Random but figured I'd share some things that have always worked well for me (last time mainly):
Breakfast - I did and am back to doing now the Glucerna shakes with a string cheese in the morning. I can't seem to handle too much in carbs or really anything outside of this. The shakes can be pricey but they aren't too awful - I prefer the strawberry and chocolate ones.
Snacks - I like to do graham cracker squares with peanut butter (natural kind per the diet coach), protein bar with babybel cheese, a glucerna snack shake, handful of nuts with craisins, or a small apple with peanut butter.
Work lunch: I pretty much eat the same thing daily and did the same thing last time - I make my own caprese salad (mozz cheese, grape tomatoes, basil, balsamic glaze) and a yogurt. Gotta be semi careful on the portions of everything but it's yummy and easy to make at work. Sometimes I'll add in some fruit here if I'm craving it.
Dinner: super varies but tends to be some kind of meat with small side of rice or tortillas, etc. Last time we ate tons of mexican - Steak tacos on corn tortillas with lime and guac were yummy and did ok for my sugars.
Before bed snack - There are some greek yogurt 'ice cream' bars that are pretty decent - paired with some kind of protein (cheese generally for me) I did fine sugar wise.
Again, I tend to eat a lot of the same exact thing. It gets boring but it's easy. I know I have a huge list of snack ideas from last time that I'll try to track down if anyone is stuck on ideas.
Sorry for just disappearing after my frantic post last week...I was able to call the office back and get an appointment right away. At almost 30 weeks pregnant I didn't feel comfortable waiting a second longer...and I am glad I pushed!
I met with the BEST diabetic counselor who eased all my fears of "what have I done to my baby" and she got me set up with a glucose/blood sugar monitor and I met with a dietician to get a better idea of what I should eat and when...and I left feeling MUCH better about everything!
The diet (while more strict than I am used to or would prefer) isn't horrible...and luckily I have been able to control my numbers very easily.
I appreciate all of you that responded to my post!! And if anyone is freaking out like I did...just don't (easier said than done) but really, it's not as bad as your mind makes it out to be in those first few moments after finding out, and it will all be okay
I think I'm finally on the right track with glyburide and diet. My fasting numbers have been good the past few days (knock on wood)
Also Halo ice cream seems to be my new best friend. I eat it as my bedtime snack and have been waking up with good fasting numbers. I just wish it wasn't $6/pint!
I think I'm finally on the right track with glyburide and diet. My fasting numbers have been good the past few days (knock on wood)
Also Halo ice cream seems to be my new best friend. I eat it as my bedtime snack and have been waking up with good fasting numbers. I just wish it wasn't $6/pint!
This makes me so happy to hear! I have been missing my nightly bowl of ice cream...and thought about giving this a try! How much of it do you usually eat? I mean...I could likely put away the whole pint if given the chance
Also, anyone else having to check their ketones? I'm finding it hard to balance getting enough carbs/not eating too many...my numbers are on the lower end usually and I have trace/small amounts of ketones in my urine, which is know is also dangerous. This balancing act is tricky!
I failed the one hour. Darn it. I was close to the cutoff of them just calling it GD (188), so I'm on the fence about taking the 3 hr. The hospital is ambivalent about whether or not I take it. I've been testing my sugars and eating normally, just to see how my sugars were responding. So far, they've appeared normal, even after pizza. I'm wondering if it's possible I don't have it? Could anyone detail what the 3 hr test is like?
Edited to add: I'm not scare of the diagnosis, and I'm not looking for a free pass to stuff my face with sweets. I've been eating moderately the whole pregnancy. If I have it, I want to know. Maybe I've just answered my own question. I guess what I'm really confused about is this: can a person have GD and not come across foods that spike their BS? Do normal BS readings mean anything?
@akslevin I would take it but I'm a cautious one. I had GD with my first and I noticed that I never really had high readings after eating meals as long as I made sure to eat protein with my carbs and I took a walk if I splurged.
Anyone else have elevated fasting levels in the morning but normal levels an hour after a meal? Mine aren't insanely high, 3-5 above where the doctor wants me to be, but I find it strange my fasting numbers are elevated but I'm within range after a meal.
So turns out I failed the 3 hr but I'm ok with it. I'm attending a class on Thurs to get all of the info and material I need to manage this. I'm not bummed I just know I need to do whatever it takes to keep my baby healthy and me. Please everyone continue to post snack and meal ideas, I get food boredom so easily!
