Gestational Diabetes General Chatter #5

[smudgy]

Hello everyone

I'm such a newbie here. First time mommy-to-be, 28 weeks along and just yesterday had been diagnosed with GD Both my parents are Type 2 so it doesn't come as a surprise to me but I really didn't expect it to be at this early age (am 27 yrs old)!

Anyway, went to see the Diabetes Expert yesterday and she taught me how to use and do my BSL readings. I have a week to record my BSL and keep it at bay with low GI food intake. Then they'll decide if I need to be put on insulin injections. And I'm so so frustrated with it!! With BSL recordings, she said my target after fasting should be less than 5.5 and each time after 2 hours meal should read to less than 7.0

So last night I had roast chicken and carrots with steamed broccoli and mushroom sauce. 2 hours later it read 6.7 (still lower than target, which is fine *all smiles*)

This morning before breakfast it shoot up to 7.0! Now how did THAT happen?
Anyway, had my breakfast of 2-eggs omelette with tomatoes, mushroom and cheese. 2 hours later, it's still read 7.0

So I busied myself (trying hard not to think about food!), and at lunch time I fixed myself some roast chicken leftovers with lettuce wrapped in a pita bread. 2 hours later, my BSL went beserk to 9.4!!

I'm devastated and so so frustrated already. I really hope not to be put on insulin and (not to mention how I SO want a chocolate pudding right about now!) I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Could it be the pita bread? Or eggs and cheese? It can't be MUSHROOMS! ..or can it? I do have a list of food to avoid (high GI foods) by the DE and can't seem to understand why my BSL is shooting up higher and higher!

I had a quater of an apple as a late afternoon snack and for dinner, a chicken and spinach stir fry with mushrooms and lemongrass. I'll keep you updated with my recordings tonight.

Thanks for a lending ear!
Miza

[smudgy]

After 2 hours of dinner (chicken + spinach + mushroom + chillies stir-fry), my BSL read 7.3

[Megan]

double post

[Megan]

smudgy, did you have anything with your stir fry? rice or noodles?
I completely understand your frustration. Unfortunately everyone is different and certain foods that work for one person don't work for another. I can eat pita wraps until the cows come home, but can't eat any kind of bread. It could possibly be the eggs or cheese. It's a matter of elimination really. I do ok with eggs, but not so good if I have cheese.
As for your fasting levels, unfortunately there isn't much you can do about those as it is hormonal. They were the first ones to go up for me and I was put on insulin before bed to control them. Did you have a snack before bed? I don't usually, but sometimes I have a glass of milk and my morning levels are still on the high side. The first week or so is a lot of trial and error to see what works for you. I was also told to try and go for a walk or do some excercise one hour after every meal for 20 minutes and that helped my levels alot and kept me off insulin for a few extra weeks.
Keep us posted with how you go and fire away any questions you have.

Myson, sorry can't help you with your problem. How many units of protophane are you on? I found it took about 2 days of taking it and it was helping all my other levels throughout the day and was getting readings between 4.5-6 all the time. My dose has gone up almost weekly and I start 11units tonight, but it has never caused my levels to go higher than what they were. Let me know how you go for the next few days.

[V21]

Smudgy, don't forget to eat between meals as well...... It is better to have 6 small meals a day than 3 large ones, may also help with the BSL's...... It is a game of trial and error, til you find the foods that don't put your BSL's up high, a week is a very short time to try and find it out..... I can eat multigrain rolls, but not bread, go figure, bread continually puts my BSL's up....... Oh and BTW chocolate doesn't put my BSL up, though still best to only have a couple of squares...... I hope that you are able to control the GD with your diet, I'm sorry that you were diagnosed with it...... Good luck over the next couple of days.

[smudgy]

Smudgy, don't forget to eat between meals as well...... It is better to have 6 small meals a day than 3 large ones, may also help with the BSL's...... It is a game of trial and error, til you find the foods that don't put your BSL's up high, a week is a very short time to try and find it out..... I can eat multigrain rolls, but not bread, go figure, bread continually puts my BSL's up....... Oh and BTW chocolate doesn't put my BSL up, though still best to only have a couple of squares...... I hope that you are able to control the GD with your diet, I'm sorry that you were diagnosed with it...... Good luck over the next couple of days.

Hi Vanessa
Yes, that's something I've not tried. I think smaller meals sounds better for me since I bloat up after my meals.

p/s: any idea how much baked beans I can have for breakfast?

Thanks!
Miza

[smudgy]

smudgy, did you have anything with your stir fry? rice or noodles?
I completely understand your frustration. Unfortunately everyone is different and certain foods that work for one person don't work for another. I can eat pita wraps until the cows come home, but can't eat any kind of bread. It could possibly be the eggs or cheese. It's a matter of elimination really. I do ok with eggs, but not so good if I have cheese.
As for your fasting levels, unfortunately there isn't much you can do about those as it is hormonal. They were the first ones to go up for me and I was put on insulin before bed to control them. Did you have a snack before bed? I don't usually, but sometimes I have a glass of milk and my morning levels are still on the high side. The first week or so is a lot of trial and error to see what works for you. I was also told to try and go for a walk or do some excercise one hour after every meal for 20 minutes and that helped my levels alot and kept me off insulin for a few extra weeks.
Keep us posted with how you go and fire away any questions you have.

Hi Megan
No, no noodles or rice with the stir-fry. It's frustrating
I've walked for 20 minutes today and plan to for the rest of the week. Hopefully that'll help. And I don't snack before bed either. But tonight I had 1/4 cup of oats with warm milk. We'll see how I go tomorrow morning. Will keep updated!

p/s: I'm planning to have one thin sausage with a piece of toast and baked beans with lots of mixed veggies for breakfast tomorrow. How much baked beans can I have? Half a cup?

[Megan]

When I have baked beans I have a 3rd of a can on one slice of toast. That's probably about half a cup, but I haven't measured it before!
I can have thin sausages (one) but never the yummy thick flavoured ones!! Good luck with tomorrow.
With the excercise if you can, try and up it to 40-60 minutes in total for the day. I broke it up into 15-20 minute bursts, but it worked! Something I haven't been doing in the hot weather I have to admit.

[smudgy]

Thanks Megan!

Did my reading this morning before breakfast, it turned out 7.7! Oh dear me..

[myson]

megan. started on 4 units so far. bit better today but still more erratic than when i was doing without. DE says give it a few more days... we'll see..

Smudgy. beans are GREAT for GD. baked beans, green string beans, 3 bean mix. also i was told 20 mins a day is not enough. go for 15 after each meal if you can. also lots of multigrains are actually made with white flour... maybe try wholemeal or rye???

also if your level is good at night then higher in the morning then that is to do with your liver (i think) overcompensating and releasing sugar back to your bloodstream as the level drops during the night. Try snacking on yoghurt or a handful of almonds right before bed and see if that helps your morning reading.

watch your labels when you shop. i have found some things that say "light" are because of a reduced fat content BUT the sugar content (or carbs) is higher than the "non-light" alternative. but if i am telling you stuff you already know then just tell me to jump in the lake

Good luck with it matey and congrats on the pregnancy!!!!