GD-Snack before bed?

chicsub

Yesterday was my first day of monitoring and it went well (after breakfast 96, after lunch 100 and after dinner 83).  However, my morning level today was 92.  They want me under 95 in the morning and my educator said some practices are even more strict and look for it to be under 90. 

Do you notice certain foods help your morning numbers or hurt them? 

I had cottage cheese and a pear as my snack before bed at 9 p.m. and took my blood at 8 a.m. this morning. 

Also, they said if I have 2 high numbers in a week I have to call my midwife.  Is this normal too? 

BestMaidle19

I would be more concerned about trends than "random" high numbers. For example, if your fasting numbers start trending up over 95 (my practice is 90 so lucky you) and staying there for 3 or 4 days then you might need to go on medication to control your fasting numbers. I worried about that a lot but it's no big deal. There's really not much you can do to control your fasting numbers. 

How much carb & protein are you supposed to have for your evening snack? 

stephcphillips

My numbers were a little higher than what they wanted, although they were just under their cut-off.  After my diagnosis I seen a different doctor in the clinic and she mentioned that I may need to cut out my last snack of the evening.  I did cut it - it helped.  But in the process I figured out that the later I eat our dinner meal at night, the higher my fasting number is in the morning...irregardless of snack or no snack.  So I dont eat dinner after 7:30.  In doing that I am able to have the last snack and it not affect my fasting number. 

 Good Luck!

utlawgirl

Definitely look for trends, not just isolated high numbers, since everyone gets those once in a while.  They can be due to a hormone surge, a meal that just didn't work for you, random things like reheated food, etc.  That's something that has been really hard for me to get through my head.  There definitely is an initial adjustment period in which you have to figure out what works for you (since it's different for everyone) and what doesn't.

On the fasting numbers, FWIW, I started off with a few in the low 90s, and was freaking out that they were going to put me on meds, but they have been really stable since that first week (generally low 80s).  Not sure if it was stress or what.  That said, there's not a lot you can do to control your fasting numbers.  I'm supposed to have 30g of carbs for my bedtime snack, and I usually go with cheese (or peanut butter) and crackers and a glass of milk.

chicsub

She said 30 grams of carbs for a snack, but have some protein with it.  So actually I probably didn't even have the full carb allowance anyways.

Even though my cutoff is 95, the fact that some other practices want it under 90 makes me want to keep it under 90 as well.  Not sure if I'm thinking about this the right way or not, but I don't want to be just squeaking by.  My fasting number earlier this week was also 92 (but 89 on my mom's meter an hour before I took the 3 hr. test).  So I feel like I kind of hover, even though that's only based on a couple readings.  Just hoping I can find my "trick", even though I know fasting numbers are the hardest to control. 

It was hard b/c I had to unexpectedly take my 2 year-old to my meeting with the educator yesterday, which meant I didn't have my bag of distractions for him and couldn't focus as much as I would have liked.  It was so frustrating and a few tears were shed when I realized that I had to bring him along to such an important appointment. 

hispenguin

Like pp mentioned don't be concerned with one high number, just with a string of high numbers in a row.

FWIW- I could not do anything to lower my fasting numbers. I can regulate my daytime numbers with diet. After an entire week of high fasting numbers I was put on Insulin.

mssaint

In the first week of monitoring, my fasting numbers were over 90 most days, and I am starting meds tonight. My post-prandial numbers are fine, though. The doctor said the fasting numbers are the hardest to control.

kiley&matt

I would definitely play around with your bedtime snack.  My nutritionist told me to have a 15 carb snack before bed (even though we eat dinner at around 7:00 and go to bed around 9:30 or 10), but I found that my fasting numbers were higher on mornings after I had the snack, so I stopped having it, and that seemed to help.  The only time I have one now is if there is going to be more than 12 hours between dinner and breakfast.  After I started doing this, my fasting numbers have all been in the high 70's, low 80's.  My OB wants them under 90, too, and the whole first week, they were above 90.  This is my 9th week on the GD diet, and except for an occasional 90 or 91, they've all been within range. 

About calling your midwife, your rules may be different, but I was told I only have to call if I have two numbers over 200 in a week, which has never happened. Is this just for your fasting numbers or does it include all of them?

chicsub

Kiley, it's for all my numbers.  So if my fasting is higher than 95 and others higher than 120. 

I can't wait until this all becomes somewhat second nature b/c it is mentally taxing right now.  I'm an overanalyzer in the first place, so oy!    Plus I'm really hoping for a VBAC, so I feel like I'm putting extra pressure on myself, you know?

kiley&matt

Wow - that doesn't really give you a lot of room for error, does it?

I know how you feel about GD being mentally taxing - especially the first few weeks until it becomes more of a habit.  I still get really frustrated with it, especially if something that worked for me before suddenly isn't working anymore.  Not good.  I found that doing about 15 minutes of exercise after every meal has really helped a lot, too.  It's a pain, and most of the time I don't feel like it, but it's made a huge difference in my numbers and I know it's the whole reason I haven't had to go on insulin.  Hang in there, and remember that a vaginal birth is still possible and very likely will still happen.  For now, just concentrate on keeping your numbers under control - it's the only thing that you can do anything about right now, anyway.  Good luck

paulaDPT

my numbers have to be below 90 for fasting, below 130 1hr after meals.  My evening snack appears to be key to what my fasting is in the morning, and if I have cheese and these whole grain crackers at 10pm, it's been pretty consistent.  My first week of monitoring, my fastings were high but after meals were ok.  Once I got a handle on the evenning snack piece, my numbers have been ok with the occasional whoops.  I have to report my numbers to my OB 1x/week and see her every other week at this point.