[mery71]

I was just diagnosed today with GD, the normal level is below 140, my level is 255. I am really concerned..has anyone else had GD and if so, was it hard to control, did you have to give yourself insulin injections?? Any information would be super helpful.

[Bambi]

It is not really hard to control. Most of mine was controlled by diet. Watching what carbs I ate. I love bread and potatoes and had to eat much smaller portions and more protein to offset it. My 1st morning level would still be high so I was put on a once a day pill. This would drop my levels too low at times but then I'd be able to eat a couple of oreos in the middle of the night to bring it back to normal You can help by changing your diet and then see how much more control you have over your numbers. You might not have to be on insulin at all. Good Luck to you!

[LE201]

Originally Posted by mery71

I was just diagnosed today with GD, the normal level is below 140, my level is 255. I am really concerned..has anyone else had GD and if so, was it hard to control, did you have to give yourself insulin injections?? Any information would be super helpful.

I had GD when i was pregnant with my DS. I was able to manage my GD with a high protein low carb diet. I was very lucky that I did not have to go on Insulin injections. I checked my sugar levels 7 times a day. 30 mins before breakfast, lunch and diner. Then I had to check it 2hrs after I ate, Then my last check was right before bed and ate something before bedtime.
Some of my diet:
Breakfast I would do 3eggs,and/sausage/beacon.
Snack 2hrs later would do yogart. Light and fit only has 60 cal. and 10carbs/ Cottage cheese
Lunch: you can do meatballs with a little marinara sauce, hamburger patti, salmon, etc... I sometimes made a salad with chicken and balsimic vinergrett.
Snack 2hrs later: apples w/peanut butter/Strawberries/I would sometimes get the can salmon and fix that like tuna and eat with some whole wheat crackers(min5)
Dinner: Sausage, steak,chickenEtc... with veggies,peas, corn, broccoli.
Right before bed I would drink an atkins shake and that seemed to balance my blood sugar til the next moring.

I hope this gives you an idea. Keep track of what you eat. That is what I had to do. Listen to your dr. and hopefully you can manage it through your diet so you don't have to go on insulin. My first week was hard and when my numbers were still high my dr discuss putting me on insulin, but I asked if I can give it another week and each week my numbers kept going down.
Good Luck. If you have any other questions fill free to PM.

[kblythe]

I had GD and controlled it through diet. In some ways, it was a blessing because it forced me to be super healthy. I was a bit overweight before getting pregnant, and once I went on the GD diet, I don't think I gained more than 5 lbs the rest of the pregnancy!

I usually ate oatmeal and turkey sausage for breakfast

morning snack was triscuits and cheese or cottage cheese

lunch was usually either a salad with a protein or a protein and some veggies

afternoon snack was animal crackers

dinner was protein, veggies, and some carbs, like a very small baked potato.

my evening snack was an apple with peanut butter.

Since I was eating every couple of hours, I wasn't really hungry. I always kept a granola bar or some nuts with me in case I got stuck somewhere and needed something to eat.

There were some foods I couldn't do: asian (rice really spiked the blood sugar), fruit juices, and of course a lot of sweets. But I still would get a bit on occasion when I had a really low carb meal.

Although the diagnosis was a bit daunting, the reality was very manageable. But I admit, the blood-checking gets old!

Kathryn.

[inhishands]

all this is great advice...
i was diagnosed with GD at 12 weeks.. i was on insulin 2x a day... once you learn how you body reacts you will be fine.. i know at first its sooo scary...
what i mainly followed was
no fruit or milk in morning...
eat low carbs and more protein
before bedtime take a scoop of peanut butter and eat it... it will regulate your sugar in the middle of the night.
water, water, water... drink it till you cant stand it....
good luck!!!

[mery71]

thank you all SO VERY MUCH!!! i really do appreciate all of your input and the diet information, it is sooo helpful. i am going to a dietician tomorrow and took some more blood this morning, so we'll see where that leads me!! thanks again!!!

[Vin89]

This thread couldn't have come at a better time. Great tips on the diet, guys! Thanks!

