Alright - so when I measure my blood sugar, my fasting level needs to be under 5.3 and my 1 hour after meals needs to be less than 7.8. I don't know what this means when I look at all your numbers?!?!?! Stupid Canadian diabetes.
Off to google conversions...
I'm the same way- I tell people what my numbers should be and they just respond with 'that means nothing to me' I found a conversion website for when I'm talking to Americans about my numbers that helps me figure out where I compare to others etc
Fasting they want me under 5.3 and 1 hr after food they want me under 7.8 as well, so at least I 'know' someone with the same numbers as me
Starting yesterday afternoon and all day so far today all of my numbers have SUCKED and I'm not even sure how to get them back on track. Still tracking every thing I eat, lots of water, walking, etc. Either over my target number or just barely under for the last 5 checks. Frustrated and not sure how to restart. Booooo.
Yup. I measure everything, do the carb count, balance protein fiber and carbs, drinks lots of water. The only thing I can figure out is I've been sleeping terribly (no more than 45 minutes at a time without tossing, turning, or getting up to go to the bathroom) and I've been swamped at work so more stress.
So my fasting sugars are still above 100, so they are upping my insulin to 15 units every night. If they arent in the 80s by saturday, they are upping them again. Im a bit frustrated, the insulin just isnt working yet. did anyones doc provide non-insulin recommendations to help with fasting sugars? I thought i read that someones doc recommended middle of the night snacks? Im going to ask my nutritionist on monday.
@alysemciver im on the same slow acting insulin which i take every night. I also have to use syringes because thats what my insurance covers. Hate it! i hope your numbers get better soon.
@June2016BabyW and @chesterdoodle - I don't have any suggestions, but just wanted to say I'm sending positive thoughts your way and hoping you can find solutions!
@chesterdoodle-my friend who is a PA talked about people they recommend to test at 3am and eat a snack then. I would be interested to hear what your nutritionist says on that.
Guys had the worst day ever at work yesterday and I managed to NOT eat half a pizza and a bucket of ice cream. Oh for the day when I can again drown my sorrows in pizza, chocolate and wine.
So my fasting numbers was down to 87 this morning from over 100. I decided to NOT have a carby bedtime snack that they force on me and just had protein instead. The nutritionist told me I really need to have a glass of milk or something with carbs with it but I respond better without. I've been testing this theory for 2 weeks now
Yes!! Love this @alysemciver. I just told my husband I am going to change up my evening snack to see if that helps my fasting level improve. It hasn't been drastically awful, but hovers right around 95-100. I'm going to try your theory and skip the carb snack and try protein instead.
Way to go @AshleyBKeen and I totally agree. I am looking forward to the time when I can just indulge but still have a mindfulness of the importance of not over indulging in carbs for every single meal. ;-)
I find 175g of carbs a lot right now. And the carb-loaded snack before bed? I wake up feeling guilty for eating it. Maybe I'll try what you guys are doing and up the protein, lower carbs before bed.
Im going to try skipping the carbs for my late night snack too. Im desperate to improve my numbers and hate that they keep just pushing my insulin up when its not making any difference (my average is up since i started insulin). Despite upping my insulin to 15 units last night, my sugars were still 105 this morning. So annoying.
And btw, i am craving a nice ice cold coke so bad, but am resisting. Im drinking seltzer instead. Boo!
Yes!! Love this @alysemciver. I just told my husband I am going to change up my evening snack to see if that helps my fasting level improve. It hasn't been drastically awful, but hovers right around 95-100. I'm going to try your theory and skip the carb snack and try protein instead.
Way to go @AshleyBKeen and I totally agree. I am looking forward to the time when I can just indulge but still have a mindfulness of the importance of not over indulging in carbs for every single meal. ;-)
Yes! I've been between 100-110 for my fasting when I eat a carby snack. When I don't I'm between 86-96. I eat a big handful of cashews or a spoonful of peanut butter. I've only really tried it with nuts but I seem to have much better results
My morning fasting numbers are 100-110 but then i walk my dog for 15 mins and the new fasting number is 88-95. My nutritionist lets me use the lower level because I am still fasting! I suggest walking & rechecking, makes a difference!
