GD Mama's

LaBellaVida · May 2013

So I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago with GD. I have been managing it with diet alone, and have done really well with it. Recently- within the last 2 weeks or so I have been waking up in the morning feeling sick, hot, and shaky. It's like I can't make my meal fast enough, and I can't eat it fast enough. My fasting numbers have been within range, high 70's to low 80's. I went to my GD counselor yesterday and brought it up to her. She said that since my numbers are good, she isn't sure what it is, but it sounds like low blood sugar, like I have hypoglycemia. She told me to mention it to my OB, which I did. Again, since my fasting numbers are good, she really didn't have allot of advice for me and said another GD counselor will call me and talk to me about it. I got a call today from the other counselor and I told her how I am feeling ect...again- no real explanation of what it could be, and she just said she will call me next week to check up on me.

I am just wondering, if anyone one else has felt like this- and what their OB has said about it. It happens about 4-5 times a week for me. After I eat, and lay down for a little bit I tend to feel better, and I go on with my day with no other issues. I eat all my fruits, veggies, carbs, and protein, and I eat every 2-3 hours.

newbeg826 · May 2013

Do you ever get low numbers? In the 60s.

I will share my experience, but it may be different than yours. I have dealt with hypoglycemia for a long time. I typically can tell when my blood sugar is low, shaky, sick to my stomach, light headed. This is when I was not pregnant.

Fast forward and I was diagnosed with GD. It was a shock, but I obviously have issues regulating my blood sugar. When I first went on the GD diet I was struggling to keep my numbers above 60. I had to increase my carbs quite a bit to get them into the 90s post meals. I typically do not feel great unless my numbers are at least in the 90s. Typically I find if my number is in the 80s then it drops down the 60s within a half an hour. That being said, I will also spike my numbers with meals unless I have enough veggies or protein. For some reason veggies work better for me than protein for my numbers.

I also have to eat every 2 hours throughout the day so I feel ok. Sometimes this does mean I eat extra carb snacks, but I also check my blood sugar an hour later and it is normal.

You may be sensitive to a normal but lower blood sugar. I would try eating a bigger bed time snack or closer to bedtime to see if that helps. It took me a few weeks to figure out what works.

memali26 · May 2013

During my second pregnancy I had episodes like that, but not right away in the morning, they usually came mid-morning. I would assume I was low and test, but blood sugar was always in the 70's, which is a normal level. I brought it up to my endo and my OB, and they attributed it to heat (it was July and 115 degrees and we had no a/c for a bit), stress (we were in the middle of moving), and possibly dips in blood pressure as opposed to blood sugar. They just monitored me closely and gave me instructions to call if it didn't resolve within a half hour of eating a snack or got worse at any point.

LaBellaVida · May 2013

newbeg826:
Do you ever get low numbers? In the 60s. I will share my experience, but it may be different than yours. I have dealt with hypoglycemia for a long time. I typically can tell when my blood sugar is low, shaky, sick to my stomach, light headed. This is when I was not pregnant. Fast forward and I was diagnosed with GD. It was a shock, but I obviously have issues regulating my blood sugar. When I first went on the GD diet I was struggling to keep my numbers above 60. I had to increase my carbs quite a bit to get them into the 90s post meals. I typically do not feel great unless my numbers are at least in the 90s. Typically I find if my number is in the 80s then it drops down the 60s within a half an hour. That being said, I will also spike my numbers with meals unless I have enough veggies or protein. For some reason veggies work better for me than protein for my numbers. I also have to eat every 2 hours throughout the day so I feel ok. Sometimes this does mean I eat extra carb snacks, but I also check my blood sugar an hour later and it is normal. You may be sensitive to a normal but lower blood sugar. I would try eating a bigger bed time snack or closer to bedtime to see if that helps. It took me a few weeks to figure out what works.

yes, on occasion I get them down in the 60's and sometimes even the high 50's, which has only happened a few times.

