GD Mamas...would you like to check-in?

mrscurlygurl · May 2014

kwh33ls said:

c&n2009 said:

kwh33ls said:

@helloblueeyes‌ I think the inconsistency is what makes me so mad. I was carb loaded by diet for three days before my test, not allowed to drink anything or walk during the test...I have a coworker who was told to drink water like normal, and she walked throughout he whole thing. @nola 1017‌ I'm so jealous! I have a 90 carb limit!! Since I started I've felt like complete shit...exhausted, run down and more miserable. I would be okay with it if it didn't seem like a "one size fits all" diet that this office uses for everyone. I hate them

Wow... a 90 carb limit seems really low. I am sorry you are feeling exhausted. Do you think if you talk with them they will up it a bit or are they set on 90 carbs and no more?

I honestly don't know. They're so...weird about this. I have what appears to be a very restrictive diet, have to check for ketones in the morning, and this is just their baseline. I will be compliant with the testing and whatnot, but I am going to add in more carbs to my diet - I'll talk to them about it, but I don't expect them to be very flexible - they're just so rigid and bizarre. I've looked at GD diets online and from other RL friends with it, and the one from this practice is by far the most restrictive around. I will not ever do anything that will risk the baby, but if my sugars are stable and I'm eating a few more carbs, I don't think that's the end of the world.

It's actually probably more dangerous if you aren't eating enough. How have your numbers been with that restrictive of an amount?

I remember you saying 120 after 1 hour a while ago @helloblueeyes, and thinking how crazy that sounded. I haven't ever tested after 1 hour though, so I don't know how possible it would be for me.

kwh33ls · May 2014

@mrscurlygurl I have yet to see a number above 92 after 2 hours. I tested after 1 hour and got a 105, but that's the highest I've seen. I will say that the diet I'm on now is just what the counselor/teacher gave me, which seems to be one size fits all, and maybe they will change it when I see the dietician on Tuesday. This whole experience has been about as bad as I could imagine, and has even made me think about switching practices altogether (except that I love my primary and OB, who are all in the same group).

rach1285 · May 2014

Hey ladies, I love the idea of a check in on this board! It's a smaller group of people who are all in the same place of our pregnancies . I have to admit that I too was feeling guilt with the diagnosis. It's my first pregnancy , first time dealing with blood sugar problems, and I'm deathly afraid of blood and needles. Clearly I'm learning to get over that fear... I have been diagnosed with GD for a little over a week and seem to be managing well with the diet. I go back the 20th to go over my numbers and decide where to go from there. I have to say I loved the nutritionist with whom I spoke! She was very realistic about the diet and stressed that it was not anything I did to my body to cause GD. She recommended the app CalorieKing to get carbs/protein levels for foods. It has been helpful so far :-)

glitterclaws · May 2014

Holy shit @kwh33ls‌, 90g per day is insane. Especially if your numbers have been good. I'm really surprised you are able to function on that much. Are you just supplementing with a ton of protein? What's your total caloric intake like?

I would see if maybe you can get your dietician on the phone for a few minutes just to confirm that number for you.

rach1285 · May 2014

csmith0085 said:
Holy shit @kwh33ls‌, 90g per day is insane. Especially if your numbers have been good. I'm really surprised you are able to function on that much. Are you just supplementing with a ton of protein? What's your total caloric intake like?

I would see if maybe you can get your dietician on the phone for a few minutes just to confirm that number for you.

Agreed, I'm on a 170g carb diet!

mrscurlygurl · May 2014

csmith0085 said:

Holy shit @kwh33ls‌, 90g per day is insane. Especially if your numbers have been good. I'm really surprised you are able to function on that much. Are you just supplementing with a ton of protein? What's your total caloric intake like? I would see if maybe you can get your dietician on the phone for a few minutes just to confirm that number for you.

Agreed...those numbers are really low. I've also never heard of the checking for ketones thing in regards to GD (not saying it's wrong...I've just never heard of anyone having to do that). I would not be happy with the restrictiveness of my office if I were in your shoes.

helloblueeyes · May 2014

kwh33ls said:
@helloblueeyes‌ I think the inconsistency is what makes me so mad. I was carb loaded by diet for three days before my test, not allowed to drink anything or walk during the test...I have a coworker who was told to drink water like normal, and she walked throughout he whole thing.
@nola 1017‌ I'm so jealous! I have a 90 carb limit!! Since I started I've felt like complete shit...exhausted, run down and more miserable. I would be okay with it if it didn't seem like a "one size fits all" diet that this office uses for everyone. I hate them

@kwh33ls‌
90?!?
Did you say they have you at 1800 calories a day? (Mobile hates me or I would double check) That's what they have me at and my total carb intake allowed for a day is 174. And I'm on a pretty restricted diet.