Be careful guys. Skipping a carb at bedtime can cause ketones to spill into your urine. Carbs are also crucial to brain development, so if you cut back, your restricting your baby's brain growth also. There's a reason why they tell you to eat carbs anyway. The point is not to restrict your carb intake. As we reach and pass 32 weeks, the placenta secretes a hormone that makes you more insulin resistant. Almost all GD moms are put on medicine. You're not doing anything wrong. This is what the body does in this disease process. Please trust that your numbers are reflecting the hormone process. Having to take medication doesn't mean you aren't doing something right. It means that your body needs a little help. That being said, non-compliance is NOT the same thing.
Thats a good point, @shannonrnbsn. I think I still need to toggle with my evening snack though. Perhaps go with a better carb choice or something with better balance between carb and protein. I need the snack at night otherwise I was up in the middle of the night so hungry it hurts. But the cup of cheerios and cup of skim milk that was working for my evening snack doesnt seem to be working as well now. I might try whatever the example was on the diet plan by the nutritionist-6 saltine crackers, 1 cup skim milk, 1oz cheese or meat.
@CourtJack I dont think I was given a specific carb goal to shoot for. Just told to balance the carbs throughout the day (2-3 carb choices for breakfast, 3-4 for lunch and dinner, 1-2 for each snack. Each carb choice is equal to around 15g of carbs for a total of between 165-255g). When I think about the amount of carbs I used to eat, this total seems like a joke. Went to Chipotle today and what I normally would have gotten from there would have been 132g of carbs just for the burrito, not to mention the chips and guac I would have had with it. I like my carbs.
Any one told info about subtracting fiber grams from carb count? If a food has 18g of carbs but 5g of fiber, you subtract the fiber grams from the total carb grams because the body doesnt use fiber the same way and it doesnt raise your blood sugar?
This is how I'm supposed to eat. And yep I'm subtracting fibre from carbs. I've never done that before so maybe that's why I feel like I'm eating so many.
There you go @June2016BabyW!!! @CourtJack I have 210g/day, but I hardly reach that on most days. It's all about consistency. Not eating 210 one day and 110 another day. Then your body thinks it's starving, starts to pull nutrients from your muscle and then ketones are formed. It's about eating the right carbs and maintaining.
I have the same planner thing @shannonrnbsn !! And inconsistency is definitely one of my problems. I went back though myfitnesspal and I have not been as consistent as I thought I was being.
I've been simply flabbergasted (because that's the best description I've got!) at how many carbs are in some things. For example, a serving of the ice cream that became a nightly staple has 35g of carbs per 1/2 a cup....ladies, I was eating like half the freaking tub a night!!! This is all very eye opening to me and a wake up call that I should have been watching things closer a loooooong time ago!
So i talked to my diabetes nutritionist today and was told not to add a middle of the night snack as it would increase my fasting numbers. (Dont understand why since i would be fasting less but this whole thing is confusing to me.) she did tell me that i need to eat my after dinner snack no more than 45 mins before i go to sleep. Ive been having it around 9-9:30 but not falling asleep until midnight, im having some trouble sleeping. So tonight i can have 1/2 my snack at 9-9:30 and then the rest at 11:30, so splitting my allowable 30 carbs between the two snacks. i'll let you know if it works. Really Need to be in the 80s tomorrow morning.
Also, my diet guidelines are:
15-30 breakfast (no fruit for breakfast) 15-30 snack 30-45 lunch 15-30 snack 30-45 dinner 15-30 snack (And now have permission to have 2 15 carb snacks after dinner per my update above)
Yes definitely what @shannonrnbsn said. This is my second time with diabetes and am very familiar with what I need to do. I test for ketones every morning and am not having an issue there finally.
Summer sausage, cheese, and a serving of pringles last night for snack. Even slept in for a bit and my number this morning-88!!! I felt like that was such an awesome win. Will try again tonight to see if it was just a fluke but feeling like that is a better snack for me then cheerios and milk.
