GD - About to lose my mind

ErinDarryl · February 2011

I was diagnosed with GD about 7 weeks ago and, up until last week, I was controlling it with diet and moderate exercise. The only numbers I've ever had a consistent problem with are my after breakfast one's. Well at my diabetes clinic appointment last week, the dr decided to put me on insulin. I felt like a failure for getting to this point, but I got over it and have been doing what they told me. My problem is that my after breakfast numbers have been increasing since taking the insulin. I am calling the clinic later today to ask them, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I'm eating the same foods, if not better than before and increasing my insulin every day like they said, but my numbers are steadily going up. I'm getting really frustrated at this point. Am I missing something? TIA

jerol · February 2011

I'm sorry- I don't have any advice. Not sure why they would be going up?!?! But I did just want to say you are NOT a failure and its nothing you did. Hang in there!!

How many carbs are you eating for breakfast? What kind?

ErinDarryl · February 2011

I was told to eat 45 grams at each meal and 15-20 for my snacks. I only eat whole wheat bread - 2 slices are 34 grams. Milk sometimes and other times I'll have a small amount of light jam - 1tbs 5 grams. I've been eating eggs, bacon and toast with milk and coffee most days, but yesterday I was high so today i thought I'd mix it up. I had toast with peanut butter and light jam with coffee. in my coffee I have light cream - 1 gram carbs per tbs. Today it was even higher!

The bacon eggs and toast is my normal safe meal...... I guess it's not anymore!

Now what????? There are only so many things that I can think of to eat and still get in enough carbs.

I have a call in to the diabetes clinic, just waiting for a call back....

susangilchrist · February 2011

I was told to have 45 grams (3 servings) for lunch and dinner, but only 30 (2) for breakfast. I also know that lots of moms can't have milk for breakfast because it makes their glucose spike. Maybe bacon, eggs, and one slice of bread? Coffee is usually fine for me too. Good luck!

ErinDarryl · February 2011

I tried the one slice of bread a while ago, but the dr told me that isn't enough carbs for morning. She is very adamant I have 45 grams, even for breakfast. The only thing I can think of instead of milk is some fruit or yogurt or something. We'll try that tomorrow maybe.

jess1984 · February 2011

I was told not to have milk or fruit in the morning, becuase those things would spike my sugars - just in my case though.

I usually have 2 fiber waffles (eggo brand) with omega 3 butter and 2 tbsp no sugar added syrup (3 tbps = 7 carbs) which = 30 g of carbs which my dr is fine with.

Sometimes things go funky, are you stressed out? And are you on over night insulin? I have to make sure that I have 10 hours between insulins shots so that they work properly.

ErinDarryl · February 2011

Just one shot of humalog right before I eat breakfast. I've been steadily increasing it every day just like they said, but my numbers seem to be going up right along with it. Lol i may ask if they gave me sugar shots instead. Maybe i'm part of some weird experiment.....

jess1984 · February 2011

Strange. I know that it takes between 5 -15 minutes to start working. Maybe you could wait 5 minutes before starting to eat... that way it would start working quicker. Not sure if that would work.

how are your overnight numbers going? I find if mine are bad that even with insulin my morning numbers will be bad.

Good luck, I'm sure the dr office will help you out today.

jerol · February 2011

I'm only allowed 15-20g at breakfast. I would guess that might be why. And I cannot do fruit until lunch. Milk goes well for me in the morning. You might want to try almond milk in the a.m. Less carbs. I would talk to her again about the 45g- that is way too much in the morning from my experience (GD twice).

starskristen79 · February 2011

One of my salvations during this pregnancy has been the bread I found at Sams. it is whole multi grain, "45 calories and delightful" by Sara Lee. 18 carbs (13 if you drop the fiber) for TWO slices. And it is really good. I am telling you. Sanwiches, toast, this bread has saved me!!!

memali26 · February 2011

When I had GD with my first I was only allowed 15 grams of carbs for breakfast. I'm surprised your being told you can't have less than 45. As far as your numbers going up, it could be your not on a high enough dose of insulin to be making a difference yet. Also, I was told the closer you get to the end the harder it is to control your numbers. GL!

qiana&alonzo · February 2011

i had the same experience, except with my fasting numbers ,and I was told by my endocrinologist that sometimes you are more insulin resistant than they thought ,so they have to play with the insulin dosage until your numbers come down, and the further along in your pregnancy the more insulin resistant you get

srhartline · February 2011

I have not had any experience with insulin shots but I have had GD twice. I met with a dietian both times and each time they said only 30 grams of carbs in the morning. The first D was in NJ the second was in NC and they were 19 years between visits.

