Gestational Diabetes - Granada Hills, CA

I had that too. But was diagnosed at 8 weeks. Had to take insulin too. Anyway, the best thing that brought my sugal levels down was walking after the meal, and lots of water.
No bananas... Not a lot of cereal...tons of meat for the protein.
Hope this helps!

A.,

I read through many of the responses and just wanted to also share a little that I learned with GD. I love fruit but it would send my blood sugar up. My OB told me that if I have a fruit, I needed to also have a protein with it. With a sliced apple, have a good scoop of peanut or almond butter (make sure there isn't any extra sugar added to it). With pineapple (if canned make sure it is in it's own juice) have a bowl of cottage cheese. My GD was actually so bad right off that I had to start taking insuling very shortly after diagnosis. I was diligent and tried to not have to use the insulin but didn't kick myself if I did have to use it.

My son was born a very healthy 7 lbs. (high weight births usually means blood sugar was too high during pregnancy.

Just stick with it, try to be creative, read labels (sugar is hidden in the strangest places) and drink plenty of water. Know that you are doing your best and it is for the good of your baby. You are doing this all so that your daughter doesn't have to deal with diabetes as a child.

On those days that I was craving something sweet I would go online and read about what children have to go through with diabetes and that would shock me into the importance of keeping my blood sugar steady and low.

Hang in there,

Evelyn

Here are a few resources and tips:

http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/gd/gd_index.html
(SO much info. on this website)

"The pH Miracle for Diabetes" by Robert O. Young
http://www.amazon.com/pH-Miracle-Diabetes-Revolutionary-D...

Cinnamon helps keep blood sugar more stable. Add it to anything- oatmeal, ww toast, etc. Also, Stevia and Xylitol are natural sweeteners, which are good for blood sugar and for overall health (and teeth-xylitol). Much better than other alternative sweeteners, ie. nutrasweet/splenda/etc, imo.
I always did open-faced sandwiches to use less bread or lettuce-wrapped. Peanut butter (the kinds withOUT corn syrup or other garbage) or raw almonds always helped keep levels steady or evened out a higher-carb snack.

I had GDM in my first pregnancy with my OB/GYN, but with my 2nd pregnancy I had a CPM (midwife). She seemed to care more about it than my OB (I had to remind him I was gestationally diabetic each visit as he was walking out the door, show him the charts I'd been keeping, as he waved me off, telling me I was fine, perhaps bc I'm not overweight and the ONLY risk factor I have for diabetes is genetics.) My midwife educated me about it much more than my OB ever did. I kept food journals throughout much of my pregnancy, mostly for my sake after the first month or so, to keep me more diligent in eating well and staying away from all the tempting no-no foods. I wasn't a regular/typical case, but was able to keep the sugars down through proper diet (lots of salads with protein, water, several small high-protein meals a day), exercise, water, rest, and education. I learned not to buy anything that would tempt me at home.

A few breakfast ideas that worked for me in keeping my blood sugars steady included (but definitely not limited to):
Breakfast - 1/2 ww English muffin with 1-2 eggs, omelette w/ cheese, ham, veggies (basically anything eggy...protein), or small bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and some pb.

I was even able to eat occasional desserts, especially if I spaced it a few hours after a meal and combined it with a protein. Not every day, but enough to help me feel not completely deprived. Of course, everyone's different and what worked for me might not work for anyone else.
Best of luck,
N.

I had gestational diabetes while i was pregnant. i would recommend that you start to keep a food diary and record your food and the numbers from when you check. this will show you your bodys reaction with the different food. i could not eat anything fried but i loved bbq pulled pork. the diary really helped me survive (cheap spiral bound notebook that went everywhere). i found that i really liked to get creative with salads. if you need anything else email.

