Weekly GD Check In!

DreadGamerWife · July 2014

This weekly check-in is for anyone with Gestational Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, or other blood sugar issues during pregnancy. If this is your first time posting, please let us know with a short intro.

New to GD? Check here for a quick reference guide. https://community.babycenter.com/post/a46582366/new_to_gd_quick_reference

Check In: How is the diet going? Any challenges that we can help out with? Any new recipes/ successes that you want to share? Rant/Vent about the lack of cookies?

Sorry for the strange formatting - I copied from my computer to an e-mail so I could post it today (not near my normal computer).

QOTW: Have you found any new foods that you really like (that you probably wouldn’t have tried before have a sugar issue)?

DreadGamerWife · July 2014

Check In: Just got back from a quick trip to TX to visit family and attend my family baby shower. My mom really a great job making sure that there was plenty of food that I could eat at the shower (even if I did skip dessert at the shower). I was also good and didn't try to figure out how to eat Mexican food in TX - even though I love it. Appointment with Endo tomorrow - probably being put on insulin due to high fasting numbers.

QOTW: We are trying several new recipes each week to try to find items that we both like and that fits in with my diet. My favorite so far has been a sprouted bean and lentil salad with feta cheese. DH doesn't like it but I love it as a carb.

Justabean3 · July 2014

Still trucking along. My a1c dropped to 5.2 which is great

I like to mix fit and lite Greek yogurt and sugar free pudding or mix it with 1Cup berries like 1/2 blue and half black

lrobi13 · July 2014

I fe I feel like I have been eating much better even though my numbers don't show it. Is it possible that I have a wonky meter? I switch from the ultra one touch to the relion due to the cost of strips (my doc and the pharmacy can't get on the ball and fix my rx). I have an appointment with my ob tomorrow so I will talk to her about it.

No No exciting recipies just yet. I am working on getting in my non-starchy veggies. And I plan to actually get my but to the gym after work!

Sockgnome78 · July 2014

Check-in: well last week I did not test at all. I started testing again on Sunday and we'll my numbers are all over. I know I will be in trouble for not testing last week. When I don't feel good I shut down and do the Barr minimum to get by.
So now to get back on track. I have decided that Glyburide is not a bad thing to be on. I have fought the idea of being on it for long enough. Just need to make sure LO and I are healthy.

lrobi13 · July 2014

starla487 said:

lrobi13 said:

I fe I feel like I have been eating much better even though my numbers don't show it. Is it possible that I have a wonky meter? I switch from the ultra one touch to the relion due to the cost of strips (my doc and the pharmacy can't get on the ball and fix my rx). I have an appointment with my ob tomorrow so I will talk to her about it.
No No exciting recipies just yet. I am working on getting in my non-starchy veggies. And I plan to actually get my but to the gym after work!

Couple possibilities: 1) you need to supplement your insulin. Either with the type 2 meds safe during pregnancy or with a bit of insulin via syringe. It's nothing you are doing wrong; some of us just need some extra help. Or 2) what you think is 30 grams of carbs may be more. I still make mistakes with this. Measuring cups work wonders. Also, maybe you are consuming healthier things that still have a carb count. (For example: corn, carrots, potatoes... All great veggies - lots of hidden carbs.) Maybe surf on to CalorieKing.com for some guidance.

Meter accuracy is always a possibility, but One Touch is pretty good about it. If your A1C didn't average out with your meter output, then I'd question it.

When do you see your highs?

On the new meter is see highs randomly. Always high on my fasting with both meters. I tested simultaneously with both meters with the same blood and the new one was off by 10 points the first time and over 10 points the second time so I know for a fact there is some difference. Only problem is not sure which one is correct.

Today my numbers have been : 123, 127,117 (I think it was the first time my fasting was lower than the one 2 hours after breakfast.)

Thank for all the insight, I am so new to this and want to really do this the right was for the health of my lo and myself!

I have been using measuring cups and a scale while at home. Also, I always refer to my sheet stating which veggies are counted as carbs and which ones are considered non-carbs.

Justabean3 · July 2014

The only thing that got my numbers to even out was glyburide. I was iffy on taking it but it is way less stressful knowing I am eating the required amount of carbs and protein and seeing my number in range.
Sometimes it isn't about what you are eating as much as how you are processing it. You may not be doing anything wrong

MrsL2B · July 2014

@Irobi13 I have two meters, an Accu-Chek Compact Plus and a Bayer Contour. The Bayer Contour is consistently 20 points too low when I'm in the low-normal range (per my a1c), but when I'm high the difference increases to 50 points or more. It's really obnoxious, and if I were insulin-dependent it would be much worse than just obnoxious, but I get the test strips for the Contour free through work, so I keep using them.

