Struggling with Gestational Diabetes

[Charmed86]

I was diagnosed last week & had my first appointment with the specialist midwife & diabetes nurse on Tuesday this week. I felt really positive afterwards, the dietician told me that I just needed to eat healthier & not necessarily make any major changes to my diet. The first day, they told me to eat normally & see what my BS does. So I did. Lunch was sandwiches, crisps & a small chocolate (Not a regular thing I eat, I just wanted to see what would happen!) & dinner was a simple chilli with rice. Both numbers were absolutely fine. Yesterday, I got a high number after eating breakfast, I figure I just need a smaller portion.. Which I did today & the number was fine again. My lunch yesterday was homemade soup with 1 bread roll, another good number & tea was ham, eggs, chips and beans. Today, I cut down my breakfast, the number was much better.. My lunch was *exactly* the same & it was high again! WTH?! I've just thrown up too, so I just feel really rotten about the whole thing now.

I've started testing after certain snacks too, just to make sure my numbers aren't high after them. The nurse said I only needed to test before breakfast, then 1hr after each meal.. But what if a snack gives me a high number & I don't know it?!

I am really struggling with what I can eat & I'm finding it so frustrating that what I can eat one day, I can't another! How can sandwiches, crisps and choc be better than soup & a small roll anyway?!

I really thought I was past all the throwing up, so I'm not happy about that.

I was supposed to go to aquanatal for the first time tonight, but honestly, I just want to hide away. My family is stressing me out, so that's really not helping me either.

I don't know what to do now

 

[jlw617]

I'm sorry, it can be really tough...despite what dietician might say, everything I've read about it says you do much better with a high fat, high protein diet, the amount of carbs the doctor/dietician tell you to consume is insane! I try to stick to no more than 15 carbs in a meal/snack and always pair it with protein and if possible a high fat item which sounds scary but good fats are great for your baby and if it makes any difference, I've had GD since 14 weeks and I haven't gained any weight this pregnancy, in fact I've lost about 13 lbs total. I hope you feel better! Sounds like you got a lot going on.

 

[jlw617]

as far as extra testing gos, you should definitely test if you're concerned and or you feel jittery or yucky after eating something or just in general-what I've found is I feel the same way when my blood sugars are high or low and I've talked to several women who say the same thing

 

[mhk425]

I'm sorry, it can be really tough...despite what dietician might say, everything I've read about it says you do much better with a high fat, high protein diet, the amount of carbs the doctor/dietician tell you to consume is insane! I try to stick to no more than 15 carbs in a meal/snack and always pair it with protein and if possible a high fat item which sounds scary but good fats are great for your baby and if it makes any difference, I've had GD since 14 weeks and I haven't gained any weight this pregnancy, in fact I've lost about 13 lbs total. I hope you feel better! Sounds like you got a lot going on.

Yikes! Honestly, I wouldn't be skimping on carbs. Your baby needs carbs for proper brain development. The MINIMUM recommended by experts is 175g/day. If eating at most 15 per meal and snack, the most you're getting is 90g/day (assuming you're eating 6 times a day). That's not good. Like I mentioned in another post, avoiding meds should not be your goal. Eat what you need to eat, and the meds will be there for you if you need them. It's scary, but it's what's best for your baby.

 

[Baby.Love12]

Hi. I was just diagnosed this past week and feel really bad about it also. I don't go to my specialist appointment until august 3rd. So in the meantime I am just eating what I think is right and hoping for the best. It is frustrating that when we're prego all we want to do is eat thr bad stuff. Lol.

 

[3chords]

I was just diagnosed too as borderline but to be honest I am not all that fussed about it. My numbers are so low that I don't need meds yet and I've already adjusted my meal plan. My Mom and grandmother are both type 2 diabetics so I have the "benefit" of knowing exactly how to properly eat and hopefully that will do it.

I do 15g carbs at breakfast and 2 snacks during the day. And 60g at lunch and dinner, give or take.

 

[bitethebullet]

If you can make your carbs low glycaemic index it should help to stabilise your blood sugar levels. So porridge is a really good breakfast. Brown rice instead of white and wholemeal pasta instead of white pasta....