Even pre pregnancy I would be at work and I wouldn't eat for a while and I felt like this. I am not diabetic pre-pregnancy, I just thought it was normal in everyone if they don't eat for a while. My OB did mention that maybe my night time snack got my levels up high, that in the morning I was in a sense "crashing" and my body was in a shock from having a low number, however; I have tested an hour after my snack at night, and it's within normal range as well, which I did tell her. She just really has no answer for it, and both GD counselors don't know what's up either, and have no idea what could cause it.

I just know I am tired of feeling like that in the morning- and I know it's not a normal feeling to have, if my numbers appear to be fine, and no one knows what's causing it, or what could cause it; which now makes me worry.

LaBellaVida · May 2013

memali26:
During my second pregnancy I had episodes like that, but not right away in the morning, they usually came mid-morning. I would assume I was low and test, but blood sugar was always in the 70's, which is a normal level. I brought it up to my endo and my OB, and they attributed it to heat (it was July and 115 degrees and we had no a/c for a bit), stress (we were in the middle of moving), and possibly dips in blood pressure as opposed to blood sugar. They just monitored me closely and gave me instructions to call if it didn't resolve within a half hour of eating a snack or got worse at any point.

It is hot here, already in the 100's however; I have A/C and have my house set at 73 degrees, so I don't think it's that. I don't think I am stressed, I am a little just because I have allot going on, but...not sure if that would really make a difference, but maybe it does. I didn't think of the blood pressure. At the last 4 appointments have had a slightly elevated blood pressure. It's nothing to, too concerning but my OB did say she was keeping an eye on it, but that she doesn't think I have pre-e because I am not leaking protein, and don't have any other markers for pre-e. Maybe after a full nights rest my blood pressure is down. Hmm...interesting I will have to ask her about this on Tuesday when I go into my appointment, and see what she says about it, and if that could be the cause.

newbeg826 · May 2013

brandilc84:
newbeg826:
Do you ever get low numbers? In the 60s.

I will share my experience, but it may be different than yours. I have dealt with hypoglycemia for a long time. I typically can tell when my blood sugar is low, shaky, sick to my stomach, light headed. This is when I was not pregnant.

Fast forward and I was diagnosed with GD. It was a shock, but I obviously have issues regulating my blood sugar. When I first went on the GD diet I was struggling to keep my numbers above 60. I had to increase my carbs quite a bit to get them into the 90s post meals. I typically do not feel great unless my numbers are at least in the 90s. Typically I find if my number is in the 80s then it drops down the 60s within a half an hour. That being said, I will also spike my numbers with meals unless I have enough veggies or protein. For some reason veggies work better for me than protein for my numbers.

I also have to eat every 2 hours throughout the day so I feel ok. Sometimes this does mean I eat extra carb snacks, but I also check my blood sugar an hour later and it is normal.

You may be sensitive to a normal but lower blood sugar. I would try eating a bigger bed time snack or closer to bedtime to see if that helps. It took me a few weeks to figure out what works.
yes, on occasion I get them down in the 60's and sometimes even the high 50's, which has only happened a few times.
Even pre pregnancy I would be at work and I wouldn't eat for a while and I felt like this. I am not diabetic pre-pregnancy, I just thought it was normal in everyone if they don't eat for a while. My OB did mention that maybe my night time snack got my levels up high, that in the morning I was in a sense "crashing" and my body was in a shock from having a low number, however; I have tested an hour after my snack at night, and it's within normal range as well, which I did tell her. She just really has no answer for it, and both GD counselors don't know what's up either, and have no idea what could cause it.
I just know I am tired of feeling like that in the morning- and I know it's not a normal feeling to have, if my numbers appear to be fine, and no one knows what's causing it, or what could cause it; which now makes me worry.
 

I would try eating more at night. Even though your numbers are normal, you may be sensitive to them being in the 70s or even low 80s. And by sensitive you may have hypoglycemic symptoms at those levels. I felt like crap the first week I was on the GD diet, but now that I am eating more carbs and still getting within range numbers I feel better. And it took me almost a week before i increased my carbs because i was worried about spiking my blood sugar. If I only ate my allotted 15 grams of carbs before bed then I felt like crap in the morning. I now eat a pretty decent snack, my numbers are always under 90, and I feel fine .

Try eating a bowl of ice cream before bed and see what happens. A bowl of ice cream for me makes me feel the best in the morning and surprisingly my numbers are lower with this snack.