Although, for me having indian food as a primary diet is proving to be little bit tricky to make adjustments as it tends to be more on the side of glutensque and carb overload :-)

I have been dx'ed w/GD recently (rather early) and am doing home blood sugar checks at home. I already have couple of bruises on the finger tips. Did you prick at any other place other than fingers?

[auburn girl]

Originally Posted by Vin89

This thread couldn't have come at a better time. Great tips on the diet, guys! Thanks!

Although, for me having indian food as a primary diet is proving to be little bit tricky to make adjustments as it tends to be more on the side of glutensque and carb overload :-)

I have been dx'ed w/GD recently (rather early) and am doing home blood sugar checks at home. I already have couple of bruises on the finger tips. Did you prick at any other place other than fingers?

Not sure if this will help you or not as far as finger sticks but I learned a great tip from a friend. I was checking 4 times a day. She suggested I start with one finger and stick one side in the morning and the other side the next time. That way I would give that finger a 3 day break before I had to stick it again.

Let me know if you need more info.

[auburn girl]

Originally Posted by mery71

I was just diagnosed today with GD, the normal level is below 140, my level is 255. I am really concerned..has anyone else had GD and if so, was it hard to control, did you have to give yourself insulin injections?? Any information would be super helpful.

Mery - I was able to control with diet as well. I ate a lot of eggs and peanut butter.

bfast - eggs with cheese and bacon
lunch - sometimes I would eat cheese pepperoni, crackers, cheese and fruit. or egg salad sandwich, chicken salad (homemade)
dinner - a protein a small salad, veggies and a piece of bread/roll

I'm sure you are going to be fine.

[Vin89]

Originally Posted by auburn girl

Not sure if this will help you or not as far as finger sticks but I learned a great tip from a friend. I was checking 4 times a day. She suggested I start with one finger and stick one side in the morning and the other side the next time. That way I would give that finger a 3 day break before I had to stick it again.

Let me know if you need more info.

That is a good tip. I do it 4x, too. so you used 2 fingers for 1 day's worth testing, right ? Sorry if I sound like a dork . Thanks.

Also, I am worried about loosing weight by watching everytime what I eat. Did you all have the same concern? How did you get enough calories w/o compromising the diet plan? or the menus that were posted above are more than enough calories?

[mery71]

auburn - thanx so much for that tip! i go tomorrow to the hospital for all the gd info and i'm sure i will be testing too..i was wondering how your fingers don't get so sore! i love pb, so that's a good thing! i'm sure i will be eating alot of that too!\

vin - i was thinking the same thing as you...will i be gaining any more weight with this kind of diet? i will be sure to as the people tomorrow...and will let you know!

[auburn girl]

I was a little overweight before I started. With that said the day before I gave birth I weight 4 lbs less than before I got pregnant by IVF.

My dr. said the weight loss would not affect the baby but she also did constant weight checks on the baby to make sure.

I say it was the best diet ever. I gave birth and literally lost 20 lbs.

As far as the finger sticks. Yes, it was 2 fingers for one day then those fingers get a break for 3 days. I kept forgetting which finger I had stuck when I didn't do the same finger method.

[mery71]

auburn - so wait..you lost 20 pounds during your pregnancy? did they do ultrasounds on your baby..is that how they knew she was growing just fine? my tummy is already big...but my doctor said I was measuring normal, on the bigger side though.

[auburn girl]

Mery - I was so worried about my weight because I had only gained 2 lbs by 32 wks, but I had some extra weight. I also got diagnosed at around 32 wks. I had u/s twice a weeks and they would do a weight check just to make sure.

I'm sure everything will be fine. I did write down everything I ate because the nurse would look through it if she saw numbers that were a bit on the high side.

Let us know how your appointment goes.

[LE201]

When I went on the diet I lost weight as well. My OB was not concern, she just said you never thought you be doing your post diet before you delevered. The GD dr was not concern either. The did U/S ever 2wks to make sure everything was going okay. My baby was gaining weight so that was good. I also had to do the fetel stress test every week. I would be hooked up to a fetel monitor to hear the hb and see how the baby was moving (kicks). Don't worry about lossing weight your baby will take what it needs from you.