@mcclanna That's totally normal! I took my awhile to adjust to the lancets. I'm not a big fan of spilling my own blood so it was definitely an adjustment. I've also found that the sides of my fingers are easier to get blood on a lower setting and to rotate fingers and hands. It's really overwhelming and a lot to adjust to but we are here for you!
Got my test results and I passed! I'm still doing reduced sugar as per my midwife's advice because my 1hour score was pretty different from my last pregnancy but I am hugely relieved. All the what-if scenarios of potentially relapsing with my ED were terrifying me.
My morning fasting numbers started to spike last week (over 100) even though all of the post meal numbers are good. My dietician recommended 10 minutes of movement after a meal. So I take a garden walk in our yard, do yoga, or some calisthenics. I've been doing it for about 5 days and today was the first time I got the fasting number under 90. I tried to do a cheese snack before bed but it makes me want to ralph - that's my next try if this exercise doesn't work.
@mcclanna Your fasting numbers are the hardest to control with diet and exercise alone!! With my son my fasting numbers were the only ones ever out of target and it didn't matter what I ate for snack before bed (although I've heard other people try different snacks that have worked for them). My Dr put me on metformin, and I had to keep increasing the amount as the weeks went by, so that I almost had to go on insulin.
If you're able to find a snack or exercise that works, that's awesome! But sometimes your body needs a bit of help, and that's okay too!!
Thanks ladies. It’s my first week tracking so I’m playing around with it and just switched to a dietitian that I’m more comfortable with. I had half a Norwegian crisp and one tablespoon of PB last night and my fasting number this morning was 127 which is WILD 🤯
Not based on science but I read that two tablespoons of ACV and 1oz of cheese may work so I’m going to keep testing out these weird theories. And also movement post dinner and sometimes skipping the snack if I’m not hungry at all or ate dinner late.
Seriously sending massive hugs to anyone on here battling GD. I am exhausted and stressed and so sad, so I hope you’re all hanging in there.
My typical snack before bed includes a slice of 15 grain toast with PB and an 8oz glass of milk. You really want to find exactly the right balance for you. Either skip the snack or try a cup of cottage cheese and almonds. I've heard good things about the Mediterranean diet helping manage sugars. It's really stressful to learn how to handle it. There is a lot of trial and error. Give yourself some time. Of the rest of your sugars are good then give yourself some grace while you figure out your triggers.
So I’m 25 weeks and failed the first glucose test. I went back yesterday for the 3 hour fasting tolerance test. I’m afraid I might’ve have failed it. I got super sick and felt like garbage all day long. I should had this is my 3rd pregnancy and I did not have GD with my other two. Anyone else with similar stories? I’m a little worried as I’ve never had it before and I know it’s about diet control and exercise, but being a full time working mom, with two under 4 makes it’s a little bit more difficult because our life is always on the go!
@haynesbri you can always spend a couple hours a week meal prepping so you have food on the go. It's tricky to get started but once you get the hang of it then it's pretty manageable. Cheese, eggs, and almonds are your friend.
I wish I could say it’s been easy but agree with above, I’m on week 2 and starting to get the hang of what foods make my numbers climb higher than others. I unfortunately am one of the select few who can’t get their fasting # down so I will be injecting insulin overnight.
It has been a struggle both mentally and emotionally in the beginning but I’m now at such a low point from GD all consuming my every waking thought and action that I’m willing to accept the help of medicine for peace of mind. If you ever need assistance, have questions, or just want to vent you can feel free to message me!
I did my glucose test today. I'm a little scared at how the number is going to be after that mess. I stopped for a veggie sub on the way home because I felt awful after.
Surprisingly skated by with a pass but I truthfully think it was a fluke. I will ask to be retested after the Covid hits. I was also anemic and my hematocrit was low. This is not normal for me.
@krysnicole1022 my hematocrit was low too, but the nurse didn’t mention anything about that. Just the RBC. Has your office reached out to you yet about anything they want you to do differently?
@bows22 no- the results came in late Friday night. I'm guessing the doctor won't see them until Monday. I also messaged them about having Covid (because I found out so late on Friday as well). My husband wanted to rush me to get any treatment they would give me because of the baby. I've literally never been anemic in my life. I've been a vegetarian for over 30 years and my iron levels have always been exactly the same even when I was fainting from blood loss. This pregnancy is blowing my mind.
