GD and Emotionally Sensitive

orriskitten

So, another bad experience and in need of some reassurance.

I know many ladies here with GD had it with previous pregnancies, but this is my first and it scares the crap out of me. I got diagnosed VERY early under questionable circumstances (had a severe infection, stressed as hell, was not prepared for a GTT and ate bad the entire weekend before, etc.) at 14 weeks. Had a high fasting number for a blood test (this one with a bad cold and a week of taking Robitussin in my system, plus the stress of a new doctor, new lab, etc.) which was 190, followed by a horrible experience with a peri who was aggressive, rude and disrespectful.

Luckily, I refused treatment from him, my daytime numbers are completely normal and my morning number is a bit high- my highest has been 118 fasting- or normal. 

I am going to a nutritionist who is ultra vegetarian, but allows me to have chicken and fish, and very alternative. My first meeting with him went great, but today was horrible. I got yelled at for trying different snacks at night (none of his suggested snacks work, only thing working so far is ice cream, which when I told him, he acted like it might as well have been pure poison), and for not losing enough weight so OBVIOUSLY I must not have been following his diet.

He basically told me I need to not be stressed about GD and being pregnant. That he sees women with GD all the time and its not that big of a deal. Sorry, but for me, this is a huge deal. I used to be a complete needlephobe and am testing 4x a day which is going fine, but with slightly high numbers in the morning, I am petrified and have no one to turn to.

Were you scared the first time you had GD? Did it stress you?  How do you not stress about this? I don't want to feel like I am insane for being worried and scared and emotional. Please tell me I am not the only one. I have 21 more weeks of dealing with this

DBride2006

When I was diagnosed with DS, I cried. When I was put on insulin, I cried again. I felt like my body was letting me down. This time around, I was prepared for it and survived it once (with a very healthy baby to show for it), so I'm much more at ease. 

The good thing about GD is that it is usually very manageable and when managed poses very little risk.

First, I think it would be VERY difficult to be working with a vegetarian dietician on a GD diet (unless you are vegetarian). I really like my dietician and that makes a huge difference, in my opinion. Is there someone else you can try? Your dietician should be on your team. 

My fasting numbers are supposed to be under 90. They hover between 89 and 103. My dietician said to call her if I have several readings over 110 and we'll start insulin, but for now she's ok with my range. She encouraged me to have a balanced snack at night, but I've found my numbers were best for me (89-90) with NO snack, so I'm playing around with that, which she is open to.

My one-hour post meal numbers are supposed to be under 130 and they have been between 88-115 for the most part. I think I had ONE 120 or so. So I'm not worried at all about those. 

And for the record... last week I had a stomach bug, didn't eat for basically a whole day, and the rest of the week stuck to my GD diet with NO high numbers and was the same weight from the week before. You are pregnant and weight gain is normal, even on a restricted diet.  

Yes, there is some stress with this. You have to be disciplined and organized and plan ahead (no bowl of cereal for dinner when you're too lazy to cook!). But I think if you find the right program/dietician it will make you much more comfortable with the whole thing.  

Cleo29

This is my first time having GD and it is tough.  I have been eating more proteins, cutting out sodas and juice and what is important for me, portion control.  how much ice cream are you eating?  and why? (just curious)

for sweets, I have found some good sugar-free cookies by Murray, so when I want something sweet.  I have also found eating nuts before bed seem to do well for me.  

orriskitten

I've been having a pretty easy time of it on the diet. Lots of veggies and salads and if I crave bread, I can have sprouted (no flour) bread. My day time numbers are spot on and getting even more stable every day.

Last weekend my family threw a birthday party for me and got an ice cream cake (way to go step mom who has a diabetic son and husband, getting your GD stepdaughter an ice cream cake...) I had a slice right after my second meal of the day and got a reading of 87 in my 2 hour post meal test.

I keep reading that a snack before bed can help with the morning numbers, so I decided to try 1/2 cup of ice cream (the serving size on the box, 18g of carbs) to see how it goes, based on my 2 hour number having it during the day. I wake up with numbers in the 80s, which is perfect according to my goals.

I've tried 3 nights (1 as a one off, then 2 nights in a row) and it has been the ONLY thing that has gotten my numbers below 90. I've tried a veggie snack, fruit (an orange, 2 oranges, apples, honey dew), I've tried peanut butter on bread/apples, I've tried hummus with red peppers, I've tried small amounts of dark chocolate with unsalted nuts, just mixed nuts. None of it works. The nutritionist suggested bread with peanut butter and the times I've done that I've been 110-118. I find the diet works during the day, just that morning number keeps me from hitting all of my goals.

I'm going to see a new peri on Dec 7th when I go for my 20 week a/s, and I am going to ask to meet with their dietician. Like pp said, I need someone on my team, not someone who is going to put me down because I don't fit into the cookie cutter mold of the diet he made. Its just been so frustrating meeting doctors who I cannot trust as allies and is starting to get really old.

orriskitten

DBride2006:

Yes, there is some stress with this. You have to be disciplined and organized and plan ahead (no bowl of cereal for dinner when you're too lazy to cook!). But I think if you find the right program/dietician it will make you much more comfortable with the whole thing.  

The most frustrating thing has been that I hadn't cheated until a small half slice of birthday cake at my party, which was when I decided to experiment. I've been really good at being disciplined and keeping to the diet that this guy gave me. When I'm lazy, I order plain steamed chicken and plain steamed broccoli from an Asian place by my house or have DH cook for me.

I think it needs to be the change in dietician to help my state of mind as well. I need someone who can tell me I am doing the right thing and make me believe it, not someone who will just suggest I try something to see how it goes.

I truly appreciate the advice and hearing that it can be tough.