Nuts! Need ideas please!!

[BigDog]

Found out today (after waiting 7 days for a result that should've been known 7 seconds later IMO).

I've got Gestationial Diabetes. :(

For those that "like" to see numbers as do I here is what it looks like on my sheet.

Fasting: 76 (65-95)
Hour 1: 202 *ALERT* (65-180)
Hour 2: 153 (65-155)
Hour 3: 163 *ALERT* (65-140)

1. Why did the hour 3 go up I know I didn't eat anything....well she let me have a sip of water I do mean a sip between the 2.

2. How is a carb lover going to do this??? (I don't like pork products or beans of any flavor). I don't get to go to "class" until they call me with the day...so since I have to record what I eat and try and "manage" my blood sugar levels with diet this week.....HOW do I do that?????????????????????????? I've been given no instructions!!

3. My #3 is hypoglycemic....Is this going to be putting an dehumidifier and a humidifier in the same room at dinner time??

[gettingwiser]

Hi & congrats on your pregnancy! I too am preggo (20 weeks) soon to take my sugar test too, which I know I will not pass. I've had gestational diabetes with my 2 previous pregnancies & my chances of having it again are pretty high. With my 1st pregnancy I went nuts trying to stay on track, and the nutritionist that was assigned to me put me on a really strict diet of 1200 calories a day (which was a huge pain in the rear to keep to) and I actually lost weight, when my doctor & I were ok with my normal weight gain up to that point. With my 2nd pregnancy & gestational diabetes, my nutritionist was much easier & allowed for a 1500 calorie a day diet, and it wasn't as hard to keep to. I will tell you that yes, it sucks to give up the yummy snacks, yes it's a pain to have to track your sugar after every meal & snack, yes it's going to be hard to have to stay with little carbs, but you can do it & in the long run it's best for your baby as they can suffer if we don't take care of the diabetes. Also, in my experience, it goes away after birth and it really does kind of help to keep control of pregnancy weight gain, so a little benefit for all that sacrifice!

As a carb lover myself I will tell you that making the switch is very hard, but you honestly do kind of get used to it after a while, and I prefer that then the alternative which is having to have insulin shots. As far as tips while you wait for your class.....def. stay away from cereals in the morning, in fact they want you to have very little carbs in the am, as it sets off your whole day.

My breakfasts are usually 1-2 eggs, with a piece of whole wheat (or the double fiber one, which my nutritionist recommended), that's it.

You wait about 1-2 hours, then have a snack of either cheese or peanut butter & a piece of toast or crackers. They usually want you to have with every meal or snack is a protein and a starch.

Then for lunch you can have a protein (chicken, turkey, fish, etc) the size of your palm, with a starch (usually 1/2 cup of something, like rice or pasta), a veggie, a piece of fruit and/or a cup of milk.

For a snack later (1-2 hours) you can have 2oz of cheese or peanut butter with 6 crackers or a piece of toast.

Dinner will consist of the same scenario as lunch, protein, starch, veggies, 1 fruit, and milk or a diet soda.

1-2 hours after dinner you are allowed a snack, which you can try to mix up, usually they recommend a protein with a starch so again you can do 2oz of cheese with 6 crackers or 2 tbsp of peanut butter with toast.

This is just the scenario I was given, it was super hard at first to follow because I was used to eating a much bigger breakfast & I loved to snack in between meals with sweets. I gained 25 lbs. with my first, and 29 with my 2nd (he was 8lbs. 8ounces at birth) and because of the diet, it honestly did help me to shed the pregnancy weight a little easier. Once you go to the classes they will teach you different alternatives for substitutes and healthy things to snack on, so you will def. get a better idea of what you can & can't eat. What we do have to give up is all of the carbs that are so yummy and tempting, like cookies, and sweets, but hopefully you will find that eating almonds or walnuts as a snack can sometimes fill the cravings temporarily. Btw-please know that if at any time you are having any difficulties with your diet, don't be afraid to speak up, call your nutritionist & tell them your concerns. I had to because I was starving with my first pregnancy & the nutritionist would give me alternatives & or try to help me out. I hope this helps you!

Oh & I'm not sure of the peak in your sugar for the 3rd hour, I had the same thing, it has to do with something about how your body goes into the reserve mode (from not eating) the way it converts the stored sugars goes up because of an insulin deficiency. I am sure there is a better scientific reason, but that's what I kind of remember, but you can always ask your doctor or the diabetics center when you get your class! Good luck, and I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes super smooth!!

[Kulis]

I did end up with insulin shots for my gestational diabetes. Fortunately, when the gestating stopped the diabetes did too.

