Smudgy - it sounds like you're having a tough time! I was a first time GD also (my dad has type II). My obs always said to me to remember that essentially it's a tug of war between your pancreas and your placenta. Sometimes no matter HOW well you eat, you'll end up on insulin, so don't starve yourself in the process, cos it sounds like you're going hungry which isn't good for either of you! Low BSL's because there's no food in you is not a long-term solution!
To make sure I was still eating enough for me and bubs I found this link quite useful for menu ideas and to make sure I was eating about the right amount: Gestational diabetes... Diabetes Australia - NSW there's a link half way down the page, " Healthy Eating for Gestational Diabetes Fact Sheet (PDF)".
I did end up on insulin and it wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. Also, they did tell me that I didn't have to freak out because of a few high levels in the first week or so when you're trying to get things sorted. incidentally one thing that guaranteed set my BSL's off was baked beans, even though everyone else found them good! Also, sometimes you can eat the same thing but get totally different readings - it's not your fault, it's just the hormones mucking with your insulin resistance.
Sounds like you're doing a great job, hang in there it WILL get better
Oh and re weight loss - I found I stopped gaining weight at all but didn't actually lose. My obs said he'd start being worried if I lost 5-10kg... but depending on your current weight your obs may or may not care. I'd suggest giving your DE a call if you can to talk through what's happening. And yes, what megan said is definitely true - make sure you have snacks, is really important!
Belfie - thanks for the info. Am jst nervous abt insulin. Funnily enough I'm okay with needles but prefer not to. Both my parents are Type 2 so I am quite determined not to end up like them but oh well
Oh I realized I haven't updated my BSL recordings as promised
So after the breakfast (1 thin beef sausage + 1/2 red capsicum + mushrooms + 1/2 slice white bread + 1/4c soy milk)
BSL readings = 6.4
Mid morning snack - handful of chickpeas
Lunch - noodles (85g uncooked) + bok choy + broccoli + 1 egg
BSL = 8.6!!
Snack - 50g strawberry yoghurt + handful of chickpeas
Lunch - Black pepper beef salad + 1/2 kiwi fruit
BSL = 4.6
Snack - 1/4 apple + chicken + tomatoes + cabbage stew
Dinner - Beef + calamari + veggies + 30g noodles + tom yum soup
BSL = 4.7
Before bed snack - 1 square of chocolate
Okay so now I'm wondering if my readings at 4++ is too low? What point does BSL become too low (hypoglycemic)? Some say <4, others say <3.5. Do you think it's too low? I'm beginning to get the hang of it and realized Thai food actually keeps my BSL low. Maybe it's the lime/lemon in their dishes? I dunno. But somehow my numbers certainly drop or level out after Thai food
Today's my last day before checking in with the Diabetic Educator. Hopefully we won't get anymore bad news It's been such bad few weeks for us, it feels like we've been showered with bad news the past few weeks already
Do you think she'll put me on insulin with such reading? Yesterday I didn't feel hungry and actually went up and down the stairs 3 times at 2 intervals an hour or so after meal. Probably that's what made my levels drop.
Well my sugars are all over the place, fasting and after i eat have been high, so i have started on insulin twice a day. Just gave myself my first injection, i was all worked up but i didnt even feel it, the finger jabs are heaps worse!!!!
I hope this brings things back under control, my OB reckons ill only make it to about 37 weeks so three weeks of this rubbish and hopefully it goes away. I def dont want this when i get older!!!
Its amazing when you really look at a label and its says low fat but crammed full of sugar, i couldnt believe it!
Hopefully the insulin will keep your levels low. I dont want diabetes when I am older either. Runs in my family though. I was amazed when I had GD and was reading labels how much sugar was in low fat stuff as well.
Smudgy, I have decided I will continue what I have been doing diet wise after the pregnancy, but hopefully with a lot more fruit! I miss all the good summer fruits but they just send my levels up. Obviously I will allow myself a regular indulgence, but I feel that after doing this for 12 weeks now,I am used to it and my bad habits have gone out the window. Hopefully I wont develop more bad ones later on!
You have been doing really well with your levels. The DE should ben happy with those. Let us know how you go.
When I had GD I planned to stick to the same diet I was on when I had GD, unfortunately that flew out the window at xmas and I have yet to get back to being strict on what I eat etc, thats why I was so nervous when I went for my follow up GTT last wk, thank god it came back clear but I really dont want to develop type 2 and if I do, I want to prolong it as long as possible. I just need to get motivated to stick to the diet again.
I now don't feel that I am missing out on much. I'll just have to watch my portion sizes don't creep up again and not have so many sweets. I have a sweet tooth but surprisingly I haven't missed it since having GD. The only thing I really miss is fruit and rice! Hoping after bub is here I can just keep it to the occassional treat. I am hoping that by breastfeeding it will keep me motivated to continue eating well.
Megan - good for you! I plan to try and stick to the diet after delivery too. Hopefully
So yesterday was the appointment with my DE.
Yep, she was happy allright with the BSL numbers. Until she saw my food dietary intake.
She said I've been starving myself and the fact that I've lost 2kgs in a week may not indicate a good sign. She told me to up my meals intake and eat 9 servings (2 serves each 3 main meals, and 1 serve at snack time) of carbs!! Don't you think that's a lot??
Now that I'm up-ing on carbs, my levels just shoots up high!
I don't know what I'm going to do now. Last night before bed I got so depressed and bursts uncontrollably into tears (3rd trimester hormones sure helps). It feels like I'm trying so so hard to get the levels down while eating properly, but it's still not working. I'm trying my best not to beat myself up over this. I know it's probably not what I eat but the way the placenta hormones work. But I can't seem to get over it After looking at my 8.1 reading last night, I feel like stuff it! I might as well get chocolate pudding and brownies for dessert (but I didn't)!
Do you think it could've been the paratha bread and noodles made my levels shoot up? Though those are the only carbs I eat for lunch/dinner. Rye bread for breakfast seems to do well with me, eh? 9 servings of carbs may be too much for me? Oh actually yesterday I only got 7 serves of carbs. Sighh..
Smudgy, I could never eat noodles, they always sent my BSL too high. I am not sure on the GI rating for them, but they were a definite no-no for me. Instead you could try having a multigrain bread with soup, or basmati rice (low GI). Also the rice paper on the wontons could cause a BSL spike, asian foods tend to use high GI rice varieties.
From your food diary it does look as though you aren't eating enough. From someone who has been in your exact same position, my advice is this: Eat the suggested amount of low GI foods and if your BSL's go too high then go on insulin. It is actually a relief to have the insulin and be able to actually eat instead of stressing and being hungry all the time.
Myson, I have a few bruises at the moment. OB commented the other day at how many I have! I had a bad run with hitting blood vessels recently and some of my injections have been quite painful for some reason.
I have been lurking around just reading the forum - i gave birth to my daughter on 21 January (i was insulin dependant gestational diabetes) and for the first few days after the birth my bsl's were all normal - however since coming home, the few times i have managed to do a check the have all been over 7.0 which when i was pregnant was my cut off. - My question is, after giving birth what is considered a "normal" bsl?? - i go for my post partum glucose test in two weeks and am really stressing about it!
Gill, I know in my aunty's case (she is a type 1 diabetic), her levels should be between 4-8. From what I understand, the cut off for gestational is 7 as they like to keep it a bit lower.
Good luck with your test. Fingers crossed it's all ok.
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Congrats!
(sorry really cant resist :P)
)
It's been such bad few weeks for us, it feels like we've been showered with bad news the past few weeks already
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