Totally ate a chicken biscuit for breakfast and nachos for lunch. It's my birthday and I feel justified, but holy cow I feel like absolute crap. My 1 hr post breakfast was 219 and my 1 hr post lunch was 197. Starting to think it might not have been worth it...
Is something wrong with my glucometer? I just checked my sugar and it said 195, checked again and said 295, and then checked twice more 196,199. I have never had that high, the highest has been 138. I had McDonald's quarter pounder and a medium fry with a water.
This may sound stupid, but I just washed my hands and it was 119 after all those high numbers. Do you wash your hands or use alcohol wipes before testing?
This may sound stupid, but I just washed my hands and it was 119 after all those high numbers. Do you wash your hands or use alcohol wipes before testing?
Yes I always try and rinse them off if I remember because it'll take whatever is on your hands for residue, test that and give you a skewed number. You don't have to do it every time but if you notice it is way off definitely rinse them and try again
Totally ate a chicken biscuit for breakfast and nachos for lunch. It's my birthday and I feel justified, but holy cow I feel like absolute crap. My 1 hr post breakfast was 219 and my 1 hr post lunch was 197. Starting to think it might not have been worth it...
I hope it was all at least absolutely delicious, and I say you deserve to be able to eat what you want on your birthday for sure!! Sorry you're feeling like crap though
Totally ate a chicken biscuit for breakfast and nachos for lunch. It's my birthday and I feel justified, but holy cow I feel like absolute crap. My 1 hr post breakfast was 219 and my 1 hr post lunch was 197. Starting to think it might not have been worth it...
I hope it was all at least absolutely delicious, and I say you deserve to be able to eat what you want on your birthday for sure!! Sorry you're feeling like crap though
Doing much better today! I think my sugars are the highest in the morning. After a short afternoon nap, I was back in the saddle today's menu is salad, salad, salad and a side of salad.
@shannonrnbsn those salads sound....nice. But not nearly as nice as nachos.
@alylove11 I haven't had any McDonalds except their salad with no dressing since getting diagnosed but I'm thinking it is pretty high in carbs and might shoot your numbers up. Although I'm not sure about the varying numbers.
I would rarely have the chance to wash my hands before testing since some times when I am testing I am running between stuff. But I will try washing whenever possible to see if it helps keep my numbers down.
Ate the exact same snack and the night before, slept about the same, etc-number was 93 this morning. It was under where it should be but I liked 88 better.
Still in the low 100's these past few mornings despite upping insulin and having my late night snack right before bed. Im back at the gestational diabetes clinic tomorrow and hope to get some answers/ alternatives. Trying to stay positive but getting frustrated at this point. Good thing is my numbers throughout the day are totally fine well within range.
@shannonrnbsn those salads sound....nice. But not nearly as nice as nachos.
@alylove11 I haven't had any McDonalds except their salad with no dressing since getting diagnosed but I'm thinking it is pretty high in carbs and might shoot your numbers up. Although I'm not sure about the varying numbers.
I would rarely have the chance to wash my hands before testing since some times when I am testing I am running between stuff. But I will try washing whenever possible to see if it helps keep my numbers down.
Ate the exact same snack and the night before, slept about the same, etc-number was 93 this morning. It was under where it should be but I liked 88 better.
A quarter pounder and medium fry has 86 carbs. I'd say you not only surpassed it but stomped right on your limit. Perhaps you needed to wash your hands, but I'd say choosing other choices is a good road to walk down too.
Is something wrong with my glucometer? I just checked my sugar and it said 195, checked again and said 295, and then checked twice more 196,199. I have never had that high, the highest has been 138. I had McDonald's quarter pounder and a medium fry with a water.
Is something wrong with my glucometer? I just checked my sugar and it said 195, checked again and said 295, and then checked twice more 196,199. I have never had that high, the highest has been 138. I had McDonald's quarter pounder and a medium fry with a water.
Yeah.....I looked up the nutrition info right after I responded....I don't think that would ever be in my GD diet. I'm pretty sure just thinking about all those carbs in one sitting boosted my numbers up.