When I had my class they gave each us a sheet with our allotted amount of calories and ratio breakdowns that was based on what our pre pregnancy weight was and what numbers we had gotten on whatever test we took. (A1C or glucose)

LilyanaG1 · May 2014

FTM just diagnosed with GD last week. It was devastating because a few days before I received an email saying that my 3 hour test results were ok , only to get a phone call a few days later that I had GD. (I missed the fasting screening by 5 pts, and the 1 hour test by 1 pts, then the 2 and 3 hour were good.) To make matters worse, the nurse who told me over the phone was incredibly condescending about how I'd have to change my diet. I was stunned and couldn't believe they made a mistake like that. I've since talked to my doctor and she said she'd give the nurses feedback and try to correct their policies. I just hope they don't do this to anyone else!

I meet with the dietician on Tuesday so I don't have any guidelines yet. For now, in doing my best to pair carbs with protein until I learn the recommendations. But I'd love to hear menu ideas and recipes from anyone. I love the idea of having this specific check-in with all of you. I have also been feeling sad about this, and just trying to move forward with a positive mindset.

kwh33ls · May 2014

You all are confirming what I'm thinking. I finally was able to get the ketone test strips yesterday, so I checked this morning, and SHOCKER, I have ketones in my pee...which means I'm burning fat - they said they didn't want that. I'm so beyond frustrated, I don't know what to do. I couldn't get in to see the dietician until next week, so I'm on this crazy low carb diet until I can talk to her. As far as functioning...I'm not, really. I'm so exhausted that my usual after school walk the the pup is down to 10 minutes, followed by a nap. As of today, I'm not following the diet they gave me. I'll continue to faithfully check my numbers, and adjust as needed, but I can't keep this up; my allotted half a whole-grain english muffin with 2 eggs ain't cuttin' it. Talk about making a bad situation worse. Thanks for the input, ladies!

ETA: @helloblueeyes yes - I'm supposedly at 1800 calories. I doubt I'm getting that much. There's only so much cheese and chicken a girl can eat. I'm going to call the GD office today...but my attitude towards them is so shitty right now, that I'm putting it off until I can be rational and less rage-y.

JayBzo · May 2014

@kwh33ls my allowed carbs seems lower than everyone's but is still higher than yours - daily I am 135 - with 30 at a meal and 15 at snack or 45 total at the meal. I totally agree with the inconsistencies. I only failed the 2 hour reading at my 3 hour test and other girls on here had the same thing but were considered as passing - makes no sense! Only 10 more weeks...

youreggoispreggo · May 2014

I haven't been around the boards for a while but thought I'd pop in and see if anyone was talking about GD - great thread!

I'm a FTM and was diagnosed with GD about 3 weeks ago. I was pretty borderline on all of my tests but enough to get the diagnoses. I was really upset at first but it really hasn't been too bad! I found the dietician to be WAY more helpful than just the diabetes educator - the educator was saying to cut out all snacks and any "treats" but the dietician was a lot more realistic and said healthy snacks are actually good. It really is all about the carb tracking and protein, protein, protein!

My usual day looks something like this:

Whole grain sandwich thin or English muffin for breakfast. Sometimes on one slice I cut up a hard boiled egg and top with a slice of cheese and put it in the microwave and on the other slice I do some margarine spread and jam. Other days I make a scrambled egg and eat that + bacon or sausage on an English muffin. Almost all of the time I have a cup of Greek yogurt with some nuts or peanut butter mixed in. I avoid fruit in the morning because that is when most people are most insulin resistant.

Snack of 1/2 cup plain applesauce + cinnamon and a handful of almonds for some protein.

Lunch is a bagel thin or sandwich thin with mustard, 2 slices of turkey or ham, some avocado or lettuce, and 1 slice of cheese. Then I have some carrots and hummus or strawberries and a small dessert - a few Hershey kisses maybe.

Snack of 1 small apple + a stick of cheese.

Dinner is all over the place but I just make sure it's 3-4 servings of carbs and 1-2 servings of protein. If I want dessert I've gotten 100 cal ice cream sandwiches or Skinny Cow ice cream bars which are usually 1 serving of carbs and just make sure to count that in my dinner.

Bedtime snack is sometimes 1/4c M&Ms mixed with 1/4c peanuts or a cup of sugar free pudding or something like that. I met with the dietician today and she suggested some other snacks like celery + PB, crackers + cheese, half of a Zone or Balance bar, etc. I'm still playing around a little with the bedtime snack!