Hello, I had Gestational Diabetes with both my kids so I had plenty of experience with the highs and lows of it all. Try to make your meals small but more frequent and nothing sweet before bed or that makes your test higher. I just stuck with the free vegies like celery (w/peanut butter sometimes), cucumber, snap peas and broccoli for good snacks too. If you can't stay away from fast food get a happy meal. I also like the salads at Jack in the box and at Wendy's you can have the BLT salad and a 5 pc chicken nugget and still be ok. Just drink lots of water, that and time are the only thing that can change you blood sugar levels. Just try to manage it with diet so you don't have to do the insulin shots. I hate needles so that's why I didn't have to use the insulin. Just think of your baby with all the sugar and if you start a regular diet you will notice changes in the activity of the baby also. A big difference between water and say orange soda your belly and the baby will be happier with water. Enjoy your pregnancy and best wishes.
M.

I was diagnosed with GD with my last pregnancy. I was very confused about it all until I attended a class at the hospital just for GD taught by a diabetes educator/dietician. I met with her on a few different occasions - I'd keep a journal of what I was eating and my blood sugar levels and she was able to help with my diet. I ate 3 meals and 3 snacks, some of the biggest keys was never eat seconds, no fruit juice (I couldn't tolerate fruits at all) and count/watch carbs - so many per meal/snack. The class was so helpful! Best of luck!

I am pretty appalled with the endocrinologists here in Reno. I had an awesome endo in the bay area during my pregnancy and he had me doing nutritional counseling with diabetic educators on a weekly basis. I am a type 1 diabetic and already had control before I got pregnant but he insisted that I monitor with his counselors. I had seen what I was told was the best endo in Reno and was very disappointed with him. You certainly need to be seeing a nutritionist and preferably one who is familiar with diabetes. Like I said, I already had control so I knew how to control but a gestational diabetic has no idea. You need to be filling out food logs with pre and post blood sugar levels as well as the units of insulin you are administering at each meal. That is the best way to see where you are and for a nutritionist to give you tips. I know we have all that available in Reno and I would discuss it with your OB/GYN.

I was gestational diabetic during my first two pregnancies. Each time they sent me to a nutritionist at the hospital. So, the first thing I would do would be ask your clinic about that. Second, I found eating bits of protein the key to keeping a balance. Eggs, cheese, peanut butter, sliced deli turkey... The nutritionist will help point out how to read labels as well. It really isn't the sugar content in foods that you have to watch out for - you are looking also at the carbs and fibers. You will find that you should eat a little bit every few hours. I would have a hard boiled egg as a mid-morning snack, string cheese or a slice of deli turkey in the afternoon - it is really easy to handle once you've met with the nutritionist.

I was so scared to eat with my GD (!) and so confused that I ate mostly hamburgers! The best thing for me was to take a walk after every time I had something to eat - no matter what it was, snack or meal. I conceived at 180 and delivered at 195. I lost a lot of weight with breast feeding, made it all the way down to 162! and so with the 2nd pregnancy I did NOT develop GD.
Good luck!

The best low glycemic foods to keep your blood sugar stable are vegetables and fruits. Lean sources of protein (turkey, lean meat, fish) are OK. Nuts in general are good (i.e. for snacks), but especially raw almonds. For dairy, you can use low-fat foods like cottage cheese, yogurt, non-fat milk.

Foods to strongly avoid are processed foods and white potatoes, bread, pasta, even rice, unless they are whole grain like sprouted wheat or oat bran. Of course, table sugar and candy.

I have a good cookbook called "Low Glycemic Meals in Minutes"; if interested I can help you get one. (It is not on amazon, but amazon does have a couple of other Low GI books.)

I also have nutritional shakes and snack bars that are delicious, very low glycemic and specifically designed for stabilizing blood sugar. They are from a leading company in nutritional supplementation, and developed in conjunction with an M.D.'s program on health management. Please contact me directly for more information.