I was nervous about having Mac and cheese with my lunch (sucks that a box of Mac and cheese is apparently NOT one serving) but even with a serving if Mac and cheese and brats my total for the meal was at 45g....and I was nervous about that.
@alylove11 was that an average meal for you? If so and your top number has only been around 138 then something is going well in your favor.
@shannonrnbsn holy crap. That's a lot. My OB has not given me any real guidelines as far as eating, except to watch sugars. I failed my GD test at 144, so they didn't walk me through anything except literally saying watch your sugars and try to balance better. They also told me not to take the 3 hour test because they treat anyone who fails as GD but said that I'm more borderline since my numbers after fasting and 1 hour have been good. Also, I promise I'm not a drive by. I've been part of J16 since the pee stick dried and was more active in 1st tri. It is my fault for not being more active, so I can see why you QFP.
@June2016BabyW It's not normal for me, just stopped for something quick. I could have made a better decision, but this was more of a treat for me. I try to balance better with a healthy fat and protein than all those carbs.
I'll talk to my OB next visit to see if I can get some more info on carb counting and balancing, but they haven't really done much. I don't think I'm going to stay with them after this pregnancy.
Re: Gestational Diabetics Check-In
Fasting they want me under 5.3 and 1 hr after food they want me under 7.8 as well, so at least I 'know' someone with the same numbers as me
@alysemciver im on the same slow acting insulin which i take every night. I also have to use syringes because thats what my insurance covers. Hate it! i hope your numbers get better soon.
@chesterdoodle-my friend who is a PA talked about people they recommend to test at 3am and eat a snack then. I would be interested to hear what your nutritionist says on that.
#smallGDvictories.
Way to go @AshleyBKeen and I totally agree. I am looking forward to the time when I can just indulge but still have a mindfulness of the importance of not over indulging in carbs for every single meal. ;-)
And btw, i am craving a nice ice cold coke so bad, but am resisting. Im drinking seltzer instead. Boo!
@CourtJack I dont think I was given a specific carb goal to shoot for. Just told to balance the carbs throughout the day (2-3 carb choices for breakfast, 3-4 for lunch and dinner, 1-2 for each snack. Each carb choice is equal to around 15g of carbs for a total of between 165-255g). When I think about the amount of carbs I used to eat, this total seems like a joke. Went to Chipotle today and what I normally would have gotten from there would have been 132g of carbs just for the burrito, not to mention the chips and guac I would have had with it. I like my carbs.
Any one told info about subtracting fiber grams from carb count? If a food has 18g of carbs but 5g of fiber, you subtract the fiber grams from the total carb grams because the body doesnt use fiber the same way and it doesnt raise your blood sugar?
This quinoa salad is AMAZING
Also, my diet guidelines are:
15-30 breakfast (no fruit for breakfast)
15-30 snack
30-45 lunch
15-30 snack
30-45 dinner
15-30 snack (And now have permission to have 2 15 carb snacks after dinner per my update above)
@alylove11 I haven't had any McDonalds except their salad with no dressing since getting diagnosed but I'm thinking it is pretty high in carbs and might shoot your numbers up. Although I'm not sure about the varying numbers.
I would rarely have the chance to wash my hands before testing since some times when I am testing I am running between stuff. But I will try washing whenever possible to see if it helps keep my numbers down.
Ate the exact same snack and the night before, slept about the same, etc-number was 93 this morning. It was under where it should be but I liked 88 better.
I'm making my grocery list and coming up with meals...any favorites I should add to the week?!
I was nervous about having Mac and cheese with my lunch (sucks that a box of Mac and cheese is apparently NOT one serving) but even with a serving if Mac and cheese and brats my total for the meal was at 45g....and I was nervous about that.
@alylove11 was that an average meal for you? If so and your top number has only been around 138 then something is going well in your favor.
@June2016BabyW It's not normal for me, just stopped for something quick. I could have made a better decision, but this was more of a treat for me. I try to balance better with a healthy fat and protein than all those carbs.
I'll talk to my OB next visit to see if I can get some more info on carb counting and balancing, but they haven't really done much. I don't think I'm going to stay with them after this pregnancy.