I'm starting insulin this week. I picked it up from the pharmacy today (check for coupons on drug companies' websites! I saved $40!), and I have my class on Thursday. I'm kind of excited about making the switch, since I have not loved glyburide. I've been way too erratic on it. But I have seen slightly more consistent numbers over the past week as my stomach medication has started to take effect, resulting in more consistent digestion.

I have tons of low-carb recipes that I've pulled together over the years. One of my favorites is the grain free sourdough from the Urban Poser's website. Seriously yum.

MrsL2B · July 2014

starla487 said:

@MrsL2B‌ - what kind of insulin did they put you on? Glad the stomach meds are helping.

Humalog at mealtimes for now. Previously the MFM had talked about using some nph at night, and I imagine that will probably be added quickly since my fasting numbers are almost always high.

DreadGamerWife · July 2014

Got back from both the Endo and MFM. Both want to wean me off of the oral med (metformin) and on to insulin. Starting with a tiny nph insulin dose at bed time and half of my current dose of metformin. Then, in three weeks, the MFM will move me fully to insulin. My lunch and dinner numbers have been great (averaging around 100) but my fasting is in the high 90s and breakfast is typically between 115 and 118.

I wonder if I will have issues coming off metformin as I did going on it (11 years ago).

lrobi13 · July 2014

@DreadGamerWife: Good luck with the switch!

MrsL2B · July 2014

I started my insulin today at dinner! I don't think the dose is high enough (1 unit Humalog to 15g carb). My 2-hour post-pramdial reading was 160, and then it was 164 at 3 hours, which was not ideal for a meal that had about 35g carb and was low in fat, but I guess we'll see how I do with that dose over the weekend. The injections are super easy, happily.

One quick question: what do you insulin users carry your vials around in? Is there a good place to buy a cute kit?

MrsL2B · July 2014

I was thinking maybe someplace convenient like a drugstore carried cases. I've never looked for anything for my meter other than the pouch it came with, but that's not long enough to hold the syringes. A small clutch or wristlet might work, now that I think about it. I'll check my closet to see what might work, because you're right, it's only for a few months. I should be focusing on shopping for cute baby stuff instead!

lrobi13 · July 2014

MRSclarke08 said:
Check-In: My fasting numbers have been high ever since I started checking my BS. Today was maybe the second day that it's been in range, so I am going to be happy with that for now. At my appt yesterday with the high-risk doc, she suggested changing my bedtime snacks to toast and PB and getting more evening activity in after dinner. I am going to start emailing my numbers in weekly and they will tell me if/when I need to go on medication. FX I can manage it with diet and exercise. She said all my other numbers looked fine!!
Rant: DH does not eat at a regular schedule and seems to think that's fine for me as well. He can go the entire day without eating and when we are out and about or road traveling, he can be a bit of an ass about stopping for food. He's getting better, but he seems to get really frustrated at the fact that I need to eat every 2-4 hours, even if I'm not hungry. I've explained that it's to help keep me even throughout the day and I am proving my point by showing him my BS numbers and when they spike (like last night) because I ate later than I should have.

DH is good about the diet plan but then he says something weird and I'm all like "you know I can't do that"

Took my first dose of glyburide last night and had a fasting number of 79 this morning. Feeling hopeful this morning!

lrobi13 · July 2014

Maternal fetal medicine. High Risk peri.

DreadGamerWife · July 2014

Already got my insulin dose raised. Both my fasting and breakfast numbers were a good 10 points above my average before, so I e-mailed the nurse and they raised it up to 10 units before bed. We will see how that works over the weekend. Lunch number, however, was fine and within my normal range.

Also, Target only gave me one vial of insulin. Nurse also called them and changed the prescription to at least 3 vials per month.

lrobi13 · July 2014

@DreadGamerWife: Good luck, I hope this helps your numbers!

imagine7696030614 · July 2014

Sorry to jump in as I haven't officially been diagnosed with GD yet. I mentioned in another thread that my Endo wants me to track my numbers for a week. I started yesterday and, though I know it's probably too soon to come up with any real patterns, it seems like I'm borderline. I do eat like a jerk though, lol. Too much sugar and carbs I guess... But then again, I don't think it's THAT bad. I don't know. So, fasting # yesterday was 75, 2 hours after breakfast was 138, 2 hours after lunch was 138, and 2 hours after dinner was 116. This morning my my fasting # was 86. I think my numbers were high after breakfast and lunch because I had had half a peach iced tea snapple with each meal. My Endo said to just eat as I normally would while testing this week. Does anyone know if they can make a diagnoses of GD based only on home testing? Thanks!

Justabean3 · July 2014

The problem isn't what you eat but how your process it.

For example if you give a normal person those same meals they won't be at 138 but 105 for example

My honest guess is yes you have it but will probably be able to control it with diet and exercise. They can make a diagnosis this way if they feel the test is pointless. I did not take it. I was just straight diagnosed.

