@mandyjulie I don't know if I could get past the taste/smell... Definitely let us know how that works for you! Have never heard that before. Cinnamon can help with blood sugar too. (My grandma used it in everything possible for her Type II)
Edit* Because apparently I can't word tonight and didn't finish my thought.
@mandyjulie - That looks so good! As for the ACV... I haven't heard of that, but my FIL who has Type II said that pickles help lower his blood sugar. I'm guessing it has to do with the vinegar.
So I'm going into my second day of testing. Yesterday my numbers were all super low. 89 after both lunch and dinner. Fasting this morning was 76. Then after breakfast I got 116. Still under the limit (they want under 130 an hour after meals), but was a little surprised by the large jump.
Want to see how the two other tests go today, just as a baseline, then I think I'll start doing ACV once or twice a day and see if there's any effect. May not really be necessary, but it's supposed to be such a wonderful elixir anyway, so I guess it can't hurt.
Oh and I'm going out for lunch at an Asian restaurant followed by ice cream shortly! :0 Already planned a while ago so I can't skip, but I've picked out my healthy meal and am trying to time it so that I test after that, and before having a small portion of frozen yogurt. Then I will walk sometime this afternoon and/or after dinner. So we'll see...should be interesting!
@mandyjulie I have been learning about my numbers mostly through trial and error....but it has been tracking my food and seeing what works and what doesn't. Like, I found that if I have an evening snack before going to bed, my fasting level will be high. But if I eat a (tiny) snack before 9:30pm, my fasting number is fine. However, I don't eat dinner until after 7:30/7:45, so I don't test until 9:30/9:45....I have just missed my window for a snack. If I eat something that I know will bring my carb/sugar level up, I try and get a walk in. But if I walk too close to testing time, it seems like my numbers stay high. If I do the walk right after eating (even just a ten minute walk), my body still has time to burn it off and get back to a relaxed state before testing happens...and my numbers are low. Dairy seems to bring up my numbers (except cheese.....mostly cottage cheese, yogurt, and milk bring it up). I had read a lot of posts online of people having dairy and it lowering their levels....didn't work for me. If I eat and then sit for a long time, my numbers are higher (still under the requirement though), so I try and plan my meals around what I know that I am doing. Like if I know that I am going to be sitting/relaxing for 2-3 hours after lunch because my nanny kids are napping, I will make sure that my lunch is focused on lean proteins and vegetables. If I know that I am going to be up moving and really active after the meal, I will be a little more lenient and allow a fruit or a carb to be included with it, instead of only protein and vegetables. Otherwise, my fruits get spread out between my snack between breakfast/lunch, and my snack between lunch/dinner....because of the sugar in them.
I would say that it took me a good week to week and a half to figure out what was working and what wasn't (and I am still learning). I am starting day #16 of testing (I test after 2 hours), and the whole thing is definitely a learning experience! Don't beat yourself up if your numbers get close to the max number they want it over, just think about what you ate. You might find that you have some foods that are triggers for making your numbers climb. And both my nutritionist and my OB said that the occasional high number (over the recommended max number), is okay as long as I know what it is that triggered it. Like one night, I made the mistake of having a strawberry lemonade that I was craving, with my dinner. My plan was to walk after dinner, but it was 9pm by the time we ate, and we still had to get DD to bed and everything. At 11pm, I tested and my number was 158 (its suppose to be under 120). And then all of that sugar stayed in my system all night, and I woke to a fasting number of 99....and I wasn't surprised because of the lemonade. So I just made a little note next to the 158 that said "Strawberry lemonade @ 9pm), so I could remember to tell my OB that is why my number was so off compared to other numbers.
I'm feeling a lot happier because I think the metformin has kicked in much better this week than last. If it didn't, my OB was going to double it. I was really discouraged, but I haven't had a bad number since last Friday now. I've taken a warm, not scalding hot, bath after dinner a couple of nights in a row to ease my aches and pains, and I've noticed that it seems to help with my numbers, too. I've also decided to make the best of things and indulge in food items that are good for the diet, but that I don't necessarily eat the rest of the time, like really good cheeses and nut butters... The attitude adjustment has helped a lot.
