Gestational Diabetes frustration

[Starlight34]

I have gestational diabetes and just need to have a vent. My fingers are sore and black and blue from all the blood testing, I really have a hard time with it. I feel like I'm going to faint each time. There's something so unnatural and unpleasant about pricking ones self.
No matter what I do, my fasting sugars always tend to be high. I'm not taking insulin yet, but I probably will have to. I'm really sick of the diet, it's so bland. No sugar, low carb diets don't agree with me, I get really cranky on them. I miss muffins and pasta. I was crying this morning because all I was allowed to eat that was in the house was an egg. I didn't want a bloody egg!! It's taken all the pleasure and joy out of eating food. As a foodie, it's a hard blow.
I know I shouldn't complain, because it will probably go away once the baby is born, and there's people who have to deal with this for a lifetime.
Thanks for listening. Does anyone have any suggestions to make it easier?

 

[Lozzii]

Not from personal experience but my dad has type 2 diabetes that he controls by diet, and when he craves pasta and stuff like that he buys zero-pasta from the health food store, it tastes the same but it has very little carbs because its like 10 calories a serving and while it has no nutritional value to it, its great when you want something that tastes like pasta without worrying about the carb content, also try and make meat your best friend! And low carb veggies, green is always good!
While they're classed as diet foods, Atkins bars are good too, the whole diet is based around low carb and they have low carb treats which taste amazing!
For lowering your blood sugar, try and drink a little extra water if your numbers are a bit high, not sure if it actually helps, but when I have high blood sugar my dad sits me down and has me drink a litre of warm water, it usually helps me feel better quickly, and then spend a good hour after dashing to the loo, but it seems to help xx
Insulin might be a good idea if your fasting sugars are still high, ideally try to see your doctor sooner rather than later! Good luck, I hope some of this helped xx

 

[designermama]

Have you seen a dietitian? Speak with your doctor about talking to someone about how to eat. The first week I was very overwhelmed by the 'carb counting' and all but I have learned it isn't that bad. For example, I have an english muffins with cheese and bologna for breakfast… I could substitute the meat from something else or even leave it off since the cheese has protein. I also drink Stevia sweetened milk poured over plain cheerios with half a banana cut up on top for breakfast at times. These are my two go-to breakfast meals. As for eggs, I love eggs and have a laying hen so I boil her eggs and eat them as a snack through out the day with 2 servings of carbs.

Once you know what constitutes as a serving of carbs, it gets easier. I have been having trouble getting my dinner numbers under my required 120. I go back to the doctor today, and I am hoping they give me more time to figure it out before putting me on insulin.

If you're hurting from checking your blood, try switching fingers or lowering the needle. I keep mine on the middle. I still have to work to get enough blood out, but I would rather not poke myself so deep every time. My finger stings for a few after checking sometimes :/
Hopefully it gets better for you!

 

[jkb11]

Also, don't prick the tips of your finger. Prick the side of the tip instead. When you do the actual tip it is bothered by everything you touch so if you go to the side you won't have as much tenderness after the checks.

 

[Starlight34]

Thanks for your replies. It's getting a little more manageable. It's just hard to watch everyone around you enjoying good food, and you are stuck on this super restrictive diet. My birthday is this Saturday, so my hubby is going to pick up a diabetic cake for me.

 

[designermama]

My husband brings icecream home knowing I can't eat it. Easter was the worse with all that candy around me. It will get better! Enjy your diabetic birthday cake!

 

[mhk425]

The GD-diet isn't really supposed to be "low-carb." It's more about spreading your carbs out throughout the day and knowing which carbs work for you. You should have at least 175g a day for fetal development and to avoid ketones. Strangely, sugar (like candy sugar) has always been better for me than anything starchy, including whole grain bread. No one's body is exactly the same. Try different things out and see what works for you. I know it REALLY sucks, but hang in there! The end result is well worth it.

 

[bluecathy1978]

I had GD with my last 2 pregnancies. The first wasn't too bad as I was only diagnosed at 26 weeks but the last time it was at 16 weeks and felt like forever!
I had the blood tests when I had my full blood count at my booking appointment at 8 weeks and my levels were normal but I have to see the diabetes midwife at 12 weeks after my scan.
I am presuming I will get a monitor then. They have booked me in for the glucose tolerance test but probably wont need it anyway as if I have it then it will be detected by then.
Last time I ended up on insulin at night as my morning readings were out of control.
My typical diet was;
Breakfast, 1 slice wholemeal bread toasted, bacon and scrambled egg
Lunch, wholemeal pasta with chicken and avocado and mixed leaf salad plus an apple
Afternoon snack was either celery with peanut butter or 2 rich tea biscuits
Dinner, cottage pie and veggies with stewed fruit (using sweetener) and low fat custard.
I also used to make soups for lunch but have to be careful this time as I had a gall bladder attack just after Christmas after id eaten a creamy soup I had made!
If I'm craving something sweet I have sugar free jelly. It is all about planning and if I don't plan what I'm having then it all goes wrong.
It did get me really down the last time and after I had delivered my baby I got my husband to go to McDonalds for me and get me a big mac meal !!!!

 

[jlw617]

I'm sorry, I really think I might have it now too and I'm only 11 weeks but my original blood work came back with high levels, they wanted me to do the glucola test but I declined because I didn't think my numbers were that high and I couldn't imagine drinking thT awful stuff in my first trimester-I feel awful all the time and I really think it's because I probably have it, I was seeing an ob but am switching to a midwife and have an appointment on Monday so I'll talk with her then about it-I'm worried but confident that I'll make whatever changes necessary to make sure baby and I are as healthy as possible, I guess in a way I've been blessed because typically I crave sweets and this pregnancy has not been like that for me! Good luck!

 

[AmeliePoulain]

How long have you been doing the diet now?

I am on round 3 with GD, this time since 17.5 weeks and in pregnancy 2 since 16 weeks. I've always stayed fully diet controlled in all pregnancies so I know the diet very very very well.

I would say in honest experience the first 4 weeks are very tough, your body really craves the sugar and I always feel like I'm on a detox.

My top tip from this pregnancy is try and eat meals as normal to usual/the rest of you family as possible - I've eaten a lot of cauliflower rice, substituted pasta for courgette (zuchinni) etc

In pregnancy 2 I really found it hard and it was mainly due to living on eggs, cheese and vegetables.

I agree it is important not to starve yourself but I can tolerate very very few carbs but haven't had ketones in this pregnancy. I've gained a good amount of weight and am healthy. It is possible to achieve that with a very good diet.

With the bruised fingers, maybe you need a lancet that doesn't go as deep?