Which basically involves me trying to have 2 meals a day without dairy/calcium so I can take my iron. Maybe I can achieve that in morning & afternoon snacks. But I have been taking liquid iron, which needs refrigerated, which is hard at work.

Wah this is so frustrating. Thanks for listening guys. All I feel like doing is whining!!!! I am very interested in getting my meter so I can start figuring my diet out. At least I can check in at the pharmacy tomorrow while I am there to see if they put in the order for my meter.

Oh I emailed with a friend today who had GD. She had a scheduled-c on her DD (she asked for it!) because she thought baby was too big. they estimated 9,14 and baby was 8,8.

[avivaelona]

I would just ditch the diet they sent you and the exchanges, it sounds like you have a good handle on what is a carb and what is a protein. I love the diets they give you where you are eating more carbs and sugar than you normally eat, what the hell are they thinking? I think they must think everyone who gets this eats wonderbread and grape jelly sandwiches with a glass of soda normally.

What people on here say over and over seems to be that eating normally works best for them with just a few adjustments.

1) Don't go crazy with the carbs, avoid the most carby things you eat and most white carbs (sugar, white rice, white bread, potatos) No Soda or Fruit Juice.

2) Break meals down smaller and eat more frequently. 6 small meals a day rather than 3 large.

3) Never eat anything without a protein included. Make the protein item about equal to the carb item and if you can get some fiber in there it will work even better.

4) For most people you have to have a night time snack in order to keep your morning fasting sugar low. (though we discussed some exceptions a page or two back I think)

5) Don't eat more carbs than you normally eat!

I count greek yogurt as a protein too. If you really want a diet the one that works for most people is the carb balancing one where its like 15 grams of carbohydrate =1 carb and you can have 2 at breakfast 3 at lunch and 3-4 at dinner, 1 at each snack. I like that better than exchanges because you don't have to trade yogurt for milk.