Gestational Diabetes General Chatter #5

[Artechim]

Leigh, good luck for tomorrow. I sure it will be gone, I try to look at the GD disaster as a glimpse into a possible future - one that I need to do my best to avoid!!!

[Leigh26]

Thanks Artechim. I need to look at it as a wake up call too, but I haven't really been eating the best lately (with xmas and everything), think thats why I am nervous it wont have gone away.

[belfie]

Good luck for tomorrow Leigh - I'm crossing my fingers for you that it will be fine.

I also haven't done my either (no-one has referred me lol!), but I have tested my BSL's a few time and they were fine! Given they diagnosed me off BSL's and not the actual GTT, I figure good BSL's are a pretty fair indicator!

[Leigh26]

Belfie - I've checked a few of my bsl's at home too and theyve been fine. The only reason I am going is that my diabetes educator has organised a meeting on the 25th Feb with the girls from my diabetes group to catch up and I know she'll crack up if I go to the meeting and say that I haven't done the test yet. I keep thinking I could put if off a bit longer but I think the longer I leave it the more nervous I will be. I'll let you all know how I get on. Wonder when I'll get the results back.

[Leigh26]

Hi Girls,

Well I was brave and went for my follow up GTT. My GP will have the results tomorrow so I will either ring up tomorrow or Saturday for the results - thats if I am game enough to ring haha.

Hope everyone is doing well and GD isnt getting you down!!!
I'll let you know once I get the results

[myson]

so im into day 2 with usung insulin. but i have just have protaphane for 2 nights not using it with insulin with meaols yet. and my bsl's have gone ballistic!!!!

befroe insulin my first reading was around 6.5 and staying between there and 8.5 for the rest of the day... but now with the long acting night dose my levels are 10 to 12 first off and then swinging from 3.9 -13 throughout the day.

i rang the clinic and they said give it a few more days to settle down. Did this happen to anyone else when starting out on the insulin?

also, had a growth scan yesterday and measurements put me around 2.5 weeks ahead of where i am already. dont completely trust scans for this info as they have been wrong for me before ( not too sure about the operator too...???) but while i am not freaking yet, my concern level had risen a couple of notches this week.

[V21]

Myson, as I said in the other post my bubs is measuring 2 weeks ahead as well..... But ultrasounds can be up to 500g out, therefore if it is out by that much it would put me back into the normal ranges for bubs gestational age...... if that makes any sense at all!!!

Leigh, I'm sure all will be fine...... Especially if your BSL's have been good post pregnancy....

[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, 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?

[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

[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!!!!

[smudgy]

myson - wholemeal or rye. got it. thanks!

So after that 7.7 horror reading before breakfast, I had - 1 thin sausage + 1/4c baked beans + a mouthful of mixed veggies.
BSL after 2 hours = 6.2

Then for lunch with much disappointment, depressed and feeling so low, I had only 2 pieces of KFC chicken.
BSL after 2 hours = 4.9 but oh-so-hungry

Immediately snacked on 1/4 apple + 50g yoghurt + stole 2 chips from hubby's KFC dinner
Then for dinner its beansprouts + mushrooms + capsicum + onions + garlic + ginger stir-fry + 1/4 soy milk
BSL after 2 hours = 6.1 but still rather hungry

Before bed munched on a handul of chickpeas + 3/4 of a carrot
BSL the nxt day (today) before breakfast = 5.2 first time reached the targeted mark of <5.5 after fasting level! yippee!

So I had breakfast of 1 thin sausage + 1/2 slice white bread + 1/2 capsicum + mushrooms + 1/4c of soy milk.
BSL to be announced in 2 hours time

I think yesterday's reading went okay except for the high before breakfast. But I do feel a bit hungry. Like before bed last night I was a bit hungry so I went to sleep instead of raiding the kitchen. And oh I've lost almost 2kgs since my diagnose. That's less than a week ago! Surely it's not healthy, eh? I dunno. Should I be worried?