GD support thread

[marley79]

I'm with you madmae on never wanting to touch cheese again after this or at least give myself a break. in fact bread and chesse can take a long hike - I'm so done with them. so fed up of eating them at every meal!

 

[izzy29]

I am fed up with cheese already. We are going through so much in our house and it's not cheap either. Anyone attempted a baked potato and cheese? Wonder would it sky rocket my sugars.
I hope all u girls are about to give advice and reassurance until I deliver and even if there is a next time although that's doubtful after all this. I dunno what I would have done without this site,

 

[madmae]

I am fed up with cheese already. We are going through so much in our house and it's not cheap either. Anyone attempted a baked potato and cheese? Wonder would it sky rocket my sugars.
I hope all u girls are about to give advice and reassurance until I deliver and even if there is a next time although that's doubtful after all this. I dunno what I would have done without this site,

A baked potato with cheese and some meat are ok for me.....its a staple lunch for me. Tuna is good too.....prawns are lovely but don't work so well though.

I know what you mean about cheese and the price....I now buy the big 1kg blocks from Iceland at a fiver a block....last month I went through 4. I think we may be on our 2nd block already this month. It doesn't help that the kids see me eat it and then automatically want it too.

Yeah I'll be about for a while yet....can't not see how you all get on.

 

[madmae]

I'm with you madmae on never wanting to touch cheese again after this or at least give myself a break. in fact bread and chesse can take a long hike - I'm so done with them. so fed up of eating them at every meal!

I never was a big bread eater before this either. I much preferred cereal for breakfast (if anything) and I do miss it. I do occasionally grab myself a bowl if my numbers are low and I know a meals a way off.

 

[X__Kimberly]

I wish I would have found this thread when I was pregnant, I was so scared when they told me about it at 28 weeks >.<

I had GD. I failed my 3 hour at 28 weeks. And was on meds my whole pregnancy. I couldn't control it either no matter what i ate or drank :/ but with the meds it helped a lot!!

I ended up being induced at 37 weeks due to the blood flow in his cord and he weighed 4 lbs 10 oz's. heathly and perfect!On feb 11 =) I'm scared i'll get it next pregnancy :/

 

[marley79]

he's beautiful kimberly! congratulations.

 

[madmae]

He is gorgeous Kimberly. I know when we discussed trying for another baby it was a major concern but we decided that we wanted another baby badly enough and that we'd cope with the GD if it happened....which it obviously did....but this time we were prepared and I think because we knew it'd probably happen its been a lot easier emotionally. I was also tested a lot earlier which meant we have had longer to get my numbers stable which they are for the most part (just gone and jinxed that now).

 

[izzy29]

It would def put me off having anymore but I suppose if you want it bad enough you would just have to cope.
Kimberley, was the blood flow through the cord to do with GD or is it just something tha can happen?

 

[tracy143]

Well its 2.30am and its another night of not sleeping. My bump is so big I can't get comfy and if I do I end up feeling sick or my restless legs/feet start......pregnancy is such fun at times.

I got my daughter to take a 34 week pic of me and I am slightly bigger than when I was 38 weeks wit my last babe and the diabetes then was never well controlled. I'm even starting to out grow some of my mat clothes....I am thankful I am at most 4 weeks away from the end. Though he's still stubbornly breech and hurting my ribs.

My sugars after being beautifully stable for about 3 weeks have now decided to play up and I am having to up the amount of insulin I am on at every meal as well as my night time levemir dose as my fasting is up as well. Logically I knew this would happen but I loath it as just being within the right range for a few weeks was so nice and now I feel slightly out of control again. It doesn't help that I am constantly hungry again but when it comes to meals I really don't want to eat as I feel as though so much time and effort goes into what can I have thats ok that there's no enjoyment left to eating now. I have a total pity party going on over here....hopefully in the morning when I have had some sleep I'll feel slightly more optimistic

I am at that stage now, too. I can't eat anything without my sugars rising to 130+. I don't see the doctor again until Wednesday so I have to stick it out till then.

I guess I am lucky that my team let me up my insulin as and when....I couldn't imagine knowing it needed sorting and having to wait. Though I do have a number to call to speak to someone if needed so I can get almost instant phone help....don't you have anyone you could call rather than having to wait.