I mananged to keep my sugar at 100 or below the whole 2 months I had GD strictly with diet and exercise. I was a heavy girl to begin with so GD was something I knew was very likely so I generally watched my diet during the whole pregnancy. The best thing is to watch those carbs. You cant cut them all out cause you need them to to stay healthy. Just stick to low carb breads, tortilla's, pasta. When it comes to rice nad potatoes each person will metabolize them differently so check to see which metabolizes better for you and go with that. just stick to small portions. Splenda became my best friend. Try going to diabetes websites to get great recipes to help you out. See if your hospital offers a diabetes nutrition class. That helped me out a ton. Remember Exercise is also a major player in keeping GD under control. If your numbers get a bit to high go take a walk and test again after. I had a gazzelle and when my numbers started getting too high I just jumped on there for 10-20 minutes to get burning some of that sugar. Good luck to you and dont forget to still enjoy your pregnancy regardless ofthe GD.

YOur OB should refer you to a Nutritionist. At least that is what mine did. I did not have GD.. but was almost. A nutritionist will actually supply you with food menus, food choices, information etc. Keep an eye on your intake/foods... you don't want it getting out of control.

Take Care,
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

I too had Gestational Diabetes. I had to check my blood 4-5 times a day and eat healthy. My OB referred me to a nutritionist at Cottage which was at the same time I was instructed on the GD - Basically it's a diet matter of eating healthy so in your last few weeks your baby (and you) don't gain too much weight. I actually lost a little weight towards the end (in a healthy way) which truly made those last few 'uncomfortable' weeks sooo much easier! I didn't feel as tired and had more energy. My suggestion would be to see a nutritionist soon for GD to get some guidance on your meal planning; they can tell you what food is best for you AND your baby. Best of Luck! :) S.

Hi A.,
I suggest you stick to low complexed carb's such as wheat bread-half a slice no jelly. Rice,potatoes,corn & beans are high in carb's. Avoid orange juice & oranges which raises the blood sugar,avoid citrus fruits, apples are good,mixed vegetables are good. Eating food in moderation such as the adequate portions. Drink water 8-10 8oz glasses per day, avoid concentrated sweets such as juices. You can buy selzter water & G2 electrolyte drink ( it's like gatorade, but better). Then mix 4oz of the selzter drink with 4oz of G2 drink & add lemon slices & crushed ice, this makes for a good drink. As a nurse I have taken care of alot of diabetics personally & professionally. Also when you purchase foods make sure the carbohydrate intake on the label is 13-16 grams no more than that. Look on the internet they have many recipes for diabetics. Take care, & congratulations.

I had GD and my OB sent me to someone( a nurse) who specializes in GD. I was given a special diet and had to check my sugar 6 times a day. The hardest part for me was that I could eat very little fruit, which I adore. By the end of my pregnancy my sugar levels had pretty much wotked themselves out. i had a very specific diet. if your OB has not referred you to anyone you may want to look online

Check with your insurance provider about diabetic nutrition classes or referral to a diabetic educator. Your not too far from the end of your pregnancy, but it is critical that you do your part in giving the best nutrition to your baby. It was difficult for me at first, but by the time I got the hang of the diet I was always satisfied and felt more full than when I didn't keep a diabetic diet. It does however take a lot more concentration and effort to keep track of your meals, blood sugar, and meal choices. There are lot of sugar free recipes on the internet, but again it takes effort on your part to coordinate your ingredients. Keep in mind that not controlling your blood sugar, may cause your baby to grow too big for a natural delivery, cause your baby's system to work too hard to get rid of the sugar and also be the cause of keeping her organs from fully maturing. Good luck, it really is in your hands :)

A., Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietician who can work with you to help plan meals. My dietician gave me a sample meal plan and a booklet that lists all food you should/shouldn't eat from all 5 food group. Trader Joe's has a variety of whole grain and wheat product you can substitute for the white bread/white rice we're used to eating. Sprouted wheat breads are best for helping your blood sugar stay low, but they are a drastic change from the ones you get from the supermarket. You must now read the labels on all foods you buy. Who knew high fructose corn syrup was an ingredient in bread? Stay away from that stuff. Learn to differentiate from high glycemic index food vs low gi foods. You want to eat less of fruits like bananas because of the high glycemic index to avoid a sugar spike. You can have some sweet but do very small portion and go for a brisk walk afterwards to compensate. I was 35 when I had my first baby. I had GD with both my kids and managed it with diet and exercise. I don't do sugar substitutes because their effects on the fetus are unknown. The key is small servings of food and exercise. I ate 5 or six times a day and I walked one or two times a day (half to one hr walk) and lift light weight for muscle tone. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it can be done. I work full time inspite of all this. Email me if you want more specifics.

aaww...i was too! yes. it is very important to keep it under control. for myself, i cut my portions to 1/2 and just ate more frequently than have full set meals like breakfast, lunch and dinner. in other words, i snacked the entire day to keep my hunger at bay and my blood sugar low. i ate low glycemic meals and literally counted the minutes til my next serving. haha! it's worth it though.

i promote health and wellness and i am in the biz in direct selling of nutritionals. we have a product called Nutrimeal and it is a low glycemic meal replacement that keeps the carb (sugars) cravings controlled and your metabolism on check. i recommend that you check it out and take it to your doctor and see what he/she thinks of it. our company's products appear in the medical physician's desk reference -- you may point it out to him/her to validate what i'm representing. we meet the highest standards of good manufacturing practices and are NSF certified, meaning: what you see listed on the bottle, that's exactly what you're getting! 100% potency guaranteed!

www.globalsynergy.usana.com
Congratulations on your great news! God bless!

Stick with the boring and check out Weight Watcher's site. Increase your water (not juice or soda) intake and go for walks or other excercise. Exercise helps with insulin production (that your own body makes) water helps flush out the bad stuff. The better your blood sugar control is the chances of a c-section decrease and the healthier your baby will be. Better to be bored with your diet for 7 to 9 more weeks than have problems develope. There is a program called Sweet Success that has been developed for mom's with gestational diabetes. Look for www.sweetsuccessexpress.com. J. D. Labor and Delivery R.N.

Your OB should send you to a hospital nutritionist to set you up with a blood sugar monitor, and give you a pamphlet on what you can eat. I had GD with my first (but not my second) and They gave me a "Sweet Success" pamphlet. I was able to control my sugar levels, and had a very healthy 6lb 3oz baby at full term. You can eat carbs, but keep with the 100% whole grains, and watch the portions. Also you need to eat every couple hours to keep your insulin levels up. Follow what your nutritionist and OBGYN says and you will get through. I just wanted to give you a word of encouragement about your little one. Also, there is no gaurantee that you will have it during subsequent pregnancies. Good luck!

I was insulin dependant when I was pregnant with my son and the food got boring pretty quickly. I filled my refrigerator at work with a variety of foods for quick snacks such as: celery w/ peanut butter, trail mix with almonds, peanuts, etc, I made veggie plates with bell peppers, celery, cauliflower, english cucumbers, broccoli, etc. I used whole graing lavosh bread and made rolls with sliced meat, cheese and veggies. I also kept some hard-boiled eggs handy. If you don't have a weak stomach, try different seasons, they can really make a difference. Don't be afraid to experiment.

Too many carbs are bad and you need to stay away from white flour, substitute whole grains instead for your breads and pastas. I found some great products at Trader Joe's. Ezekial bread is best toasted, but I liked the Milton's bread.

There is a 'Sugar Busters' recipe book that was also very helpful.