A few things I remember from then:
- NO FRUIT or fruit juice until lunch time
- Each meal required a protein.
- My go-to breakfast became oatmeal with a spoonful of peanut butter. The peanut butter provided the protein and added a little bit of flavor. If you need additional flavor, try adding cinnamon.
- Peanut butter on graham crackers is a great snack. If I remember correctly, one portion of graham crackers was 4 squares.
- Cheese sticks was another favorite snack.
- Be careful with yogurts -- there's natural sugar in there, and most brands have lots of added sugars.

Good luck. It's intimidating at first, but you'll get used to it sooner than you think.

[BigDog]

Ugh! Thanks a bunch. I could probably skip EVERY meal in the day except my breakfast....I USUALLY have peanut butter toast (on white). But, changing to wheat with peanut butter is not a problem. (The beginning of the pregnancy, I couldn't keep anything down BUT a Chick-fil-a biscuit.)

I know I shouldn't say this...but, I'm worried about the grocery money now. Fast convience foods like white bread is usually cheaper then wheat bread. I know it is for the best. And Betty CROCK here can't cook from scratch anything without making a mess that MerryMaids would run from.

Shouldn't I "feel diabetic" or something?? I feel no different then I did before I got pregnant.

[gatosqueak]

It runs heavily in my family, and I'm suprised they didn't test me early. I'm 21 weeks now. My husband has type 2 diabetes so when I bring stuff from home I'm pretty use to a diabetic type diet, LOL!

And no, not really you will feel it... unless you pee more than usual and are tired more. Which, I mean comes with being pregnant.

If you have a Krogers or similar store nearby, they have Smart Carb yogurt with super low sugar at .38 a pop :)

Also, you can shop for instant brown rice with coupons fairly cheap. Kroget also has name brand low sugar cinnamon brown sugar in instant packets. Cheese sticks are always a good protein. Eggs are cheap too

I promise you can do it! Also , you can buy a big thing of whey protein mix for like $20-30 and make smoothies. Those last a long time and are filling.

Hope that helps.

Oh! And Pure Protein bars has some good on the go bars with 2g of sugar. I always use coupons and get them around $.40-$.80 per.

As you can tell, I HATE cooking. Anything instant works for me. I've been taking Lean Cuisine to work.

[gettingwiser]

I LOL reading your response!!! I do agree with gatosqueak (sorry if I misspelled it!) the Lean cuisines are great, I think you just have to make sure the carb content is less than 30 carbs, and you should be good, then just add a fruit and veggies (like carrots or something easy breezy like it) so that you aren't hungry later on. I also just pulled out my folder from my class last time & I forgot to add that each snack can include more food, like a slice of ham or even my afternoon snack includes a cup of cantaloupe (as an example, you can substitute for any other fruit) along with the string cheese and 12 wheat thins.

For me, my biggest problem was feeling hungry, as long as I'm satisfied, I am happy, plus keeping up with my 1 year old now doesn't leave me with much time to really think out my meals, so I hear ya!!

I also didn't feel any different, which was so shocking when I did find out my results because I felt fine.

So exciting our babies are all coming around the same time. I am enjoying stocking up on diapers, but haven't really found great deals on wipes & formula yet like I have found on diapers. Sorry to get off topic, but do you have advice for me on this? I'd greatly appreciate it

I know I shouldn't say this...but, I'm worried about the grocery money now. Fast convience foods like white bread is usually cheaper then wheat bread. I know it is for the best. And Betty CROCK here can't cook from scratch anything without making a mess that MerryMaids would run from.

Shouldn't I "feel diabetic" or something?? I feel no different then I did before I got pregnant.

[BigDog]

This BITES!

1st: I rather swim in a pool of scissors then prick my finger.

Last night, I decided I wanted to figure out this stupid pricking depth thing BEFORE my husband went to work. Doctor said forearm was ok. So 2 1/2 hours deciding to prick myself I did on the forearm. And I felt NOTHING. Looked down...itty bitty bitty blood. Hey I can do this...NOT. Not enough. So since I didn't feel ANYTHING, I set it to level 3...then 4...that bit a little. I lost courage *watched White Collar on HULU*. 11:45 4 hours after deciding to prick myself.

I set it to level 2 thinking eh couldn't hurt if it didn't hurt my forearm. Hubby has to get up in 5 hours. I can do it...I pulled it. That HURT!!! Well I'm scared so it hurts 100% more kind of way. Get enough blood but barely to test...yea! Lets do it (though the results didn't matter, I pricked myself)!! Put test strip in....meter frigged up. Left the - - - on it took out strip the - - - still there....?? NOOOOOO!!!! Pulled battery out and reset it...better...But, I can't even squeeze the blood out now. :( I pull the covers over my head and fall into my Benedryl haze.

