So confused about my GD diet!

densquared

I am finding that there are some meals that are just weird for me. A chicken Caesar salad with the dressing on the side and a breadstick gave me a 97 2 hrs after last week. Today, same meal, same time, same breakfast and same morning snack, I got a 140. I am having the same experience with a few other things as well (English muffin with peanut butter and small glass of milk, for one). I was told last week that if I can't figure this out I will be put on insulin. At this point, that looks inevitable, but what the heck is going on with me?

5dogs

Your hormones change as pregnancy goes on so you may see an increase in numbers from meals that previously were fine. There's also a chance it was a bad reading (is your meter calibrated?). If I get something that's "off" I usually re-wash my hands, dry with a paper towel, and try again.

I also always use the second drop (poke, wipe first drop away, produce a second drop, test with that) since it seems to be less of a chance of contamination.

densquared

Thanks for the input. I'm really hoping to figure this out somehow.

tig594

Speaking as a type 1 diabetic I have some thoughts for you.  First, one of the first things I learned from the hospital staff and my diabetic counselor after being diagnosed 2 years ago is you should not retest.  Meters have a pretty wide margin for "error."  You can retest 10 times and get a wide variety of numbers that are some what close in range (if that makes sense).  Always go with the first poke.  With that, testing supplies aren't cheap unless you have really really good insurance.  Retesting will just drive you nuts.

Second, you can eat the exact same thing every day all week long and still have inconsistant numbers.  Trust me, it's nothing weird at all.  Your body is doing whatever it's doing and sometimes there isn't much you can do about it.  It sucks and it's frustrating but it is what it is. 

Things like pasta and bread are slower to digest and will kick out sugars far longer than the 2 hour window for testing.  You can eat a bowl of pasta and test in 2 hours and seem fine.  But it is still breaking down in your body and 4 hours later you can get a reading that is sky high. 

 

vintageutopia

densquared:

I was told last week that if I can't figure this out I will be put on insulin.

 I hope your dietician is offering suggestions or reasons why your blood sugar is fluctuating. It really isn't something can always figure out on your own.

 Anyhow, the farther along in your pregnancy you go, the increase in pregnancy hormones will most likely increase your need for insulin or even an increase in insulin once you are started. If you are eating from your dieticians recommendation, it really isn't something you can control...just manage.

 And yes, if you receive a wacky reading, try again. Lotion will always skew my readings. Plus, always use the second drop of blood, as the first drop contains tissue fluid and isn't a true "sample".

densquared

Thank you all so much for your ideas! I meet with my counselor on Tuesday (I have a feeling I'll be put on insulin tomorrow). I have a list of questions for her. Now, if I could just get myself to stop being so terrified and guilty and pi$$ed about the whole thing, life would be good.