I can call my doctor's office and he will probably tell me to increase my evening dose to 1000mg as well. Last night my after dinner number was 182 (I had 1 cup of ice cream to celebrate my birthday) and then I ate two sticks of cheese and checked it an hour later before bed and it was 190!!

 

[madmae]

Well its 2.30am and its another night of not sleeping. My bump is so big I can't get comfy and if I do I end up feeling sick or my restless legs/feet start......pregnancy is such fun at times.

I got my daughter to take a 34 week pic of me and I am slightly bigger than when I was 38 weeks wit my last babe and the diabetes then was never well controlled. I'm even starting to out grow some of my mat clothes....I am thankful I am at most 4 weeks away from the end. Though he's still stubbornly breech and hurting my ribs.

My sugars after being beautifully stable for about 3 weeks have now decided to play up and I am having to up the amount of insulin I am on at every meal as well as my night time levemir dose as my fasting is up as well. Logically I knew this would happen but I loath it as just being within the right range for a few weeks was so nice and now I feel slightly out of control again. It doesn't help that I am constantly hungry again but when it comes to meals I really don't want to eat as I feel as though so much time and effort goes into what can I have thats ok that there's no enjoyment left to eating now. I have a total pity party going on over here....hopefully in the morning when I have had some sleep I'll feel slightly more optimistic

I am at that stage now, too. I can't eat anything without my sugars rising to 130+. I don't see the doctor again until Wednesday so I have to stick it out till then.

I guess I am lucky that my team let me up my insulin as and when....I couldn't imagine knowing it needed sorting and having to wait. Though I do have a number to call to speak to someone if needed so I can get almost instant phone help....don't you have anyone you could call rather than having to wait.

I can call my doctor's office and he will probably tell me to increase my evening dose to 1000mg as well. Last night my after dinner number was 182 (I had 1 cup of ice cream to celebrate my birthday) and then I ate two sticks of cheese and checked it an hour later before bed and it was 190!!

If it were me I'd make that call.....sometimes it doesn't matter what you do you need to increase your meds

 

[AshleyR]

Is GD known to get worse as time passes?

I ask because I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago and at first my sugar levels were super low (like 3.4-5.5 always). I really did not think I even had it or needed to manage it super carefully because every time I tested I was fine.

Since I didn't think I had it real bad, I haven't really been doing much research on it. I've cut out obvious sugary foods (no more pop, ice cream, popsicles, candy, etc (was eating a lot of this before), but I haven't really been restricting my regular meals that much.

Anyway, over the past week or so I have noticed that my numbers have slowly been creeping up and up. I used to be at 3.4 or so in the morning before breakfast, and lately I am around 5.5. 6's and 7's were numbers I never saw before but am starting to see them now (highest yet was 7.2, today after breakfast).

I haven't been eating any differently than I have since 3 weeks ago, but suddenly my numbers seem to be getting higher and higher. Is this normal? I'm wondering if GD tends to get worse the further along in pregnancy you get? I am 34 weeks now....

I think I'm going to have to start being a lot more careful if this keeps up!

 

[izzy29]

I am interested to hear the answer to this aswell Ashley. My numbers have been low too but he doc put me n a tab as my fasting levels were creeping up but still within range. I wondered if she was predicting what was going to happen later on and better to start now rather than later. She has even mentioned insulin in later weeks but hopefully I don't get to that stage. I am trying to keep my numbers super low by exercising gently after I eat while I can anyway.

 

[marley79]

answer to that ahsely is a big fat yes. the hormones that cause GD get higher as pregnancy goes on and so its harder to control sugars. They rise throughout pregnancy - its very rare for them to stay the same throughout. that said some women manage fine still on diet and even though numbers go up are still within range - for tohers its a case of ever increasing meds to keep it within normal.
tracy - I was allowed to just increase my metformin. i went to max dose, at around 33 weeks. x

 

[madmae]

Sadly yes GD does get worse the further along you get. When I was diagnosed at 17 weeks I was on 6 units of insulin every meal. Now I am on 2 different types and at breakfast I am on 52 units of novorapid and 32 of levemir. Of course not everyone will follow the predicted path and some will be worse than others but you should be prepared for it just in case.