Woke up this morning...Still sleepy hubby reset lancet and I somehow clicked it accidentally. Still bit in a paper cut the size of a dust grain sort of way. Meter worked 78...

2nd - This better get easier to eat. I had PB Toast for breakfast as I have since I was a child...

Lunch - already planned frozen pizza for lunch with the kids...I'm not switching..I ate 3 slices approximately 1/2 pizza (serving size almost)....I have a hankering for a fun size Snicker. But, I'm refusing I don't want to "fail" this test. I STILL can't stop thinking about that stupid Snicker right now. But, I test in 45 min. I want my tea (sweetened with Splenda, we have used Splenda for ever drink at home since it came out) afraid it will frig up the results.

Now all I can think about is food!!!! We've had icecream in our freezer for about 2-3 months never touched...now I want it?!?!? I don't even like icecream that much!

If this is like all "diets" I've been on I'm D-O-N-E!!!! It would be safer for the baby and me to eat normally then to worry about this! Everytime I'm on a "diet" I can only think about food and eat more cause I'm not supposed to. Excercise less cause I'm supposed to...later.

We already switched our diets around about 2 years ago when my son was diagnosed Hypoglycemic...must have a protein/carb balance...cause we have to keep his blood sugar stable, we haven't had to prick him in a LONG time.

Going to have to talk to the doctor...find a better solution...I CAN'T do this finger pricking crap constantly...I'll do it if I feel high or low...and yes I can tell the difference.

Sorry venting here a little.

3rd - gettingwiser try Kroger wipes for Huggies are .49 a tub...we do tubs over refills even at full price as I waste more with refills...personally though don't ask. Other then that I'm not sure.

[gettingwiser]

Oh man, I'm sorry!!! The finger pricking thing is a pain to get (I had to test 5 times a day, every day) But I never tried my forearm, only my fingers & with the new lancets I thought it wasn't as bad as when I did it with my first son almost 5 years ago.

My trick is to only prick the fatty sides of the fingers, try squeezing your thumb & whatever finger you are going to prick together really hard (like you're squishing a bug in between them or something) and only prick the fatty side that gets pushed out on the sides. I did the level on low like 1-2 or 3 max, and just pushed the lancet thingy deep into the fatty part of the finger to test & then I would prick it.

I hope I am making sense, but the actual squeezing of the fingers together help in two ways-1-it kind of numbs it a little & 2-since you are squeezing it the whole time you get a big drop of blood so you wont have problems with getting a bad reading due to a lack of blood. The key is keep squeezing before you prick, insert lancet thingy deep into fatty finger part & take a deep breath & prick. Then as the day goes by, just pick a different finger & do the same process, but always keep the level low, I found the higher the level, the more the pain, so I would stay away from that.

Trust me, it will get better, specially when you go to the class, they will show you & have you test yourself there so that it hurts as least as possible. You should def. talk to your doctor & maybe call the diabetics center about putting you in a class sooner, I hate to hear how this is stressing you out, because it's not worth it if it is, remember happy mommy, happy baby!!

My hubby says that anything that starts with the letters "D-I-E" is def. not for him (LOL!), so I hear you about being done with diets, but hang in there, it will get better. I know those snacks are calling you & the ice cream too, and you can have them, just in moderation! They have the ice creams now sweetened with splenda, you can have those, and they have a sugar free section of candies I have seen everywhere from Walmart to CVS & Walgreens, so you can snack & still stay on track.

Thanks for the tip on wipes, unfortunately here in Cali there are no Krogers, I think Food 4 Less is a Kroger chain? Not sure, will try checking for it though.

Hope you have a great, stress-free day!!!

[mom2lucas]

I'm pretty sure your doctor will make you prick yourself at set intervals and keep a record of your numbers to show them at your visits. This determines whether or not you have to take insulin and if you're GD is being controlled by diet/exercise only. It also determines if you need extra ultrasounds to monitor baby's size or other additional testing to monitor the baby. It's pretty serious stuff if you let it go unchecked.

[Kulis]

I think you'll feel more comfortable about things after you have the class. It's so hard to try to do something without much information.
I agree you'll probably have to test your blood glucose at set intervals -- usually like an hour or so after you eat. I know I had to do mine 5 times a day. I used a different finger each time and then switched to the other hand for the next day. Kind of reminded me of a bee sting.
If you're familiar with the older Weight Watchers diet -- when they counted exchanges -- that's kind of what my dietitian had me do. I ate six times per day, and each time included a protein.
Hope this helps.