My dietician also stresses that exercise can really help your body break down the glucose so if you have a meal that you think is going to raise your numbers too high - walk for 10-15 minutes after and it will help! This was something that I loved hearing because I feel like I can still have some "cheat" meals or go out to eat and there are things that I can do to make sure baby is okay. The thing I miss most is milk and cereal in the morning!!

Jshort914 · May 2014

Hi Ladies-

I'm a STM and this is my second rodeo with GD. I was diagnosed at 18 weeks this time, since if you have had GD before, they test you earlier the second time. I failed my 1hr this time with a 147 and my 3 hour numbers were horrendous so back on the GD diet I went.

So far my numbers have been good, but they are getting higher in the last week or so, so I need to watch it. I have growth scans every 4 weeks, yesterday I had one and he is measuring fine (they estimate him at about 3lbs at 28w5d) and the doctor is not concerned with my numbers (every once in a while I get over a 120 at dinner) and my fastings have always been under 90.

The diet does get mundane- that is what I hate about it, but I did notice I can eat fruit with lunch (for example, a hamburger roll with a meatball and sausage on it, a cheese stick, and about a cup of fresh mixed fruit and my score was 96) That has helped. Sometimes I'll eat berries with whipped cream before bed or have ice cream that is between 14g-18g carbs and my fasting numbers are still fine.

It's a learning curve, and if things aren't right, let your doctors know.

ritapat · May 2014

Hi Everyone! Great idea starting this conversation

ritapat · May 2014

My message didn't post for some reason....sorry sbout that. Basically I'm a FTM with GD...about 31w. I'm on insulin at bedtime and on the GD diet. Not fun, right?!

My main question is if your doctors have mentioned anything about needing a C-Section? Mine said they would "offer" me one if LO reached 9lbs. (Not sure what he weighs now but I'm right where I should be for measurements). The word "offer" rubbed me the wrong way. What are your thoughts? Any similar conversations? My coworker delivered a large bsby and her doctors never mentioned needing a cesarian to her for her birth.

I plan on birthing at the hospital with a doula for support and guidance. I am terrified of the cesarian procedure if it's not absolute necessary. I want to keep early intervention as minimal as possible but am very pro epidural.

Any feedback would be so awesome! Thanks!!!

youreggoispreggo · May 2014

I specifically asked my doctor about how labor would change and she said that we would approach it like a normal labor but that she would have a lower threshold for c-section. So if labor isn't progressing as it should or if there is any indication that baby is too big, she would be more likely to go to Csection sooner than with a non-GD baby. This is mostly to avoid a chance of shoulder dystocia, the baby's shoulder getting stuck and damaged in the pelvis. Non-GD ladies can still have this issue if they have a small pelvis or baby is large but it sounded like she would just be more aware of that as a possibility.

I feel the same way that I'd like to avoid as many interventions as possible but the baby is currently measuring about 1wk, 3days larger than it should be so I'm just trying to be open to anything!

kwh33ls · May 2014

So a little update and a question:

After barely surviving 4 days of the diet they gave me, I basically went back to eating roughly what I was eating before I was diagnosed, but with no sweets, and my lowest carbs in the morning. My numbers have been really good! My highest is after breakfast (I made an egg and cheese sandwich on a whole english muffin *gasp*), and it was only 105 at 2 hours.

So my question is: do I tell them what I'm doing, given how restrictive and inflexible they are, or do I just keep doing my thing and watching my numbers in case something goes awry? I certainly don't want to do anything that could harm the baby, but I agree with you @mrscurlygurl, I think I was at greater risk not eating enough...and I felt awful. I'd like to think I'm smart enough to track my foods and make adjustments if anything changes, but I'd love your opinions on whether or not that's a smart idea. Thanks, and happy Friday!!

jennp1979 · May 2014

Ok so just had the weirdest thing happen...numbers were high so I went for a walk...came back and did pinky finger and got a reading of 88 so for curiosity I did ring finger (same finger I got the high number from) and it was 96...why is that???

ksspiff · May 2014

@jennp1979‌ , sometimes when donating blood, they'd check different fingers if my iron was low. Get different results. Circulatory system is weird.

glitterclaws · May 2014

kwh33ls said:

So a little update and a question:

After barely surviving 4 days of the diet they gave me, I basically went back to eating roughly what I was eating before I was diagnosed, but with no sweets, and my lowest carbs in the morning. My numbers have been really good! My highest is after breakfast (I made an egg and cheese sandwich on a whole english muffin *gasp*), and it was only 105 at 2 hours.