I would ask why she would want you to eat 45 grams in the morning, I can have 45 for lunch and dinner and only 15 for a snack between meals.

An example of my breakfast is: plain oatmeal with cinnamon and sm banana with my 1 cup of coffee

or

I just found thomas' bagel thins (24 carbs) with coffee

kiley&matt · February 2011

Wow, I'm so sorry you're going through this! I wish I had a solid answer for you, but here are a few things that stuck out to me when reading your post. Remember, everybody's different, but this is what I've found from my experience:

First of all, the ONLY bread my body will tolerate is the Healthy Life brand. It's 6 net grams of carbs per slice, so I can eat two for about 12 grams of carbs. It's super high in fiber and that helps a lot. You can buy it at pretty much any grocery store. I've even seen it at Walmart.

Second, I can only eat about 30 grams of carbs for breakfast or less, otherwise my blood sugar goes crazy. Usually, I eat 15 or less to keep it in the low 100's 1 hour after my meal. I eat two pieces of Healthy Life toast with cheese and two fried eggs. That seems to be the perfect breakfast for me. Sometimes I'll have a cup of coffee or a glass of milk, but generally, I just drink water with breakfast.

Jam is a BAD idea for first thing in the morning. I know some brands are low in carbs or even sugar free, but most people cannot tolerate any type of sweets or fruit first thing in the morning. I've been off fruit and sweets for months, and while it's hard, it's really helped my numbers. Sometimes it's not about how many carbs you're eating, but how your body is reacting to that type of food. I'd try a couple days without the jam and see how your numbers react.

Drink LOTS of water! I love coffee, but it dehydrates you, and staying hydrated is important in keeping your blood sugar down, because it flushes the sugar from your blood faster. I find that if I drink a bottle of water first thing in the morning with breakfast, it makes a big difference in my morning numbers. I do still splurge occasionally and drink coffee, but I always notice a difference in my numbers.

I hope this helps you! I've found that GD takes a lot of trial and error to find what works for you and what doesn't. If you notice that your numbers are higher when you eat certain things, try something else. I eat a lot of cottage cheese, peanut butter, eggs, low carb breads and pastas (Barilla makes a great lower carb pasta that's high in protein and fiber which has literally saved my life because I love pasta.) Good luck!

heie0008 · February 2011

You get more insulin resistant as your pregnancy goes on. I've had to double the amount of insulin I give myself in the morning over the last couple weeks. Keep doing your best, it may be that your insulin just needs to be adjusted

Brewtowngrl · February 2011

heie0008:
You get more insulin resistant as your pregnancy goes on. I've had to double the amount of insulin I give myself in the morning over the last couple weeks. Keep doing your best, it may be that your insulin just needs to be adjusted

This. It is harder to control the further along you are. I was on AM insulin also. As I got further along my dosage got higher. At 37 weeks my numbers started to go down again which is also normal.

Rubypercy · February 2011

Ditto on the 45 carbs being too many for breakfast as that tends to be the high number for most people. Try not to get too down. With DD, I always felt like I was playing catch up. No matter how "good" I was, I kept needing to increase my insulin dose. It can be frustrating, but it is your body and not you. This pregnancy, I will have good numbers for a few days at a time and then have to adjust up. Hang in there!

ErinDarryl · February 2011

Thanks everyone! I talked to the dr yesterday and they basically said all of the same things you guys have, with the exception of 45 grams of breakfast carbs. They still want that, so I'll do it. She did tell me a few different things to look for that might help. Like the type of flour in the bread is important, enriched bad, should be just whole wheat flour, etc. I'm still increasing my insulin everyday and we will see how it goes. Today was high again after milk, coffee, bacon eggs and toast. I am just going to keep on keeping on and one day I may get a normal number. I just hope it's soon, because I know the longer it takes, the further away from an uncomplicated birth I get.

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