Hi all, I’m jumping on this thread because I just got my results back for my 3-hour test. I am attempting to interpret before seeing my doctor this Thursday. Fasting number was normal, but the 1-hour and 2-hour were over and flagged as high, but the 3-hour bloodwork was normal. Any insight?
I am under the impression I have GD based on the two being high. I am extremely overwhelmed at almost 30 weeks and I eat pretty normal. The only thing differently I’m doing this pregnancy is having morning smoothies which may have contributed to where I am right now.
I’m anxious about the next 10 weeks and the baby. I do not mean to sound selfish but I already have a lot going on and this is just an extra layer on the cake.
Every doctor has a different threshold. For mine you had to pass 3/4 to not have GD. If two numbers were high then you get diagnosed. It's important to remember that you didn't do anything. It's not on you...your body just needs a little extra help while pregnant. For what it's worth I'm five foot five and usually hit around a size 2 to maybe a 4. I'm incredibly active. I workout every day. I'm a vegetarian and eat pretty healthy normally but definitely while pregnant. I had literally zero risk factors with my first GD diagnosis. My mom and sister are both on the curvier side and they had zero issues. Just little old me with my healthy vegetarian diet and active lifestyle. It's okay to be anxious and overwhelmed. It's a lot to process but the diet is pretty straight forward, easier if you eat meat. Smoothies are definitely a no. Fruit can be very tricky. It's really just a basic balance of whole grains, carbs, and protein. The next ten weeks will fly by and the most important part is getting a healthy baby at the end. I know a lot of women who had preemie GD babies because they didn't take the diet seriously but all those that did went to term and had healthy babies. It's incredibly overwhelming but it's 100% manageable. You can do this.
I didn't have GD with my first but with my second and third. I technically passed with baby 4 but after speaking with MFM at the ER they basically said it was borderline and given my history they would just diagnose me with GD and start the ultrasounds and blood sugar management. I fully support this because I've been expecting it the whole time. I never trusted the narrow "pass" because I knew it was just a matter of time before it kicked in. I can manage it just fine at home but I want the extra ultrasounds.
Thank you so much for messaging back, I appreciate the encouragement! I did call today to confirm and I do have GD. I go tomorrow for my routine checkup. They said they would discuss more information and I will get the device from my pharmacy. From there, I need to schedule an appointment at one of the hospitals near me (not the one I’m delivering at of course) and they will show me how to use it.
It seems overwhelming but I promise it's really very simple. Once you get used to pricking your own finger it's a breeze. Your fingers will get numb to it. If possible ask them for a device/strips that allows you to add extra blood because that's really handy. I'll try and post easy recipes.
@jn18010 feel free to message me separately, I got diagnosed at week 26 (I’m week 32 now) and I don’t recommend getting the device and strips via insurance as it’s very costly and inhibiting on refills. Amazon has a glucometer for $32 with the same amount of strips and needles. I do agree pricking becomes second nature but I won’t say it’s easy. GD is a constantly moving target as your hormones keep changing so it took me 4 weeks to figure out how my body processed sugar and it was a lonely and stressful time so I’m happy to help you through it and definitely feel free to vent! It helps and I highly encourage it!
In the end I was unable to manage my fasting number via diet (although I hear this is not the norm so I hope your case is different!) and am currently on the lowest dosage of metformin which is not working. I’m either going to have to increase my dosage or go on insulin, which I’ve been dreading and avoiding.
Like I said - any questions, please shout! There aren’t too many GD cases in this month’s thread so I’m happy to help.
See my device the last couple times was completely covered and it's a great one. I think it really just depends on your insurance. We have new insurance this time so I'm wondering how it will work out. I have maybe three lying around. I really just want the strips and needles.
GD is like trying to hit a moving target but I found that increasing protein helps a lot with me. Mine is just kicking in at 29.5 weeks and I don't think it's a coincidence that only doing yoga instead of cardio has led to an imbalance. It can be very overwhelming. Eggs and cheese are basically your best friend.
I'm concerned about your other posting about the GD diet making you feel weak. Have you gotten ketones strips to make sure you're getting enough carbs? @mcclanna They gave me insulin in the ER and it was weird.
The contour next brand is what I have. The strips that go with it allow you to add more blood which is really helpful. The lancets are also the most gentle I've used. The ones they used in the hospital (accucheck) hurt. I was not a fan.