So my question is: do I tell them what I'm doing, given how restrictive and inflexible they are, or do I just keep doing my thing and watching my numbers in case something goes awry? I certainly don't want to do anything that could harm the baby, but I agree with you @mrscurlygurl, I think I was at greater risk not eating enough...and I felt awful. I'd like to think I'm smart enough to track my foods and make adjustments if anything changes, but I'd love your opinions on whether or not that's a smart idea. Thanks, and happy Friday!!

I think you are spot on. I was told as long as my numbers were good, I could experiment with adding different foods. I think as long as you are tracking your numbers and they are good, you should do what feels right.

On a different note - I'm having some troubles with my blood pressure right now, so as a precaution I got the steroid shots for baby. They blow my glucose numbers out of the water. It was such a cluster f- of a hospital experience and the doc didn't warn me. I went back for shot number two today and was better prepared. I asked the doctor if I needed to cut back my carbs when I was getting the shot because it was causing my numbers to jump and she said no, it's fine.

So shot #1 at noon yesterday, lunch at 1pm, reading at 3pm was like 144, dinner was 140 and fasting was 84 this morning. Shot #2 was at around 1pm today, lunch at 3:30pm, reading at 5:30 was in the 140s again.

Just wanted to share in case anyone has to get them and is left in the dark by their doctor. Also, remember, be your own advocate at the hospital! I totally got pushed around yesterday, but had my bitch pants on today and feel way more informed.

kwh33ls · May 2014

Welcome, @TKT17...it's not fun, but it is nice to have others to talk to. Hang in there!

Kristinwhit · May 2014

I failed some but not all of my three hour so I am not testing just following the diet which I hate. According to books average right now is gaining a pound a week. I found out at my appt today that I lost a pound in the past two weeks. So the stupid diet is working. Two major recipe fails this weekend using coconut flour. Boo I did find a few freezer meals and snacks designed for the Atkins diet. That is helpful for me because sometimes I need to grab and go. Much of the items on the diet take prep time. Looking toward to a big fat loaded baked potato and pasta and bread. I may have them all in one meal after baby girl arrives.

mrscurlygurl · May 2014

TKT17 said:

Thanks @kwh33ls‌! I'm going to have to read back through the thread. I think lunch is going to be the most challenging. Also, we picked up our test strips and it was $120 for 100?!? Can you buy them from Amazon or anything, or do they have to come from pharmacy?

Do you have a prescription? That is a lot of money! Even with my prescription and insurance, the test strips are $25. The lancets are $5. I hope you find a cheaper option.

helloblueeyes · May 2014

ZeroZeroOne said:

TKT17 said:
@mrscurlygurl‌ I have a prescription, they came from our Target pharmacy. We haven't met our deductible yet so that might be it.

I just tried testing for the first time and I got a stinking error...so, one strip down the drain. I'm not trying again.
I got ten free strips with the meter and wasted four on error messages. I got really frustrated because I was tired of sticking myself and wasting pricey strips! It turns out I wasn't waiting until enough blood came out. I know it's frustrating but you will get the hang of it.

I have serious issue in the morning trying to get enough blood. I often have to stick multiple fingers, multiple times and usually waste a strip or two before I get any good reading. It's like my circulation isn't up to speed at 6am. Drives me nuts.

glitterclaws · May 2014

TKT17 said:
Thanks @kwh33ls‌! I'm going to have to read back through the thread. I think lunch is going to be the most challenging. Also, we picked up our test strips and it was $120 for 100?!? Can you buy them from Amazon or anything, or do they have to come from pharmacy?

This is what I paid at CVS with a prescription. Crazy! I think I found the same ones on Amazon for $56. I might go that route when I run out. I have a 3k deductible too that I haven't met so I wonder if that's why.

mcvgal · May 2014

So I had been diet controlled only until yesterday. I was expecting it because my morning fasting numbers were pretty high last week, 93-105. I am now on 2.5mg of glyburide. For those of your already on glyburide, did you notice a difference right away? I physically felt less tired this morning but when I tested it was still at 98 higher than yesterday's 95 without meds.

TurtleMonsters · May 2014

Just got the call this morning, I'm joining you lovely ladies. I haven't had any appointments with anyone, waiting for the diabetes counselling center to call, reading your stories and looking at Dr. google. I'm most afraid of the constant testing, I'm bad at keeping on top of myself with multiple monitoring and have been putting all my energy with that toward my son who takes a lot of meds. Just one more thing to add to the mix I guess.