I went thru sweet success, and they were really great. The food did get a little boring, but have a friend bring you a brownie to the hosptial when you deliver. I asked my doctor if I could ever have anything yummy. He said after 1 week of good sugars, have a brownie. It was my treat to myself for being good all week! You are doing it for the baby, its all you have to remember. I ended up loosing weight after I was on the diet and only ended up gaining 11 lbs during my whole pregnancy. It was great, I ended up being less when i left the hospital with my daughter then I was when I got pregnant. The diet does work, and its only for a few more weeks. I had to really watch my mornings, and any variationi from the diet at all would send my blood sugar soaring. I found I could sway away in the afternoon a bit. You will take you blood sugar many times a day and find out where you have a little wiggle room. My AM fasting was usually 95-100, and you want it to be under 100. But my after noon was usually in the 60-70's, I had some wiggle room. You will get used to it soon enough. I got those lunchables for on the road. It was great, it had 2 proteins and 1 starch. I would eat that with an apple and it was great. For breakfast I would have peanut butter on toast. I also loved to grill fresh veggies with a bit of seasing. Just play around with it a bit! I did find I had to stay away from milk all together. Good Luck!

You can eat carbs, but they MUST be WHOLE grain. We all should be doing that anyways. NO White pastas, rices or flours. It's better for you and the baby in the long run so make the switch and keep it up. Also, get some exercise!

I had GD during my first pregnancy. It was a blessing in disgiuse for me, it made me eat healthy and I actually began to lose weight while my baby was gaining weight. Have you talked to a dietians, if not ask your dr to refer you to one. Also eat ever 3 hours small meals. How much carbs you can eat depends on your current weight. Also make sure you have a snack around 9:30pm, you don't want to go more than 10 hours without a meals. If you have any questions email me. Good luck and don't worry it will be okay

Hi A.,

I'm a type 2 diabetic and this is my 2nd pregnancy. I've been to the nutritionist and she was able to give me a book and a pretty basic meal plan. Typically, you don't want to have too much carbs in your meals. The more protein, the better. Let's say you're in the mood for a turkey sandwich. Here's what you should have: 1 slice of whole grain bread (I like to eat Earth Grains' multigrain bread), 2 slices of turkey, 1 slice of cheese (Swiss/American) and add your lettuce and tomato. You can even put 1 Tbsp. of mayo on the slice of bread.

Stay away from white flours as much as possible and stick with whole wheat, multi/whole grains. You can still have pasta and rice, just not the white variety. The white variety will turn into sugar much faster. Fruits are also high in sugar, so just have 1/2 of one. And if you're in the mood for chocolate, get yourself some sugar-free russel stover candies. Or if ice cream is what you crave, go for the Breyer's no sugar added or the sugar free Fudgsicles.

Exercise is also key to keep your blood sugar levels down. It's good to walk maybe 3x a week for you and baby.

Some good websites for recipes: www.splenda.com, www.recipezaar.com, www.glucerna.com

I wish you and your baby girl the best =)

Hello! I am J. Garcia, R.D., CDE. I am a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. I hope you are checking your blood glucose regularly. The amount of carbohydrate you should have at each meal depends on how much your blood glucose rises after eating that meal. You are correct that protein foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese and nuts will not raise your blood sugar very much. Non-starcy vegetables also are a good choice - cooked or raw. Omelets, vegetable soups, salads, and meat-veggie casseroles are good choices. You may contact me if you like for more menu planning and recipes. You should be seeing a Registered Dietitian or Certified Diabetes Educator to help you keep your blood usgar under control. Good luck.

Hi A.,

I'm a massage therapist, Chinese Herbologist, and will be licensed in Acupuncture after taking the CA licensing exam this summer. I actually did a presentation on nutritiion and diabetes.

Bitter melon is a wonderful food for maintaining blood sugar levels. It's used medicically in many countries for treating diabetes. You can buy bitter melon at Asian grocery stores in San Diego. If you don't know where any are located, then contact me and I will give you directions. Or google 'Rancho 99'. That's a popular one. I would also google 'Bitter melon recipes' for a yummy way to prepare the quite bitter fruit.

Additionally, you can use natural sugar substitutes to avoid spiking. A great one is Stevia as it is said to actually regulate blood sugar levels. It's available at Henry's, Whole Foods, or People's Food Coop in OB. You can also use Agave Nectar. It's tasty and has a low glycemic index.