My numbers were like F-94 138,174,110

imagine7696030614 · July 2014

Thank you. This is very helpful! I don't want to have GD but if I do have it I'd love to get a diagnosis this way and skip that 2nd 3 hour glucose tolerance test my OB wants me to take in 2 weeks.

Justabean3 · July 2014

If they told you just to eat normal and test than that is what I would do and not care about the numbers other than writing them down . It's only one week and the stress if testing can cause them to go up.

I actually think the best way I have been doing it and not looking att he number unless I feel sick and write them down at the end of the day

MrsL2B · July 2014

One of the diagnostic criteria for type 2 diabetes is a blood glucose level of over 200 at any time, so I'd imagine there's a similar criteria for gestational diabetes.

Justabean3 · July 2014

That's not entirely true that it's "anytime" you have to meet other criteria

But gestational has requirements too

Type 2:
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l) OR
Symptoms (such as polyuria, polydipsia, unexplained weight loss) AND
a random plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) OR
Plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl ( 11.1 mmol/l) 2 hours after a 75g glucose load OR
A1C ≥ 6.5%.

MrsL2B · July 2014

I feel like this is a dumb question, but the little lid on insulin vials doesn't go back on after you pop it off, right? I am getting a little paranoid about letting the tops of the vials come into contact with anything, but I also wonder if I'm being overly obsessive about wiping them down with alcohol. I really wish these things came with a more permanent lid.

MrsL2B · July 2014

@starla487 Thanks, I was 97% sure I was verging on neurotic. I rarely change out my lancets, and these needles aren't exactly long, so I figure the risk of an infection can't be all that high.

My numbers are still too high, so I'll be calling the MFM for another adjustment first thing Monday morning. They aren't even coming down after exercise at this dose, which adds to my theory that insulin insufficiency has always been a little more of my problem than insulin resistance (I've never been overweight and I can put on muscle very easily, plus I always seem to lose a little weight when I eat a higher carb diet).

MrsL2B · July 2014

I feel like all I have to talk about lately is diabetes. Ugh. I'm adding in the nph tonight, which is great, but the Walgreens by my house was out of stock. I had to track some down from another pharmacy, which was not great. This isn't the first time this pregnancy that my pharmacy has been out of something that seems basic and essential.

DreadGamerWife · July 2014

starla487 said:

@DreadGamerWife‌ What kind of insulin are you on? NPH?

Yep. And they just increased it again to 14 units at night (as the first increase didn't seem to do anything statically significant).

After meal numbers have been good - adjusted breakfast to add in some fats (peanut butter) and that greatly helped with that number. Just can't figure out how to get the fasting under 95.

DreadGamerWife · July 2014

starla487 said:

MrsL2B said:

I feel like this is a dumb question, but the little lid on insulin vials doesn't go back on after you pop it off, right? I am getting a little paranoid about letting the tops of the vials come into contact with anything, but I also wonder if I'm being overly obsessive about wiping them down with alcohol. I really wish these things came with a more permanent lid.

Hehe. No. Those little caps are disposable after removal. Gosh, I don't remember the last time I wiped down my bottles with alcohol. I'm such a bad example. :-P That said, you should be fine without needing to clean them all the time. How's it working out for you?

I do wipe my bottle down with an alcohol swap but that is how you are trained to do it for infertility. So, I just followed the same protocol with insulin. Mainly as I keep the insulin bottle in the kitchen, so who knows what ends on it otherwise.

DreadGamerWife · July 2014

starla487 said:

DreadGamerWife said:

starla487 said:

@DreadGamerWife‌ What kind of insulin are you on? NPH?

Yep. And they just increased it again to 14 units at night (as the first increase didn't seem to do anything statically significant).

After meal numbers have been good - adjusted breakfast to add in some fats (peanut butter) and that greatly helped with that number. Just can't figure out how to get the fasting under 95.

I mention this to anyone new to NPH because I had so much trouble with it when I was a kid. Try checking your sugars at 2 am or so to make sure you aren't dropping in the middle of the night and waking up with a rebound.

I was thinking of doing that given that my fasting number hasn't really budged. I figure I will try to do it when I get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night for a few nights.

MrsL2B · July 2014

starla487 said:

DreadGamerWife said:

starla487 said:

@DreadGamerWife‌ What kind of insulin are you on? NPH?

Yep. And they just increased it again to 14 units at night (as the first increase didn't seem to do anything statically significant).

After meal numbers have been good - adjusted breakfast to add in some fats (peanut butter) and that greatly helped with that number. Just can't figure out how to get the fasting under 95.

I mention this to anyone new to NPH because I had so much trouble with it when I was a kid. Try checking your sugars at 2 am or so to make sure you aren't dropping in the middle of the night and waking up with a rebound.

I've taken to checking every night when I get up to pee and have such a hard time falling back asleep after going through that process. I'm considering asking my boss if I can change my office hours to better align with my crazy pregnancy sleep cycle.

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