@sberries yes I always had high fasting numbers- my after breakfast number would be lower than my fasting. They ended up putting me on meds for it But my fasting numbers were 105-115
@sberries I've had the same issue with both my previous pregnancy and this one. I've never had problems controlling my sugars after meals but my fasting number is always around 100-105. I've messaged my dr and I'm certain they will prescribe meds this week.
@akslevin If you haven't had GD before I would take the 3 hr just to know for sure. My 1 hr this time around at 26 weeks was 182 and my dr was fine with me skipping the 3 hr since I've been diagnosed before. Plus, I think the 3 hr can tell you alot about how your body responds to sugar, etc. My results showed that my fasting was my worst number and all of my others were right around the cut off.
@akslevin I would go ahead and take the 3 hr. I had GD with a previous pregnancy, and the 3 hr is going to give you a much clearer answer. It will be able to tell you where you spike, and how quickly your body is responding with insulin. For example, you may have normal fasting reading, then a huge spike 1 hour into the test, then your 2 and 3 hour readings could be normal- indicating your pancreas is responding with insulin, and the placenta is only interfering in the beginning. Whatever the outcome, I think you should take the 3 hour. Personally, I was always able to control my BS with the correct amount of carbs and protein, and didn't have any BS issues throughout the rest of the pregnancy. Let us know what you do!
As others have mentioned, I'd take the 3hr. I failed the 1 hour, but I blamed it on the Hershey bar I had the night before. When I took the 3hr, they said my sugar level slightly spiked at the 2nd hour, but not enough to say I had GD or had to monitor my sugar levels. They said to just watch what I ate from here on out and to exercise. I failed on a Thursday so by Tuesday I was ready to test again. The whole weekend I went on daily walks, stayed away from white carbs (only had whole wheat toast), stayed away from fruits and juice and had plenty of protein.
Thanks for all of your input -- very helpful. I agree with you - I need to take the 3hr test to be sure. It's just I reacted so badly to the 1hr (my sugar bottomed out and I almost fainted), that I weary of the 3hr for fear it may be worse. But I need to know definitively. They're having me monitor my sugar levels for a week and then I have another appointment scheduled next week, over a week between the two tests.
Got my GD diagnosis officially today. The hospital is suppose to contact me for a class/dietitian appointment. They've called in my supplied to the pharmacy. What do I do in the meantime?? Obviously try to limit my sugar and carbs, but is it safe to do it without any guidance?
These are the guidelines I was given. I would just do your best until you get in to see the dietitian. The dietitian told me these carb counts are a limit so you can have less. They also told me to eat 1800-2300 calories a day and shoot for these macros: 30% carbs/30% protein/40% fat. Good luck! I'm finding the diet easy to follow but still sometimes get numbers out of range which I'm told can be stress related. The good news is at my ultrasound my baby was normal size. With gestational diabetes we are at risk to have a large baby.
I'm very nervous about the big baby - my first was a big girl (8 lbs 6 oz) and I am on the smaller/average size for a woman. I don't know if I can't handle much bigger in a baby!!
Got my GD diagnosis officially today. The hospital is suppose to contact me for a class/dietitian appointment. They've called in my supplied to the pharmacy. What do I do in the meantime?? Obviously try to limit my sugar and carbs, but is it safe to do it without any guidance?
I'm omitting anything white -- sugar, bread, potatoes, rice, tortillas, pasta, etc. I've not stumbled upon a food so far that spiked my numbers. I think in the beginning it's a bit of a puzzle. I'm doing eggs and organic chicken sausage for breakfast, cottage cheese and apple for snack, protein+veg for lunch, string cheese+low glycemic fruit for snack, and protein+veg for dinner. I've gone back to eating the way I did before my wedding, except eating more carbs now from fruits and veggies. I find I can get plenty of carbs in that way. And I always eat a protein with carbs. Seems to working well.
@akslevin - Thank you! I did okay this weekend with the lack of guidance yet, but it's still hard. With DD I was able to eat a lot of proteins, this time, most things turn my stomach. I'm finding the balance though and I really appreciate the insight.
@akslevin - Thank you! I did okay this weekend with the lack of guidance yet, but it's still hard. With DD I was able to eat a lot of proteins, this time, most things turn my stomach. I'm finding the balance though and I really appreciate the insight.
Welcome! Isn't it so strange how pregnancy changes our tolerances? I've been eating eggs for breakfast every.single.day. since May 2013, but just recently, I've grown less and less interested. Eating them this morning was a challenge. JEEZ! I pray my love for them returns in 9 weeks, after little guy makes his appearance.
Re: Gestational Diabetes check in?
