Well, it turns out I failed the three hour glucose test. I'm not shocked - I know I have insulin issues from dealing with PCOS. My mom has type II diabetes, so I see this as another big warning sign. I need to eat well and exercise to avoid following in her footsteps - I'm already on diabetes medication.
Now, the tricky part is that I already pretty much eat a typical gestational diabetes diet - and clearly that is not enough. So I'm having to cut out even more carbs, and I am going to exercise more seriously again. There is a decent amount of activity built into my day - my house has a LOT of stairs - but the exercise bike we bought and have delayed putting together will be getting finished tonight. I have been holding back on trying to do more because I really haven't felt very good - I've been tired and needing naps, had some dizzy and near-passing-out spells and been nauseas enough that I even threw up last week. So it has been hard to get going again.
The good news is that after just a couple of days of experimenting with eating yet fewer carbs I already feel better. We enjoyed a weekend away visiting friends where I did a bunch of walking (which did tire my back) and I didn't need any naps. I also didn't get sick despite several subway rides. As I pay more attention I can really notice the difference in how I feel depending on what I eat. This is really exciting.
Having found out so early (20 weeks) I am hopeful that I will be able to keep the baby to a reasonable size. The thing I'm a little confused about at this point is that up until now, the doctors have been lecturing me to gain more weight, which is hard when you don't feel good. So somehow I need to both restrict my diet and keep the baby from gaining too much weight, yet gain more weight myself. I'll see the perinatologist again sometime soon and hopefully he'll have some good concrete suggestions. I'm guessing all I can do is eat more of the stuff that doesn't have a huge impact on my blood sugar.
While this is annoying, it is a minor complication in my mind. It's something I can actually take an action to correct. It has me taking the future diabetes risk even more seriously, which can only be a good thing. I'm having such a good time with this pregnancy. I'm now feeling the baby move quite often, and I just love it. With my history, the frequest reassurance is very welcome! I love getting to enjoy the baby being here and having very little to worry about.
I've already gotten some great advice from Meredith, but I'd love to hear more from other readers. I'm pretty new to cooking meat and fish, and now that's just not possible to avoid, so even just sharing your favorite recipes could help me out. Thanks!
Monday, March 2, 2009
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5 comments:
congrats!!! am sorry about the "big d" as I call it! i wondered if you would't mind emailing me at sarahrmitchell@gmail.com i have a question about your dal recipe and tried to comment there but the blog won't take the comment! thanks!
I'm sorry to hear that you do actually have gestational diabetes. That stinks. At least you know how to deal with it and are already feeling better from the changes you've made.
It's nice to know that your little one is moving a lot and giving you plenty of reassurance that he or she is just fine!
(I left a comment on your 19 week ultrasound then read "up" to this one.) I loved cinnamon toast made with cinnamon and sprinkled with Splenda on top. Read labels. I even bought a different brand of peanut butter based on the sugar amount. Check the different breads, there are now some low carb ones that are good. I also loved the Kroger brand no sugar added ice cream pops (chocolate coating with vanilla ice cream). I found that b/c I had ketones in the morning I needed a bigger snack at night so I had more freedom that way (thus the Kroger ice cream pops). Peanuts, almost any nut are usually considered carb free. Remember this is only for a short time. Averaging your baby weight and your husband's baby weight will give you an idea of what your baby size might be, keeping your GD under control will help your baby's weight. I wouldn't worry about gaining weight right now just following your GD diet. You can e-mail me at needanap2 @ gmail . com (no spaces) if you want to talk about it some more. My GD baby is now 3 1/2.
I was diagnosed with GD last week at 28 weeks. For those that are learning about this let me make this clear: I got this because of family history and not due to weight or being out of shape, and not because I ate too much sugar (though I didn’t). Those that think this is only for overweight people need to gain more knowledge on this topic.
My husband is a Type I (had it since he was 4 – again not due to weight), so not too much of a change was made to my diet. The calcium enriched OJ and hot chocolate I was drinking to get my calcium had to stop. The banana I was having as a snack after breakfast had to stop.
To gain the weight you need, you will be getting it through the protein and calories and not through carbohydrates. I don’t like fish, so that wasn’t really in my diet. Some meal suggestions:
Breakfast: Half a bagel with 2tbsp cream cheese
1/2cup cereal with 1 cup milk
1 slice toast, 2 scrambled eggs, 1 cup milk
6 oz yogurt
Lunch: Ham or Turkey with Slice of Cheese and 2 pieces of bread
Chicken salad wrap
Progresso soup can (though this is high in sodium)
Dinner: Fajitas w/ 2 tortillas
Steak with ½ cup potatoes and 1 cup salad
Sausage in a tortilla with mustard
Remember, you really have to look at the labels. Once cereal may be providing you 20 grams of carbs for ½ cup and one may be 40grams for the same amount.
Don’t fall for “sugar free” look at the total carb count. We have found “sugar free” is high in carbohydrates and the regular is actually lower.
Also, for Progresso soup the serving amount is half the can – well of course you will eat all of it, so don’t forget to look at the serving size and multiply if necessary. We purchase Progresso soup in bulk from Costco.
BTW: I too have fatigue due to a rigorous work/school schedule. I found now that most of it was the pregnancy and little rest and not due to my diet.
Unlike my husband, this is temporary for me. I am counting my blessings that I do not have to do this for the rest of my life. Likewise everytime I think of a new snack, or meal I look at it as a small victory. Remember ants on a log? How about pepperoni with cheese on a cracker – awesome! Just look at this new meal plan as a challenge and take it on.
Carb counting with the current recipes you have can be difficult. I bought a small pocket sized carb counting book years ago when we learned about carb counting for his Type 1. You don’t have to purchase one, as there are some websites that have the information. Sitting down with an actual recipe is a pain, but you may be surprised how many recipe books you have with the information already.
Good luck to you!
I have some radical advice here for you - I have experience in my family with type 2 and I had big babies though I am not diabetic (9.6 and 9.15)
Go raw. Drink green smoothies. Google diabetes and green smoothies or email and I'll pull my bookmarks together for you.
Don't eat bagels, bread (unless you bake homemade 100% whole wheat bread.) Don't eat dairy unless it is a splash of half and half in your one cup of decaf in the am.
If it comes from a can, don't eat it. Make your own veggie soup if you want.
No potatoes - bake a yam if you have a hankering for something starchy and hot. Just eat part of it.
Eat salads with spring greens, your fav onion slices, lots of ripe avocado, tomatoes, well washed mushrooms with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and seasonings.
Good luck and let me know if you want further info.
Don't use iodized salt - avoid splenda like the plague - look up the latest research on it. Use stevia or agave or raw honey in very small amounts.
Sound crazy? It's not, but it is radical and different from what most people will eat. It WILL lower your blood sugar and you will feel amazing.
Good luck and let me know if you want further info.
Pamela
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