I was already planning on going for a c section at 39 weeks, DS was big and didn't fit, and I had an ECS, so I wanted to avoid laboring AND a CS this time. This baby was measuring a week ahead at the A/S US, but the fundal measurements have been in line- though I know both aren't perfectly reliable.

I've been going absolutely ballistic with sweets, so I'm hoping controlling my diet will be the most help. This time of year we go to eating a lot of grilled food and I use veggies as my carbs. I hope I don't have to get rid of too many fruits, though. My DS and I already deal with allergies/intolerances, so I don't mind getting creative with diet and already prepare multiple meals. I guess there's no more ice cream until the little guy is born, though:(.

Thanks for starting a thread here!! I feel more comfortable chatting with all of you:)

jennp1979 · May 2014

@Turtle Monsters...I have been eating Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches as my evening snack...the total carbs I think are like 24 or 25 and I've done great with my numbers

hgtvmom · May 2014

e_cruiz said:
So I had been diet controlled only until yesterday. I was expecting it because my morning fasting numbers were pretty high last week, 93-105. I am now on 2.5mg of glyburide. For those of your already on glyburide, did you notice a difference right away? I physically felt less tired this morning but when I tested it was still at 98 higher than yesterday's 95 without meds.

I was told that it takes about 3 days for your numbers to even out after starting or changing meds. Hopefully, you will see a change in the next day or so.

I noticed no change in how I felt with the addition or change of glyburide, but I haven't felt any better or worse than before. I still get pukey when I get low (seriously - bile vomit sucks!). But, I don't have signs of being high.

mcvgal · May 2014

Pup4gdb said:

So I had been diet controlled only until yesterday. I was expecting it because my morning fasting numbers were pretty high last week, 93-105. I am now on 2.5mg of glyburide. For those of your already on glyburide, did you notice a difference right away? I physically felt less tired this morning but when I tested it was still at 98 higher than yesterday's 95 without meds.
I was told that it takes about 3 days for your numbers to even out after starting or changing meds. Hopefully, you will see a change in the next day or so. I noticed no change in how I felt with the addition or change of glyburide, but I haven't felt any better or worse than before. I still get pukey when I get low (seriously - bile vomit sucks!). But, I don't have signs of being high.

Thanks for the feedback, I just came back from my OB and he said to give it a few days as well. Sorry you get that pukey feeling, that's horrible.

helloblueeyes · May 2014

@ZeroZeroOne

I have to test literally the second i wake up, if i wait my number is super high. In the beginning i was testing after i showered but before breakfast, couldn't get a fasting below 100. If i have to get up for more then like a min i will get a number in the 90s. I i get up and grab my kit and do it first thing, i can get a number somewhere between 78 and 88.

I usually try to shake my arm/hand to get the blood flowing but it doesn't seem to help much. I had poor circulation before i got pregnant and i have been having issues with my hands going numb since then so i think i'm just kind of stuck till this kid pops out.

hgtvmom · May 2014

helloblueeyes said:
@ZeroZeroOne

I have to test literally the second i wake up, if i wait my number is super high. In the beginning i was testing after i showered but before breakfast, couldn't get a fasting below 100. If i have to get up for more then like a min i will get a number in the 90s. I i get up and grab my kit and do it first thing, i can get a number somewhere between 78 and 88.

I usually try to shake my arm/hand to get the blood flowing but it doesn't seem to help much. I had poor circulation before i got pregnant and i have been having issues with my hands going numb since then so i think i'm just kind of stuck till this kid pops out.

This is me too, essentially. Every Sunday I'm at 96. Doesn't matter what I do Saturday evening. Doesn't matter what my activity level is on Saturday. It doesn't matter what time I go to bed (and when I eat my bedtime snack). But, if I don't wake up at 6 to test, I get a 96. On a normal day, I can make it to the bathroom to test and am fine. Sunday is consistently 96. So bizarre!

kwh33ls · May 2014

I didn't realize that not testing right when you wake up has an effect! I've been waking up to pee at like 4:15, and been unable to get back to sleep almost every work day lately...so I just lay in bed and read TB until my alarm goes off at 5:35...and my number has been in the low-90s for the most part. Maybe I'll just check when I pee at the ass-crack of dawn

ksspiff · May 2014

I just had my second OB appt after diagnosis. I actually gained two pounds in two weeks, which feels nice, considering all the food restrictions.

I second the PP about prepping circulation before poking. I hang my arm down, give it a good wiggle, then 'milk' my hand down to the finger to be pricked.

Want a personalized experience?

GD Mamas...would you like to check-in?

Re: GD Mamas...would you like to check-in?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards