@stacisaun ugh I’m sorry you had to deal with that.
NSTs are standard as far as I am aware in GD patients but they are really no big deal and they will show in the event that something does end up wrong, which I think is fairly rare but something they still are extra cautious about. Which i’d rather them be over cautious rather than under. Fear mongering absolutely isn’t necessary though. Especially since you haven’t had the class or any real information passed on.
My doc isn’t even starting NSTs till 36 weeks. But I do have a history of a healthy full term birth with GD, so who knows if that’s a factor. Last time they were bi weekly from 32 on. On the bright side they sometimes do extra ultrasounds just because you’re there and I love extra chances to peak at the babe. It’s not all bad.
this is my backup acct. prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
@stacisaun I’m so sorry you had to deal with that! I was feeling like my midwife’s student was being insensitive by basically just leaving a message saying “we’re diagnosing you with gd.” I think sometimes care providers get so bogged down in the clinical side of things they forget how hard it is to be pregnant and dealing with complications. It was only when I called back and asked questions that she actually told me what my numbers were. Maybe you can call your dr to get some reassurance about everything she said.
Another question 😬 I know they’ll probably answer this when I go to the class next week, but everything I’ve seen on the Internet seems contradictory so far as levels go? I saw where you guys said that your docs want you to be under 140 after meals...but is there a number that’s too low? Or a target youre aiming for? They told me to test 4 times a day (2 hours after each meal) and bring that info with me to my appointment. I got my monitor yesterday so dinner was the first time I’ve used it. Dinner yesterday was 103, followed by a fasting number this morning of 85, after breakfast it was 105, and after lunch it was 97. Just wondering what is usual or “normal” for you all?
@stacisaun That is one of those things that varies and they will give you guidelines on. I test one hour after meals and am supposed to be under 120. Fasting is supposed to be between 70 and 90.
I have seen several different variations of one hour or two and under 140 or 120.
Those numbers look really good though.
Technically under 70 is hypoglycemia but you probably won’t have to worry about that, it’s not as big a worry when you are diet controlled. If you ever do feel funny you should check your blood sugar and rule that out though. I think I have a post about it earlier in the thread, it’s happened to me but I’m on insulin and that’s an very real possibility with insulin. They do(or should) for sure go over the signs/symptoms of low blood sugar and how to handle it if you end up on meds. But hopefully you won’t need to go that route.
**I also have only only ever had insulin never the oral meds and don’t know if the risk of hypoglycemia is the same though.
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Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
@stacisaun and @peaceinnature sorry you’re joining us. @thatbaintforbetty has said most of it. I’m on a low dose of glyburide and there is a risk of a hypoglycemic dip in the middle of the night (I take it at night for fasting numbers) but I haven’t had one. I do keep something sweet on the bedside table just in case though. Also my recommendations are under 120, 2 hours after meals, and under 90 for fasting. I’m also anxious about the possible change in my birth plan and all the extra monitoring I have to find babysitters for, but like @thatbaintforbetty said, the best birth plan is an open mind so that’s what I’m holding onto.
So my first 1hr test my number was 120. When they gave me the 1hr again (cause he's measuring so big) it was 136. 140 is the cut off to go to the 3 he test with my doctor. With 5+ weeks left... Should I be concerned I might develop GD here at the end?
@berky84 I wouldn’t think so but that’s really only a question your doctor can answer.
You could just make big babies. If he’s proportional in his growth and nothing else seems off I wouldn’t worry. Plenty of people have perfectly healthy larger babies without GD.
Also a big baby isn’t always GD related and GD doesn’t always mean a big baby. This one is 30th percentile for size, and my previous kid (I had GD last time too) was under 6lbs at full term. Size is not a good indicator all on its own of GD.
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Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
@thatbaintforbetty they gave me the 1 hr test 3 time with DS and I never had it and he came out at 10 lb 8 oz. So yeah I probably do just make big babies. This one was already 5 lbs 8 oz at my growth ultrasound at 32 weeks. But with my first the highest number I got was 120 so having a number so close to the threshold this time just makes me a little nervous.
So I had the class today and just started checking my bg and already I had a high reading after lunch. The dietician didn’t specifically say to do anything if we get a high reading, just to bring our numbers to the appointment next week and we’ll make changes if we need to. But I feel sort of like I’ve already failed and put my baby at further risk. I thought I had a pretty healthy lunch, maybe my portion was too big. And I had a nap after so that probably didn’t help. I’m just having a hard time adjusting to all this tracking and hearing her go through the risks to the baby was really tough. Anyone else struggle with feelings of failure after getting a high reading?
@peaceinnature I had my class today too and felt much the same way. They’re making me keep a food diary as well so if I do have a spike they can see kind of what caused it. Another big problem I realized was making mine spike was that I wasn’t eating enough during the day. If I go a long time without eating, and then eat and test 2 hours later, I notice it’s a little higher. My fasting number in the morning is my main problem, so they told me to make sure I’m having a snack before bed and to not sleep in too long (boo). The nurse in the class also told us that if you walk after lunch/dinner that your blood sugar can drop 1 point for every minute you walk so that might help too.
i’m right there with you! Hopefully we get the hang of it!!
It’s such a struggle! I’m sorry you all are feeling it too. I do know if you have a spike that it’s good to drink a lot of water and go for a walk or exercise in some way to bring it down. Food diaries are a great idea. But remember that sometimes even if you’re doing great on your diet, the hormones can screw you over and make your numbers high regardless. Also stress and lack of sleep affect it.
As for me, I’m being allowed to stay on the lower dose of glyburide for another week because I only had two higher fasting numbers last week and nothing over 100. I start weekly BPPs next week.
Its gettjng easier after two weeks on it, as far as mentally. But it still sucks and I have days where I just want to cry. But that may also be because I’m not sleeping.
I joined “meal ideas for gestational diabetes” on Facebook and have found some great suggestions and encouragement there too.
@stacisaun The quality and quantity of sleep will effect your fasting numbers. Which seems especially cruel cause like who on earth sleeps well at like 8 months pregnant?!?
@peaceinnature I had a salad the other night for dinner and got the highest number I’ve had in weeks. Off of salad. It’s super frustrating and disappointing but it’s not your fault. If you are looking at what you eat and trying and counting the carbs, that’s all any of can do.
There’s unfortunately not much you can do if you get a high number. A high number also isn’t as big of a deal as a pattern of high numbers. But I will echo that a food log is a huge help. Patterns are a big part of GD. Recognizing what foods and habits lead to a higher number helps give you back a sense of control that I know gets kinda lost. And even very light exercise can really make a difference. My dinner numbers are usually better because I’m moving around cleaning up the kitchen and packing up leftovers, etc. it’s not much but it does help. My lunch numbers are much more difficult because I only get 30 min, so no time to get in a walk and have a desk job.
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Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
@peaceinnature totally with you, I still stress every time I get a high number. I’ve noticed that there are certain trigger foods that I consider healthy that send me through the roof. Mostly, pasta, potatoes, rice, white bread, and most fruits. Starchy veggies, quinoa, and whole wheat bread are my replacements. But like @thatbaintforbetty said, my highest number was on a salad as well. Don’t stress too much about a few high numbers here and there! My doctor said if I could keep the highs to lower than 50% of my numbers they wouldn’t worry about it.
Definitely agree with @stacisaun about keeping a food journal, it has helped me a lot (but only after a few weeks of trial and error), as well as snacks! The ladies here have told me that snacks are important throughout the day to keep the BG levels consistent. And my bedtime snack personally brings my number up in the morning, but the higher fasting number seems to help regulate BG during the day better than a low fasting number.
Don't worry so much about a few high numbers and the baby (I know this is easier said than done). It takes many highs many days in a row to start making a difference in baby’s growth and health. Give yourself time to sort through all this mess!
I will say that joining groups for meals can be good, as @HGRich pointed out. Though for me it was very frustrating, because if I ate any of the suggested meals I would spike badly. I had to come up with variations on the themes that worked for my body.
@sheepshepherdess@thatbaintforbetty My high number was off a salad too! Maybe it’s not enough protein? Mine had chicken breast, but also chick peas and some whole wheat pasta in addition to lots of veggies. I think I over compensated and way reduced my portions for dinner because my number was below the fasting threshold. It’s just the first day so I guess I’ll figure things out. It was tough this afternoon, emotionally. Just feeling like I can’t trust my body and eat what I want when I’m hungry. Lots of tears and venting to the husband.
@stacisaun It helps to know others are feeling similar! I’m also tracking all my food, which is sort of a pain. I think I’m doing a similar thing where I wait too long to eat, like until I’m unbearably hungry. I’ve noticed I do that at lunch time cause I’m waiting for my two year old to go down for his nap before I eat. And then I probably have too much at once. It’s interesting trying to figure out how to balance all this and how it’s not really about eating “bad” foods, but the wrong combinations or amount at the wrong times.
Yeah it’s super frustrating. Another high fasting number this morning (107)—even with eating before bedtime. The nurse said they’d give me a week to get my fasting number “under control” which I find frustrating bc...what can I do while I’m sleeping?!? Is it cheating to go for a quick walk before I test my fasting number? They told me if I can’t reign it in i’ll Start metformin... which I’m sure will bring on another round of failure emotions lol. The first two fasting numbers I had were in normal range and I had Taco Bell before bed which sure as heck not on the list of foods I should be eating....so who knows. Since I’ve started eating “healthy options” they’ve all been high. I feel like it’s all a crap shoot!
@stacisaun my fasting number was higher this morning too (6.1 I’m not sure what that is in mg/dl but they want me below 5.3). I tried taking it again after moving around a lot getting my older son ready for school because I still hadn’t eaten yet and it was even higher 🤦♀️(6.3). So I feel like activity doesn’t have much to do with the fasting number? I had peanut butter, whole wheat crackers and half an apple before bed last night.
Does anyone know if it’s better to eat right away when you get up or if it’s ok to wait 1-2 hours? I’m usually not hungry right away and I’m busy getting everyone ready for the day.
@stacisaun does your bedtime snack include dairy? Some people are much more sensitive to dairy and it can really elevate your numbers. I can’t have dairy before bed or my fasting number are much higher.
@peaceinnature I don’t think it matters as long as your not waiting more then about 2 hours. I’m usually up at 5:30ish and early on eating before I showered and brushed my teeth led to bad morning sickness so I eat after I get ready, which means about a 7am breakfast.
Also the fasting read can be sensitive, I get up, go to the bathroom and then test. Some do it while still in bed, but consistency is key and generally as soon as possible after waking up and before you do much of anything is best. (I don’t tend to wake up in the middle of the night to pee so my bladder is always super full and I literally have to pee first thing or else I would go straight from bed to testing, for me it doesn’t effect much but for some it can make the difference between okay and too high)
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Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
@thatbaintforbetty the first two mornings I tracked it that it was in the 80s....I ate Taco Bell before bed both nights 🤔😂. Since I’ve been trying to eat healthier and on the time schedule they suggest my numbers have been all out of whack. I also had a salad today for lunch and had my highest number yet so honestly I have to clue....it did have cheese in it so maybe I am sensitive to dairy? I’ve been tracking for about a week so far and I’ve noticed if I eat the amount of carbs they suggest my numbers are high, if I eat lower than they suggest my numbers are normal. If I walk after every meal for about 20 minutes, they are normal. If I eat and sit or nap, they are always high. Hopefully I can get a track on it before my next appointment on Tuesday 🤷🏻♀️
That’s so weird how we’re all spiking off of salads. Maybe it’s the carb to protein ratio.
My fasting number was better this morning, the only things I did differently were to not take my vitamin before bed and run a humidifier in our room so I wasn’t breathing through my mouth as much. 🤷♀️
I’m also noticing that it’s not so much what I eat, but how much and in what combination. Yesterday I paid real close attention to the guidelines and never went over my suggested serving size of carbs per meal and my numbers were all good. And I even had a slice of leftover pizza as my “snack.”
Also my number after dinner is always quite low, lower than my fasting number. Maybe I need to eat more for dinner? Last night I ate til I felt full, but had to have two “bedtime snacks” cause I was so hungry later. So maybe that’s affecting my fasting number. My number was 4.9 (88) two hours after dinner.
@peaceinnature I would say you should definitely eat a bit more at dinner! I definitely think portions and ratios are really as important as carbs. It’s a shame because sometimes I count carbs to a perfect level, and still spike because the protein and fiber balance was off (or my body decided to hate white flour that day). Pizza is usually a fantastic choice for me, but I have to have veggies with or on it! I’m glad you were able to keep your numbers in check yesterday, I find it’s getting harder to do as we progress.
For me, if I skip my snack before bed, my fasting numbers tend to be lower so I can’t offer advice to those that experience the opposite. However, I have noticed that a low fasting number can cause breakfast time spikes. Kind of frustrating!
@sheepshepherdess yes!! when I have a lower fasting number (95 this morning)...still not where they want me to be), it makes my breakfast number high which I have never had a problem with. The most frustrating!!!
@sheepshepherdess I think I will up my portion a bit at dinner tonight and see if I can get by on one bedtime snack and if that helps my fasting number. It was much better today, but still right on the threshold.
Today for breakfast I made what seemed like tiny changes (like yesterday I had 1/3 of a banana on my toast and today I skipped that and also had 1/2 slice less of toast), but my number was way lower than it was yesterday. I feel like this isn’t always an exact science. 🤷♀️😂
@fuzzywombat I bet that’s it. I haven’t had any fruit at all today and my lunch number was also pretty low. I’ll add some in my afternoon snack and see how dinner goes 🤞
@peaceinnature fruit is a simple carb and will peak fast and drop fast so it can make your numbers kinda wacky. I avoid it in the mornings since that’s one number I can have a hard time with. If you pair it with a protein it’s a great snack option though. (It was my snack of choice till I found out I have a weirdness with insulin and need something more long lasting)
I miss fruit. Lol.
this is my backup acct. prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
DD has been sick and I’ve been insanely stressed so my numbers have been higher than I’ve had so far. But I finally got a 6 hour sleep last night for the first time in a long time and I woke up with an 86 fasting number. Yay! Hoping my numbers calm down this weekend. When I was first diagnosed 3 weeks ago I was able to eat around 175 carbs a day. I’ve been eating like 120 this last week and that’s it. Boo. I’ve been able to eat fruit with a high protein lunch or dinner, and I’m so glad. It’s the only thing keeping me regular lol. Hang in there, everyone.
I finally got a good fasting number this morning, 4.9 (88)! Only had one snack after dinner last night and it was 1/2 cup of halo top ice cream, which isn’t too bad actually. I was hungry before I went to bed, but didn’t eat another snack like I normally would. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to ignore my hunger though. I think I’m used grazing without thinking about it sometimes, finishing my boys’ leftovers or just eating things here and there as I’m in the kitchen. Only at certain times of the day though. So eating only at set meal and snack times has me feeling not necessarily super hungry, but kind of deprived maybe? I think I can adjust my portions to be a bit larger though because my numbers were all below 5.6 (100) yesterday so maybe I’m being too restrictive.
I go for my first follow-up Tuesday with my perinatal center doctors and dieticians. (I hit 32 weeks today!) Do your all’s clinicians get finger-waggy with you for not getting the amount of carbs you’re supposed to have? The sheet the dietician gave me said I should be eating 210 carbs a day for the baby but I just can’t get there. I’m usually at half that amount. I feel so nervous about a follow up, like a kid waiting in the principals office expecting to get scolded. That’s probably my own hang-ups and anxiety not knowing what to expect. There’s just so many pieces to this puzzle 🙄🙄🙄
@stacisaun that’s definitely not enough carbs. I’m at the low end of the carb scale and still supposed to have 165. Most usually are supposed to have more (being on insulin has a different set of conditions from what I’ve gathered).
@peaceinnature I do have a lot more hunger these days. This is typically when the body starts wanting more calories to help keep up with the babies growth since they are supposed to pack on extra weight from here till the end. But I’ve never been told to up my intake to account for it so I’ve always just held the diet and dealt with being hungry. Not fun but I’m assuming better for baby. Two snacks at night seems like too much but you could ask your doctor. I was told I can eat more snacks between meals if I need to, if the length of time between meals was longer. Like lunch at 12, snack at 2:30 and another snack at like 4:30 and then dinner at 7. What time is your dinner/bedtime snack? That might be where your issue is.
this is my backup acct. prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
@stacisaun I haven’t had my follow up yet, but I totally get that feeling. One of the biggest things I’ve been trying to adjust to is writing down everything I eat and then being judged by a professional on my nutrition. It only makes it worse that “messing up” is affecting the health of my baby so it also feels like being judged on my parenting. I do think the dietician I met with is reasonable though, she said she’s not going to tell us not to eat cake at our baby showers. 😂 Just make a note on our reading for that day.
Also our guideline says to get at least 12 servings of carbs per day so at about 15g per serving that’s 180. Some women asked for a max number and she said as long as you’re not going over 4-5 servings per meal don’t worry too much about it unless your numbers are off, but as a guideline she gave a max of 220.
@thatbaintforbetty I usually eat my afternoon snack around 4, dinner at 6-6:30 and then my bedtime snack around 9. I always eat til I’m full at dinner and then get super hungry after my boys go down for the night. It’s true my after dinner number is always lower, maybe it’s my activity level from cooking, bedtime routines, etc. It’s also my habit to snack after they’re in bed so maybe that’s all it is. Also the past three days my dinners have been vegetarian sort of by accident. I’m going to have meat tonight and see if the extra protein helps.
Oh wow. My diabetes coach didnt really talk to me about minimums. I’ve been eating an average of 140 carbs per day for over a week. Because of my higher bg numbers I’ve kept it down, but if I have to increase it, that means increasing protein to balance it, and I just can’t. Between the reflux and feeling full. I’d better ask about that.
Yeah, I’m still only managing 90-120 carbs per day just can’t seem to go over that without spiking. 15 for breakfast, 15-20 for snacks, plus 30 for each meal. But I often miss 1-2 snacks, and then I can’t just make up for it since apparently BG doesn’t work that way lol.
@peaceinnature I’ve been told a lot of people have lower numbers in the evenings around dinner and bedtime, so that can be a time to get some more carbs in!
Just curious when you guys are advised to test? Our guidelines say two hours from when you start eating, but I’ve seen others that say start the time when you finish. I’ve been kind of splitting the difference because sometimes it takes me a long time to finish eating cause I have to keep getting up for various reasons (yay for having other young kids). But the past two days my numbers have been on the low side (mostly under 90) so maybe I should be testing from my first bite even though sometimes it takes me more than a half hour to finish eating. 🤷♀️ Would it really make that big a difference?
@peaceinnature Your sugars start to climb from the first bite, so that’s probably why most use that as the starting point. I am supposed to test one hour afterwards but I have seen plenty of people who were told 2 hours. I think what's really odd is that some have different number guidelines as well as having different time guidelines. Under 140 after an hour/under 120 after an hour/under 140 after 2 hours etc...
If the length of time is a concern I would bring it up with you doc/GD educators. I have noticed that if take a longer time drinking my coffee in the morning my number is generally higher then if I finish it with my breakfast.
this is my backup acct. prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
I saw the dietician today and she said splitting the difference is fine and doesn’t seem to be affecting my numbers. She mostly had positive feedback so it was a relief! Her only suggestion was more protein overall and she said if I’m hungry before bed to have a protein snack like nuts, which shouldn’t affect my fasting number. I do tend to eat minimal meat because I was a vegetarian for about 12 years up until my two year old was born and I started craving meat. So getting protein without adding extra grain portions is tricky. Some of my higher numbers have been off a veg lentil soup I made last week, I have to be careful not to have too much at once.
Wellllll I had my follow up today and because I couldn’t get my fasting numbers below 90 they put me on 500mg of metformin. Also had my biophysical ultrasound today and he’s measuring 99 percentile...which my regular OB says doesn’t match up with their growth ultrasound from a week or so ago 🤷🏻♀️ I guess we’ll see how the next one goes!
@stacisau From what I’ve read, ultrasounds at this stage aren’t very accurate for predicting weight. My midwife said they like to get a series of 2-3 to compare growth and that’s a better indicator of size than the measurements. I have my first of the series on Friday so hopefully he doesn’t measure huge because I’m a little nervous about them pressuring an early delivery if he’s measuring large even though it’s not necessarily super accurate.
Anyone else discussed early induction yet? My midwife said they like to induce before 40 weeks with a gd diagnosis, but I would really prefer to go into labor naturally as long as he’s healthy and everything is controlled.
@peaceinnature My doc said they will likely induce between 38 and 39 weeks. There is a higher chance of placental deterioration after 39 weeks with GD. I think the risk is higher for me since I’m on insulin but I’m not totally sure. I started taking EPO and have red raspberry leaf tea and will try sex/walking to try to get labor going naturally. My goal is to go med free and that’s lot harder if they end up inducing and putting me on pitocin. I’m hoping that since this is #2 that I’ll go on my own before then.
With my last pregnancy I had biweekly NSTs and they actually had me scheduled to be induced on my due date but I went into labor the day before.
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Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
Re: GD Thread
NSTs are standard as far as I am aware in GD patients but they are really no big deal and they will show in the event that something does end up wrong, which I think is fairly rare but something they still are extra cautious about. Which i’d rather them be over cautious rather than under. Fear mongering absolutely isn’t necessary though. Especially since you haven’t had the class or any real information passed on.
My doc isn’t even starting NSTs till 36 weeks. But I do have a history of a healthy full term birth with GD, so who knows if that’s a factor. Last time they were bi weekly from 32 on. On the bright side they sometimes do extra ultrasounds just because you’re there and I love extra chances to peak at the babe. It’s not all bad.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
I have seen several different variations of one hour or two and under 140 or 120.
Those numbers look really good though.
Technically under 70 is hypoglycemia but you probably won’t have to worry about that, it’s not as big a worry when you are diet controlled. If you ever do feel funny you should check your blood sugar and rule that out though. I think I have a post about it earlier in the thread, it’s happened to me but I’m on insulin and that’s an very real possibility with insulin. They do(or should) for sure go over the signs/symptoms of low blood sugar and how to handle it if you end up on meds. But hopefully you won’t need to go that route.
**I also have only only ever had insulin never the oral meds and don’t know if the risk of hypoglycemia is the same though.
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Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
You could just make big babies. If he’s proportional in his growth and nothing else seems off I wouldn’t worry. Plenty of people have perfectly healthy larger babies without GD.
Also a big baby isn’t always GD related and GD doesn’t always mean a big baby. This one is 30th percentile for size, and my previous kid (I had GD last time too) was under 6lbs at full term. Size is not a good indicator all on its own of GD.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
i’m right there with you! Hopefully we get the hang of it!!
As for me, I’m being allowed to stay on the lower dose of glyburide for another week because I only had two higher fasting numbers last week and nothing over 100. I start weekly BPPs next week.
Its gettjng easier after two weeks on it, as far as mentally. But it still sucks and I have days where I just want to cry. But that may also be because I’m not sleeping.
I joined “meal ideas for gestational diabetes” on Facebook and have found some great suggestions and encouragement there too.
@peaceinnature I had a salad the other night for dinner and got the highest number I’ve had in weeks. Off of salad. It’s super frustrating and disappointing but it’s not your fault. If you are looking at what you eat and trying and counting the carbs, that’s all any of can do.
There’s unfortunately not much you can do if you get a high number. A high number also isn’t as big of a deal as a pattern of high numbers. But I will echo that a food log is a huge help. Patterns are a big part of GD. Recognizing what foods and habits lead to a higher number helps give you back a sense of control that I know gets kinda lost. And even very light exercise can really make a difference. My dinner numbers are usually better because I’m moving around cleaning up the kitchen and packing up leftovers, etc. it’s not much but it does help. My lunch numbers are much more difficult because I only get 30 min, so no time to get in a walk and have a desk job.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
Definitely agree with @stacisaun about keeping a food journal, it has helped me a lot (but only after a few weeks of trial and error), as well as snacks! The ladies here have told me that snacks are important throughout the day to keep the BG levels consistent. And my bedtime snack personally brings my number up in the morning, but the higher fasting number seems to help regulate BG during the day better than a low fasting number.
Don't worry so much about a few high numbers and the baby (I know this is easier said than done). It takes many highs many days in a row to start making a difference in baby’s growth and health. Give yourself time to sort through all this mess!
I will say that joining groups for meals can be good, as @HGRich pointed out. Though for me it was very frustrating, because if I ate any of the suggested meals I would spike badly. I had to come up with variations on the themes that worked for my body.
@stacisaun It helps to know others are feeling similar! I’m also tracking all my food, which is sort of a pain. I think I’m doing a similar thing where I wait too long to eat, like until I’m unbearably hungry. I’ve noticed I do that at lunch time cause I’m waiting for my two year old to go down for his nap before I eat. And then I probably have too much at once. It’s interesting trying to figure out how to balance all this and how it’s not really about eating “bad” foods, but the wrong combinations or amount at the wrong times.
Does anyone know if it’s better to eat right away when you get up or if it’s ok to wait 1-2 hours? I’m usually not hungry right away and I’m busy getting everyone ready for the day.
@peaceinnature I don’t think it matters as long as your not waiting more then about 2 hours. I’m usually up at 5:30ish and early on eating before I showered and brushed my teeth led to bad morning sickness so I eat after I get ready, which means about a 7am breakfast.
Also the fasting read can be sensitive, I get up, go to the bathroom and then test. Some do it while still in bed, but consistency is key and generally as soon as possible after waking up and before you do much of anything is best. (I don’t tend to wake up in the middle of the night to pee so my bladder is always super full and I literally have to pee first thing or else I would go straight from bed to testing, for me it doesn’t effect much but for some it can make the difference between okay and too high)
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
My fasting number was better this morning, the only things I did differently were to not take my vitamin before bed and run a humidifier in our room so I wasn’t breathing through my mouth as much. 🤷♀️
I’m also noticing that it’s not so much what I eat, but how much and in what combination. Yesterday I paid real close attention to the guidelines and never went over my suggested serving size of carbs per meal and my numbers were all good. And I even had a slice of leftover pizza as my “snack.”
Also my number after dinner is always quite low, lower than my fasting number. Maybe I need to eat more for dinner? Last night I ate til I felt full, but had to have two “bedtime snacks” cause I was so hungry later. So maybe that’s affecting my fasting number. My number was 4.9 (88) two hours after dinner.
For me, if I skip my snack before bed, my fasting numbers tend to be lower so I can’t offer advice to those that experience the opposite. However, I have noticed that a low fasting number can cause breakfast time spikes. Kind of frustrating!
Today for breakfast I made what seemed like tiny changes (like yesterday I had 1/3 of a banana on my toast and today I skipped that and also had 1/2 slice less of toast), but my number was way lower than it was yesterday. I feel like this isn’t always an exact science. 🤷♀️😂
I miss fruit. Lol.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
I’ve been able to eat fruit with a high protein lunch or dinner, and I’m so glad. It’s the only thing keeping me regular lol. Hang in there, everyone.
@peaceinnature I do have a lot more hunger these days. This is typically when the body starts wanting more calories to help keep up with the babies growth since they are supposed to pack on extra weight from here till the end. But I’ve never been told to up my intake to account for it so I’ve always just held the diet and dealt with being hungry. Not fun but I’m assuming better for baby. Two snacks at night seems like too much but you could ask your doctor. I was told I can eat more snacks between meals if I need to, if the length of time between meals was longer. Like lunch at 12, snack at 2:30 and another snack at like 4:30 and then dinner at 7. What time is your dinner/bedtime snack? That might be where your issue is.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
Also our guideline says to get at least 12 servings of carbs per day so at about 15g per serving that’s 180. Some women asked for a max number and she said as long as you’re not going over 4-5 servings per meal don’t worry too much about it unless your numbers are off, but as a guideline she gave a max of 220.
@peaceinnature I’ve been told a lot of people have lower numbers in the evenings around dinner and bedtime, so that can be a time to get some more carbs in!
If the length of time is a concern I would bring it up with you doc/GD educators. I have noticed that if take a longer time drinking my coffee in the morning my number is generally higher then if I finish it with my breakfast.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
As for carb count, I try to incorporate some at each meal but not too many 15-25 typically including snack.
Anyone else discussed early induction yet? My midwife said they like to induce before 40 weeks with a gd diagnosis, but I would really prefer to go into labor naturally as long as he’s healthy and everything is controlled.
With my last pregnancy I had biweekly NSTs and they actually had me scheduled to be induced on my due date but I went into labor the day before.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019