On another note, sometimes when you have hypoglycemia for a long time your pancreas can't keep up with producing insulin. This is why my OB thinks I ended up with gestational diabetes. I can actually tolerate quite a large carb load but I have to be very careful in spacing my meals and pairing with veggies or protein, so that my blood sugar doesn't spike and then crash.

LaBellaVida · May 2013

newbeg826:
brandilc84:
newbeg826:
Do you ever get low numbers? In the 60s. I will share my experience, but it may be different than yours. I have dealt with hypoglycemia for a long time. I typically can tell when my blood sugar is low, shaky, sick to my stomach, light headed. This is when I was not pregnant. Fast forward and I was diagnosed with GD. It was a shock, but I obviously have issues regulating my blood sugar. When I first went on the GD diet I was struggling to keep my numbers above 60. I had to increase my carbs quite a bit to get them into the 90s post meals. I typically do not feel great unless my numbers are at least in the 90s. Typically I find if my number is in the 80s then it drops down the 60s within a half an hour. That being said, I will also spike my numbers with meals unless I have enough veggies or protein. For some reason veggies work better for me than protein for my numbers. I also have to eat every 2 hours throughout the day so I feel ok. Sometimes this does mean I eat extra carb snacks, but I also check my blood sugar an hour later and it is normal. You may be sensitive to a normal but lower blood sugar. I would try eating a bigger bed time snack or closer to bedtime to see if that helps. It took me a few weeks to figure out what works.
yes, on occasion I get them down in the 60's and sometimes even the high 50's, which has only happened a few times.
Even pre pregnancy I would be at work and I wouldn't eat for a while and I felt like this. I am not diabetic pre-pregnancy, I just thought it was normal in everyone if they don't eat for a while. My OB did mention that maybe my night time snack got my levels up high, that in the morning I was in a sense "crashing" and my body was in a shock from having a low number, however; I have tested an hour after my snack at night, and it's within normal range as well, which I did tell her. She just really has no answer for it, and both GD counselors don't know what's up either, and have no idea what could cause it.
I just know I am tired of feeling like that in the morning- and I know it's not a normal feeling to have, if my numbers appear to be fine, and no one knows what's causing it, or what could cause it; which now makes me worry.

I would try eating more at night. Even though your numbers are normal, you may be sensitive to them being in the 70s or even low 80s. And by sensitive you may have hypoglycemic symptoms at those levels. I felt like crap the first week I was on the GD diet, but now that I am eating more carbs and still getting within range numbers I feel better. And it took me almost a week before i increased my carbs because i was worried about spiking my blood sugar. If I only ate my allotted 15 grams of carbs before bed then I felt like crap in the morning. I now eat a pretty decent snack, my numbers are always under 90, and I feel fine . Try eating a bowl of ice cream before bed and see what happens. A bowl of ice cream for me makes me feel the best in the morning and surprisingly my numbers are lower with this snack. On another note, sometimes when you have hypoglycemia for a long time your pancreas can't keep up with producing insulin. This is why my OB thinks I ended up with gestational diabetes. I can actually tolerate quite a large carb load but I have to be very careful in spacing my meals and pairing with veggies or protein, so that my blood sugar doesn't spike and then crash.

Good to know! I will try this and see if it helps! I will also ask my OB about this, and see if this could cause it. Thanks!!

5dogs · May 2013

Some people feel the effects in the 70's, it may just be how your body reacts.

Are you testing in the middle of the night by chance? You may be crashing overnight and your body is beginning to compensate by the time you test/wake up which explains why you feel so badly and why your numbers are above what would be considered "low."

LaBellaVida · May 2013

5dogs:
Some people feel the effects in the 70's, it may just be how your body reacts.
Are you testing in the middle of the night by chance? You may be crashing overnight and your body is beginning to compensate by the time you test/wake up which explains why you feel so badly and why your numbers are above what would be considered "low."

No, but I suppose I could test really quick when I get up to use the bathroom, just to see where my levels are at. Maybe that would give me, and my OB something more to think about when it comes to how I feel in the A.M.

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