@krysnicole1022 I’ve had to severely inhibit my diet by eliminating carbs such as whole wheat bread and low carb tortillas because they made me feel so faint and spiked my numbers so as a result I’m barely eating carbs. The only carbs I do have are fruit, and that again spikes my numbers like crazy. I’m very petite so the recommended carb dosage per meal is way too high for me, I can barely eat 20g of carbs in a sitting, definitely never 30-45g. I just can’t wait for this to be over 😫
That's really crazy!!! No wonder you feel awful. That's not enough food. I also struggle with wanting to eat the carbs. I usually supplement with milk to avoid eating extra carbs but still get some protein. Are you able to find ways to get enough protein into your diet? Fruit is a no go for me. I can eat cantaloupe and watermelon but berries and bananas are not an option for me. I love strawberries so it really sucks. I'm a smallish person (5'5" usually a size 2 not pregnant) and it's definitely an adventure. I recommend the ketone strips. Your body is probably in ketosis at this point. Ketone Test Strips - 150 Quick & Easy Keto Strips Urine Test Strips with eBook - Check Ketosis Levels with Urinalysis Test Strips - Keto Test Strips for Ketogenic, Paleo & Low Carb Diets - JNW Direct https://a.co/drCtnQr
It's no wonder they are recommending insulin. That's scary. I hope you find some relief soon! I like the pea protein tortillas for breakfast burritos or fajitas. The low carb tortillas don't always work for me either. It sounds like it's just really being as difficult as possible.
So ladies here’s a fun update and a reminder to always listen to your body if something seems off! I had been having a strong suspicion that my glucometer was completely wrong (I would get swings of 40 pts within the same minute when I’d test twice) so I bit the bullet and bought a second on Amazon. Check out the pictures - lower number is the new glucometer. I’ve been starving myself essentially to meet a completely incorrect number!!!
I had a 32 week scan at my MFM office today and the baby is 3 lbs 12 oz in the 21st percentile which was deemed normal for someone 4’11”. I tried to explain to the doctor on call about my glucometer issue and was completely brushed off. I’m going to toss the one insurance sent me and use the Amazon one going forward.
So for those of you that feel something is wrong - it probably is!! Listen to your gut.
That's a HUGE swing! 😳😳😳 I absolutely agree with using multiple to double check. Does this include your fasting number? Because that one was a huge issue for you.I really hope you can eat now and have some energy back!
@krysnicole1022 it was 117 vs 105 this morning so still high but not like fall off your rocker and panic. I am still going to continue on the 1000mg of metformin and hope the number comes down in a few days once the larger dosage kicks but I just had my first whole wheat bread with butter slice and I’m just so much happier knowing I can see proper results AND not have to worry about strips running out because they’re $30 for 200 on Amazon! BIG sigh of relief.
Hi ladies! I just picked up my machine and strips from the pharmacy. Luckily with insurance it only cost $53 (I think 200 strips total).
I’m meeting with a nutritionist on Monday and she is going to show me how to use it. I’m assuming she will also discuss diet changes as well.
I have cut out my morning smoothies and white carbs. I feel like I’m being so conscious of what I’m eating right now that I did not eat as much as I should have today which made me feel funky and tired.
Yes! White carbs are evil. It's impossible to process. If you want I can post some of my GD foods/recipes as I start making them? With three kids and being so pregnant I like things to be as easy as possible so my meals are simple but delicious.
Whole wheat or double protein English muffins are great to eat with eggs for breakfast. You can also eat one piece of whole grain toast. I like the pepperidge farm 15 grain bread myself. I eat eggs every morning because it's just the best way to start the day when you want to keep your sugar from peaking early and remaining stable.
Dave’s Killer Bread the multigrain thin slice is delicious and carb friendly. With some butter, super yum! I also start my day with an egg and cheese omelette. I have 2 servings of fruit during the day, one is a berry and one is a peach or plum and I’m able to process that - but everyone is different so try various things that fit your “budget”. I snack on cheese sticks, beef sticks, trail mix, carrots with a dip, crackers with cream cheese & tomato, avocado toast is great and is a good balance of carb to fat ratio.
I’ve found some lower carb cereals at Whole Foods but they taste funky to me because of the Stevia but I’m very sensitive to fake sugar tastes. There are also some yogurt ice cream bars like Yasso or protein ice cream like Halo which make a yummy dessert if you’re craving sweets. Whole Foods Hu chocolate bars can also fit into your diet.