Seeing my doctors this week has made me feel so much better. Both my regular and high risk doctors said that my numbers have been awesome, which is good to hear, especially since the few times I've been a few points over have really stressed me out. They both told me that they're not concerned if I go over a bit sometimes if I have a reason. For example, my doctor said, "If you say, 'I had a giant piece of cake and then my sugar was 145.' I'll say, 'Of course, dude. You ate some wonderful cake!'" They both told me it's ok to splurge sometimes and I shouldn't feel guilty. So today I walked half an hour, ate two slices of pizza, and then walked for an hour on the boardwalk. My sugar was 133 which I don't think is too bad considering. It's nice to know the world doesn't end if I eat carbs.
I also got a growth scan which showed that he's about 4 lbs 6 oz (29th percentile). Not too big, not too small. It made me feel better to see that I hadn't completely screwed him up with all my carb guzzling for the first two trimesters.
Hi July BMB, I am asking here rather than in August (I post in both because of my due date) as you all likely have more experience at this point with management.
I am sick (fever, chills, upper respiratory stuff) and it is pushing my numbers up. I don't really want to eat, abd most protein sounds awful. Any advice for keeping the numbers down while sick? I know the stress from.the illness itself is pushing up the numbers and what I can do is limited. Of course if it gets too high or I have concerns I will call the nurse line, just wondering if anyone has a similar experience?
Hi July BMB, I am asking here rather than in August (I post in both because of my due date) as you all likely have more experience at this point with management.
I am sick (fever, chills, upper respiratory stuff) and it is pushing my numbers up. I don't really want to eat, abd most protein sounds awful. Any advice for keeping the numbers down while sick? I know the stress from.the illness itself is pushing up the numbers and what I can do is limited. Of course if it gets too high or I have concerns I will call the nurse line, just wondering if anyone has a similar experience?
@liljabee have you asked your GD counselor/MFM office? Whomever you send the numbers to and gave you the nutritional counseling. My counselor is available via email for questions like this. Also believe they will be understanding if your write these circumstances in the notes with your numbers.
I would just try and stick to whatever GD-friendly foods you can tolerate right now. I know broth is quite safe so can you have that or similar chicken soup?
Did anyone's dr tell them what blood sugar reading is too low? My dr put me on medicine for overnight because she felt my fasting numbers where too high. I just started the medicine Friday night. My fasting numbers have now been 65 and 61? I know she was hoping for 80. Anyone know if this is too low? I will call them tomorrow when they open.
@hpiglett I'm just lurking here but that is definitely too low. They may suggest cutting your dose in half or something like that. How are you feeling when your numbers are in the 60's? If you're feeling weak, dizzy or lightheaded, you may want to call and talk to the on call doctor today.
I know that someone had mentioned using cinnamon to help lower blood sugar levels and I just wanted to add something to that. While using cinnamon to enhance the flavor of your food is totally fine during pregnancy, taking cinnamon supplements can actually cause premature labor and uterine contractions in an otherwise healthy pregnancy. Here is the link to the article. https://www.livestrong.com/article/495246-is-it-okay-to-take-cinnamon-tablets-while-pregnant/
I had looked into this when I was first diagnosed with GD back in December since it sounded like it could be worth a try, but quickly ruled it out once I read the article.
@hpiglett I know I'm a day late and a dollar short, but, I've had a reading of 55 after breakfast, asked my doctor about it and she told me that she wasn't too concerned about it. She said that your body won't let you get too low. And if you do feel it getting low (ex: jittery, light headed..) to drink half of a can of regular pop.
I find it very concerning that you were told your body won't let you get too low. It absolutely can, which is why you see fainting/insulin shock/seizures/coma and more. It is dangerous and does have side effects. I've been taken to the hospital unconscious, having passed out from blood sugar dropping.(Both before pregnancy and during.)