Ashley have you restricted carbs as well? That is almost as important as the sugars....though you do still do need a certain amount of them. Its a bit of a juggling act. You also need to snack every couple of hrs as well. Something that is about 20g of carbs is best.

 

[AshleyR]

Thanks for the info... it makes sense! I have been restricting carbs more than usual, but not as much as I probably should. I have been taking a laid back approach to this whole GD diet thing and cutting out obvious sugary and carby foods, but I know I can do better. Now that I see my numbers rising I guess I am going to have to start getting a little more serious about planning my meals and making sure I'm eating the right things!

 

[lollybabe2011]

Hi ladies,
Ashley like madmae said GD definately get worse as you go along in pregnancy. The dose of insulin I started with at 17wks is a fraction of the dose I am on now at the moment.

 

[marley79]

good news is though ashley is that you are far enough along in pregnancy that if rise just happening now hopefully you can still make it to end just tweaking diet - it is a pain but worth it and even if you did end up on meds hopefully it would just be a little dose at the end. some women do report numbers getting easier last couple of weeks as numbers begin to drop again ready for delivery.

 

[madmae]

Thanks for the info... it makes sense! I have been restricting carbs more than usual, but not as much as I probably should. I have been taking a laid back approach to this whole GD diet thing and cutting out obvious sugary and carby foods, but I know I can do better. Now that I see my numbers rising I guess I am going to have to start getting a little more serious about planning my meals and making sure I'm eating the right things!

I think the key thing is if you're going to eat carbs eat protein too. I can get away with eating a large shish kebab and chips....but its the meat that makes all the difference. With GD it really is all trial and error. I can't eat toast but I can eat cheese on toast....I can't eat potatoes but I can eat a jacket potato with tuna.

 

[izzy29]

Thanks for the info... it makes sense! I have been restricting carbs more than usual, but not as much as I probably should. I have been taking a laid back approach to this whole GD diet thing and cutting out obvious sugary and carby foods, but I know I can do better. Now that I see my numbers rising I guess I am going to have to start getting a little more serious about planning my meals and making sure I'm eating the right things!

I think the key thing is if you're going to eat carbs eat protein too. I can get away with eating a large shish kebab and chips....but its the meat that makes all the difference. With GD it really is all trial and error. I can't eat toast but I can eat cheese on toast....I can't eat potatoes but I can eat a jacket potato with tuna.

Ooh shish kebab and chips, yummy! I had chicken kebab on chips tonight but left half the chips as I was worried what would happen to my sugars. I did go for a stroll after nearly as soon as I finished out of sheer panic but got 5.6 after so I was able to relax. It is nerve wrecking trying new foods, or foods I haven't eaten since I have been good.

 

[mom of 7]

Is GD known to get worse as time passes?

I ask because I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago and at first my sugar levels were super low (like 3.4-5.5 always). I really did not think I even had it or needed to manage it super carefully because every time I tested I was fine.

Since I didn't think I had it real bad, I haven't really been doing much research on it. I've cut out obvious sugary foods (no more pop, ice cream, popsicles, candy, etc (was eating a lot of this before), but I haven't really been restricting my regular meals that much.

Anyway, over the past week or so I have noticed that my numbers have slowly been creeping up and up. I used to be at 3.4 or so in the morning before breakfast, and lately I am around 5.5. 6's and 7's were numbers I never saw before but am starting to see them now (highest yet was 7.2, today after breakfast).

I haven't been eating any differently than I have since 3 weeks ago, but suddenly my numbers seem to be getting higher and higher. Is this normal? I'm wondering if GD tends to get worse the further along in pregnancy you get? I am 34 weeks now....

I think I'm going to have to start being a lot more careful if this keeps up!

Hi There,
I was at the diabetic clinic last week and the nurse was telling me that even though my numbers have been good to keep an eye on them because they will get harder to control as I get closer to the end of the pregnancy. I was managing them really well but as she predicted they are getting harder to keep in range though I have not changed my eating habits since our last meeting. This week they actually reached 11.1 which is very unusal for me. We are also monitoring keytones which seem to be getting harder to keep in range also. I would say let your dr know at your next appointment. I take in a record of all my readings, ketones and bg each week for him to go over and now must record all food eaten as well as any time I excersice since it messes with my numbers also.