Gestational Diabetes

[KRobbo]

I had cottage cheese on whole meal toast, I'd just completed a pregnancy hiit class and needed more food. I'm going to try oatcakes and cheese tonight on recommendation of a GD support website I'm on. Its linked to this website https://www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/diagnosed-with-gestational-diabetes/

I'm not sure if you can join the FB group as it says it's UK only but there is loads of great info on the website

 

[misspriss]

I'd love to be in a pregnancy exercise class, but the only ones I have found are at an awful time for our family.

 

[misspriss]

Thanks for the link to the website it does have a lot of good help so far, I'm going to keep reading on the diet tips.

 

[KRobbo]

I only found it today and honestly I'm so excited. I've never found support like this before and believe me I looked 5 years ago and again 3 years ago! It's only been around two years and it's fab! It even has a GD hospital bag section - I have been on it all day! Lol

 

[misspriss]

I only found it today and honestly I'm so excited. I've never found support like this before and believe me I looked 5 years ago and again 3 years ago! It's only been around two years and it's fab! It even has a GD hospital bag section - I have been on it all day! Lol

OMG I didn't even think of during labor! They would not let me eat during labor with DD, at all. I guess it will have to be different with this baby, which is fine it will probably be helpful!

 

[KRobbo]

During labour and the hours before is one of the important times to keep your sugar under control, it shouldn't be too bad if you are still diet controlled. You'll just need to work out what snacks you can eat well in advance - protein bars are great!

 

[misspriss]

During labour and the hours before is one of the important times to keep your sugar under control, it shouldn't be too bad if you are still diet controlled. You'll just need to work out what snacks you can eat well in advance - protein bars are great!

Apparently people in the US still struggle with their Dr telling them not to eat in the hospital, it's hospital policy so it's hard to go against that. They like to put you on a drip instead.

My reading 2 hours post lunch was a little high, 122 (6.7), it is supposed to be 120 or under.

 

[KRobbo]

That would be a fine reading in the U.K. sorry that's high for you. Have you pinpointed what it could be?

 

[misspriss]

That would be a fine reading in the U.K. sorry that's high for you. Have you pinpointed what it could be?

Not sure, since I don't test after snacks/pre meals, it could be something from my snack or my meal, as both were under my carb goals.

In the US, for GD, they tell you 140 1 hour post meal, 120 2 hours. For regular diabetics, it's like 180 1 hour post meal and 140 2 hours post. I'm not sure why the guidelines are different for regular diabetics vs gestational diabetes.

That being said, I am only supposed to call the doctor if my readings are more than 10 points above (so 130 or 100 for fasting) for three readings in a row.

 

[misspriss]

Tested 2 hrs post snack, 78 (4.3), lowest reading yet. Good thing dinner is cooking!

 

[misspriss]

Good, my post dinner meal was 105 (5.8), so it was good. I had trouble eating enough at dinner though, I had a big dinner, chicken breast (baked), cheesy potatoes, and a huge serving of broccoli, and my carbs were still under my minimum goal so I had some watermelon after. It was a 600 calorie meal, which seems like a good number, but only 43g of carbs (should be 45-60) carbs, even with the potatoes! And watermelon!

*sigh* I'll get the hang of this eventually, probably about the time my numbers start acting up and I have to change it all! And it's not like 43 is terribly off, but my afternoon snack was only 10g and should have been at least 15g. We need to go grocery shopping and I'm running out of options, lol!

 

[KRobbo]

I don't carb count and haven't ever, I just make sure I have some carbs with every meal and avoid ketosis. I weigh portions e.g I had 40g of basmati rice with chilli yesterday, my reading was 7.3 so a little high. I'll have the same meal tomorrow and have 30g rice instead and add extra chilli and cheese.

I had pizza last night which is something I'd never do usually. I ate 1 1/2 big slices, and then went for a 40 minute walk with my family. I did a reading at 1 hr and it 8.2, by 2 hours it was 6.4 though so I was really happy. Next time I'll stick to one slice and have a side of chicken wings instead. My fasting numbers were 5.7 this morning so still high but slightly better - I'm going to keep tweaking my bedtime snack and might even try a 2am snack next week.

4.3 after a snack? I have never been that low except with insulin. I do think I have high blood sugar all the time, my sister ate the same as me last night and got a higher reading than me and she's not even pregnant.

I do think it's a good thing to test after snacks for the first couple of weeks and then you can have 'go to' snacks and stop testing - then maybe test your snacks once a fortnight to check your levels haven't risen. I've been enjoying cottage cheese and avocado on a ryvita.

 

[misspriss]

Ah carb counting comes naturally to me, since I used to diet based on macros (this diet is similar to my diet before, but less protein and more fat because I am pregnant not lifting weights).