Breakfast - I did and am back to doing now the Glucerna shakes with a string cheese in the morning. I can't seem to handle too much in carbs or really anything outside of this. The shakes can be pricey but they aren't too awful - I prefer the strawberry and chocolate ones.
Snacks - I like to do graham cracker squares with peanut butter (natural kind per the diet coach), protein bar with babybel cheese, a glucerna snack shake, handful of nuts with craisins, or a small apple with peanut butter.
Work lunch: I pretty much eat the same thing daily and did the same thing last time - I make my own caprese salad (mozz cheese, grape tomatoes, basil, balsamic glaze) and a yogurt. Gotta be semi careful on the portions of everything but it's yummy and easy to make at work. Sometimes I'll add in some fruit here if I'm craving it.
Dinner: super varies but tends to be some kind of meat with small side of rice or tortillas, etc. Last time we ate tons of mexican - Steak tacos on corn tortillas with lime and guac were yummy and did ok for my sugars.
Before bed snack - There are some greek yogurt 'ice cream' bars that are pretty decent - paired with some kind of protein (cheese generally for me) I did fine sugar wise.
Again, I tend to eat a lot of the same exact thing. It gets boring but it's easy. I know I have a huge list of snack ideas from last time that I'll try to track down if anyone is stuck on ideas.
@shaunessa I passed!
Thank you for posting this! Since I need to watch what I eat, I think i need to switch out my fruit during my lunch for cheese
@Virginialeigh
Yay!!!!!
I met with the BEST diabetic counselor who eased all my fears of "what have I done to my baby" and she got me set up with a glucose/blood sugar monitor and I met with a dietician to get a better idea of what I should eat and when...and I left feeling MUCH better about everything!
The diet (while more strict than I am used to or would prefer) isn't horrible...and luckily I have been able to control my numbers very easily.
I appreciate all of you that responded to my post!! And if anyone is freaking out like I did...just don't (easier said than done) but really, it's not as bad as your mind makes it out to be in those first few moments after finding out, and it will all be okay
Also Halo ice cream seems to be my new best friend. I eat it as my bedtime snack and have been waking up with good fasting numbers. I just wish it wasn't $6/pint!
DD Born 5.9.12
MC March 2016@8.5w
Expecting #2 4/30/17
Also, anyone else having to check their ketones? I'm finding it hard to balance getting enough carbs/not eating too many...my numbers are on the lower end usually and I have trace/small amounts of ketones in my urine, which is know is also dangerous. This balancing act is tricky!
They check my ketones at my OB appointments and so far so good. It really is hard to find that sweet spot with enough carbs
DD Born 5.9.12
MC March 2016@8.5w
Expecting #2 4/30/17
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
I failed the one hour. Darn it. I was close to the cutoff of them just calling it GD (188), so I'm on the fence about taking the 3 hr. The hospital is ambivalent about whether or not I take it. I've been testing my sugars and eating normally, just to see how my sugars were responding. So far, they've appeared normal, even after pizza. I'm wondering if it's possible I don't have it? Could anyone detail what the 3 hr test is like?
Edited to add: I'm not scare of the diagnosis, and I'm not looking for a free pass to stuff my face with sweets. I've been eating moderately the whole pregnancy. If I have it, I want to know. Maybe I've just answered my own question. I guess what I'm really confused about is this: can a person have GD and not come across foods that spike their BS? Do normal BS readings mean anything?
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
But my fasting numbers were 105-115
DD Born 5.9.12
MC March 2016@8.5w
Expecting #2 4/30/17
@akslevin If you haven't had GD before I would take the 3 hr just to know for sure. My 1 hr this time around at 26 weeks was 182 and my dr was fine with me skipping the 3 hr since I've been diagnosed before. Plus, I think the 3 hr can tell you alot about how your body responds to sugar, etc. My results showed that my fasting was my worst number and all of my others were right around the cut off.
Let us know what you do!
As others have mentioned, I'd take the 3hr. I failed the 1 hour, but I blamed it on the Hershey bar I had the night before. When I took the 3hr, they said my sugar level slightly spiked at the 2nd hour, but not enough to say I had GD or had to monitor my sugar levels. They said to just watch what I ate from here on out and to exercise. I failed on a Thursday so by Tuesday I was ready to test again. The whole weekend I went on daily walks, stayed away from white carbs (only had whole wheat toast), stayed away from fruits and juice and had plenty of protein.
Carb count goals
I'm very nervous about the big baby - my first was a big girl (8 lbs 6 oz) and I am on the smaller/average size for a woman. I don't know if I can't handle much bigger in a baby!!