Hmm, I wasn't too concerned about it then just because I trust my dr, but now that I think about it, that does seem off..thankfully I felt fine and my bs hasn't dropped below the numbers they want!
Anyone noticing a drop in blood sugars as time goes on, even when you wouldn't expect them to? (Like after meal times) I called my OB about it today, and she wants me to go without the metformin until she sees me on Monday. I'm a little concerned because Google has told me everything from it being normal to it being a sign of the placenta failing.
@WVUPetunia my numbers at home have not come down, however they rechecked my Hemoglobin A1C this week and it went from 5.2 to 4.8. So I at least know that my average glucose number has decreased. The nurse at the perinatal center was very pleased with the results, so at this point I'm not too worried.
Would a cheaper monitor make it look like your numbers are higher? I had been using my friends nicer monitor but I ran out of strips so I ended up getting the Walmart cheapy. Now my numbers are higher and I haven't really changed anything. Not sure if it's just the pregnancy progressing or the monitor...
@Brittnic531 I used a cheaper monitor before my nice one came in and mine were always lower on the cheaper one. I guess it just depends on the type of monitor, really. But as you progress further into your pregnancy it's more difficult for your body to produce insulin like before (at least that's what I was told, im no doctor) I would check with your dr. Just to be safe!
Thanks @nikkimarie159! I was afraid it was just my body and have my next appointment on Tuesday and will talk to her about it. My numbers are starting to vary a lot more and it must be coincidence with the new/cheaper monitor.
Re: Gestational Diabetes Check-In
Edit* Because apparently I can't word tonight and didn't finish my thought.
Want to see how the two other tests go today, just as a baseline, then I think I'll start doing ACV once or twice a day and see if there's any effect. May not really be necessary, but it's supposed to be such a wonderful elixir anyway, so I guess it can't hurt.
Oh and I'm going out for lunch at an Asian restaurant followed by ice cream shortly! :0 Already planned a while ago so I can't skip, but I've picked out my healthy meal and am trying to time it so that I test after that, and before having a small portion of frozen yogurt. Then I will walk sometime this afternoon and/or after dinner. So we'll see...should be interesting!
I would say that it took me a good week to week and a half to figure out what was working and what wasn't (and I am still learning). I am starting day #16 of testing (I test after 2 hours), and the whole thing is definitely a learning experience! Don't beat yourself up if your numbers get close to the max number they want it over, just think about what you ate. You might find that you have some foods that are triggers for making your numbers climb. And both my nutritionist and my OB said that the occasional high number (over the recommended max number), is okay as long as I know what it is that triggered it. Like one night, I made the mistake of having a strawberry lemonade that I was craving, with my dinner. My plan was to walk after dinner, but it was 9pm by the time we ate, and we still had to get DD to bed and everything. At 11pm, I tested and my number was 158 (its suppose to be under 120). And then all of that sugar stayed in my system all night, and I woke to a fasting number of 99....and I wasn't surprised because of the lemonade. So I just made a little note next to the 158 that said "Strawberry lemonade @ 9pm), so I could remember to tell my OB that is why my number was so off compared to other numbers.
I also got a growth scan which showed that he's about 4 lbs 6 oz (29th percentile). Not too big, not too small. It made me feel better to see that I hadn't completely screwed him up with all my carb guzzling for the first two trimesters.
I am sick (fever, chills, upper respiratory stuff) and it is pushing my numbers up. I don't really want to eat, abd most protein sounds awful. Any advice for keeping the numbers down while sick? I know the stress from.the illness itself is pushing up the numbers and what I can do is limited. Of course if it gets too high or I have concerns I will call the nurse line, just wondering if anyone has a similar experience?
I would just try and stick to whatever GD-friendly foods you can tolerate right now. I know broth is quite safe so can you have that or similar chicken soup?
https://www.livestrong.com/article/495246-is-it-okay-to-take-cinnamon-tablets-while-pregnant/
I had looked into this when I was first diagnosed with GD back in December since it sounded like it could be worth a try, but quickly ruled it out once I read the article.
Edit because I can't spell