It was only a 10g snack, higher in fat and protein (nuts and cheese), but still it was lower than my AM fasting numbers! I got an 86 (4.7) this morning, which is good.

I may be going out for breakfast so we will see how that goes.

 

[misspriss]

Well today went swell, although I didn't eat breakfast as early as I should and skipped my snack between breakfast and lunch because breakfast was late.

86 (4.7) - fasting
95 (5.3) - 2 hr (breakfast)
102 (5.6) - 2 hr (lunch)
107 (5.9) -2hr (dinner)

I had Chick Fil A for breakfast with a coffee from Dunkin Donuts (sugar free and made with half and half). I had a tuna sandwich on wheat with pretzels for lunch, and maceroni and cheese with meat added for dinner (so a big pasta dinner). I was a bit worried about my dinner numbers but I seem to have done just fine.

I also went shopping and spent a crap ton of money on food, most of which was CHEESE. I got string cheese, cheese squares, shredded cheese (2 bags), sliced cheese, and velveeta. I also bought a bunch of chobani whole milk yogurt as it was on sale and has a carb level in the snack range (12-15g). I also got some sweeter chobanis (low fat ones, not whole milk) which have carbs in the 20-25 range, still an acceptable snack.

 

[KRobbo]

Omg the cheese yesterday I bough blocknof cheese, cheese string, babybel, cheese slices, smoked cheese and cottage cheese! It's a good job my dairy intolerance disappears when I'm pregnant!

My numbers weren't great yesterday. Friday was great because I rally focused on it. Yesterday was my sons birthday party and I was so busy that food became a low priority. So I had three high numbers in a day, after evening meal was ridiculous at 9.4 (190). This was leftover pizza without the 40 minute walk and just shows the power of exercise. I'm feeling disheartened , I'm only 18 weeks and there is so long to go.

Today will be a good day! My fasting was 5.5 which is bang on target and that was without a bedtime snack.

Your numbers are fab, you get numbers I didn't not even get when not pregnant.

 

[misspriss]

I am worried about my daughters birthday coming up, today is Mothers day, all kinds of "special occasions"..

Glad you had a good fasting number today!

 

[misspriss]

Omg the cheese yesterday I bough blocknof cheese, cheese string, babybel, cheese slices, smoked cheese and cottage cheese! It's a good job my dairy intolerance disappears when I'm pregnant!

My numbers weren't great yesterday. Friday was great because I rally focused on it. Yesterday was my sons birthday party and I was so busy that food became a low priority. So I had three high numbers in a day, after evening meal was ridiculous at 9.4 (190). This was leftover pizza without the 40 minute walk and just shows the power of exercise. I'm feeling disheartened , I'm only 18 weeks and there is so long to go.

Today will be a good day! My fasting was 5.5 which is bang on target and that was without a bedtime snack.

Your numbers are fab, you get numbers I didn't not even get when not pregnant.

Oh wow that pizza really did cause it high! My dietitian said pizza was a tricky one, that a lot of people have problems with it. But that exercise really does help! The one time I had pizza it was fine, but it was thin crust and nasty (I LOVE a thicker crust).

Well I guess you could say I exercised between breakfast and lunch, which my numbers were best after breakfast. We went out to breakfast, then I hustled the kids to Target for what turned into and almost 2 hour shopping trip, which I was walking and pushing the buggy the whole time, so I guess it's exercise...

That was why I was so surprised to get the diagnosis, no one in my family has diabetes, it isn't even on the radar - we have heart disease! High blood pressure! Stroke! But no diabetes! So I was fully expecting to pass the test, since I passed with my first two with flying colors. But, apparently the test simulates the strain on your body further in pregnancy, and people who "barely" fail (like me) may go a lot of the rest of their pregnancy diet controlled. I hope so.

It sounds like you are off to a great start! I've wondered what would happen if I wasn't doing the bedtime snack, but TBH, it's actually helped with the nighttime indigestion. I always thought the answer was to eat earlier, but perhaps it's to eat small before bed. I have only had to take heartburn medicine once since I started the GD diet.

 

[misspriss]

Ugh I had pizza today and I was a wee bit high, but not bad 124 (6.8). Pizza is just tricky. Next time I want to indulge I will go walking after!

 

[KRobbo]

I'm going to make my own pizza next time on a whole meal wrap! I've had a day of all in target numbers so I'm feeling much happier!

 

[misspriss]

Oh yay! Glad you have been on target!

I got thin crust last time but it was bad so this was regular, fluffy crust...it was good. I had to get a medium pizza so I could stay under my goals. 124 is not terrible, just and indication I need to be more careful.