Again, the above is what works for me - you’ll have to test out your sugar limits to see what your body approves of or doesn’t. You can do this!!!
I just eat a serving size of regular breyer's chocolate. I can't process any of the carb friendly ice creams at all. My dietician highly recommended against them. It's all about figuring out what works for you. I'm a vegetarian so my diet is way different from a meat eaters. I have no idea the carb content of chicken vs fake chicken.
Re: Gestational Diabetes Thread!
If you're able to find a snack or exercise that works, that's awesome! But sometimes your body needs a bit of help, and that's okay too!!
Not based on science but I read that two tablespoons of ACV and 1oz of cheese may work so I’m going to keep testing out these weird theories. And also movement post dinner and sometimes skipping the snack if I’m not hungry at all or ate dinner late.
Either skip the snack or try a cup of cottage cheese and almonds.
I've heard good things about the Mediterranean diet helping manage sugars.
It's really stressful to learn how to handle it. There is a lot of trial and error. Give yourself some time. Of the rest of your sugars are good then give yourself some grace while you figure out your triggers.
This helps make sure you are getting enough carbs.
Cheese, eggs, and almonds are your friend.
This pregnancy is blowing my mind.
It's important to remember that you didn't do anything. It's not on you...your body just needs a little extra help while pregnant. For what it's worth I'm five foot five and usually hit around a size 2 to maybe a 4. I'm incredibly active. I workout every day. I'm a vegetarian and eat pretty healthy normally but definitely while pregnant. I had literally zero risk factors with my first GD diagnosis. My mom and sister are both on the curvier side and they had zero issues. Just little old me with my healthy vegetarian diet and active lifestyle.
It's okay to be anxious and overwhelmed. It's a lot to process but the diet is pretty straight forward, easier if you eat meat. Smoothies are definitely a no. Fruit can be very tricky. It's really just a basic balance of whole grains, carbs, and protein. The next ten weeks will fly by and the most important part is getting a healthy baby at the end. I know a lot of women who had preemie GD babies because they didn't take the diet seriously but all those that did went to term and had healthy babies. It's incredibly overwhelming but it's 100% manageable. You can do this.
that allows you to add extra blood because that's really handy. I'll try and post easy recipes.
In the end I was unable to manage my fasting number via diet (although I hear this is not the norm so I hope your case is different!) and am currently on the lowest dosage of metformin which is not working. I’m either going to have to increase my dosage or go on insulin, which I’ve been dreading and avoiding.
GD is like trying to hit a moving target but I found that increasing protein helps a lot with me. Mine is just kicking in at 29.5 weeks and I don't think it's a coincidence that only doing yoga instead of cardio has led to an imbalance. It can be very overwhelming. Eggs and cheese are basically your best friend.
I'm concerned about your other posting about the GD diet making you feel weak. Have you gotten ketones strips to make sure you're getting enough carbs? @mcclanna
They gave me insulin in the ER and it was weird.
Fruit is a no go for me. I can eat cantaloupe and watermelon but berries and bananas are not an option for me. I love strawberries so it really sucks. I'm a smallish person (5'5" usually a size 2 not pregnant) and it's definitely an adventure.
I recommend the ketone strips. Your body is probably in ketosis at this point.
Ketone Test Strips - 150 Quick & Easy Keto Strips Urine Test Strips with eBook - Check Ketosis Levels with Urinalysis Test Strips - Keto Test Strips for Ketogenic, Paleo & Low Carb Diets - JNW Direct https://a.co/drCtnQr
I like the pea protein tortillas for breakfast burritos or fajitas. The low carb tortillas don't always work for me either. It sounds like it's just really being as difficult as possible.
I had a 32 week scan at my MFM office today and the baby is 3 lbs 12 oz in the 21st percentile which was deemed normal for someone 4’11”. I tried to explain to the doctor on call about my glucometer issue and was completely brushed off. I’m going to toss the one insurance sent me and use the Amazon one going forward.
I have cut out my morning smoothies and white carbs. I feel like I’m being so conscious of what I’m eating right now that I did not eat as much as I should have today which made me feel funky and tired.
It's all about figuring out what works for you. I'm a vegetarian so my diet is way different from a meat eaters. I have no idea the carb content of chicken vs fake chicken.