Eat lots of whole grains, but I do know that oatmeal has a high glycemic index and so you might want to avoid that one, as does white rice and pasta. Go for brown rice, sprouted whole grain breads, and whole wheat products. Nuts and lentils are a great nutritional source of protein. Almonds help to regulate blood sugar as well, so would be a great snack to carry around.

I hope that helps. You can also visit an acupuncturist who is a Chinese herbologist,too. They can prescribe herbs that will help to maintain your blood sugar.

HI Allyson,
I am a CDE and a Dietitian and what you need to do is go get a referral from your Endo to see a Dietitian, Diabetes Educator. There are lot of things you can do with your diet that aren't so boring. You can still have carbs but they need to be high quality carbs, nothing processed or with sugars added. No fruit juices either. there is a whole chart of what you can do. I also have Type 1 diabetes and what I did for a lot of my breakfasts is have a slice of whole grain toast with an omelet or scrambled eggs. In the omelet you can put cheeses, vegetables or meats. You can get really creative. Also on the omelet you can put avocado, salsa, sour cream and cheese. All together that breakfast will have around 15-20grams of carbs which is good. you want to try to not go over 40g at lunch and dinner and try to keep your breakfasts under 20g of carbs. Your snacks, 3 a day should have no more than 20g each snack and make sure you eat a protein with each of those snacks. Good luck!!! Get to that dietitian, CDE!!!

Hi - I also had GD. The best thing that I used to eat for b-fast that was tasty and great for the blood sugar was whole wheat toast and peanut butter. If you eat an apple, be sure to offset it with a piece of cheese. Definately ask your dr to refer you to a Nutritionist that specializes in diabetes and they will give you a plan. Finally, check your blood sugar as directed and you will know if they meal you ate kept you blood sugar where it needed to be or if it cause a spike and adjust accordingly. The good news is that if you follow your drs orders and keep it in check you will have a healthy pregnancy and will not gain excessive weight. I think having GD acutally helped me during my pregancy ... I gained much less than my other friends who were pregnant at the same time and didn't have it becuase I had to watch what I ate so closely. Good luck and congratulations on your little girl :)

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my son (now 16 years old). I went to see a nutritionist and she gave me some very helpful ideas. I was able to eat everything in moderation. I was also testing my blood sugar levels 3 times a day in the beginning and then it moved to once a day at different times a day. I was able to eat rice, graham crackers, english muffins, yogurt and a variety of other things. I ate small meals throughout the day. I would eat breakfast then have a snack at mid morning, then eat lunch and have a snack midafternoon, then eat dinner and have a snack before going to bed. I did have to measure my food at every meal so I would not be overeating and cause my blood sugar level to rise. My best advice would be to see a nutritionist as they were very helpful to me. I got the best brochures from them about my diet while pregnant. Once I delivered my son I was back to normal. Good luck and congratulations.

I, too, had GD. The one thing that helped me was to make sure I always had healthy snacks with me at all times. Also, everytime I ate a piece of fruit or something with carbs, I also ate something with protein to balance it out and to make sure the sugar levels didn't get too high. I had very high glucose levels when I was diagnosed and was able to manage it with exercise and diet. Not everyone has to be on insulin so try not to get tooo freaked out. I also gave birth to a 9 lb 6 oz baby naturally without pain meds. If your Dr. is trying to scare you into a C-sect because the baby is "too big", get another opinion or ask for an ultrasound to determine the babies size. You can do it and try to stay positive!

Go online and check out the Brewer Diet. It is a diet that is high in protein and great for managing your sugars. It's geared toward pregnant women.
I also suggest oatmeal for breakfast. And not the quick kind! Steel cut oatmeal with a tsp of cinnamon for breakfast will really help with your numbers.
Cut down/out the simple sugars and refined carbs.
Also check out www.plus-sizedpregnancy.com they have great tips on GD as well as a host of other things.

Good luck!
E.