BABY BLOG #10 Did you have GESTATIONAL DIABETES?

Posted By: Cindy Simmons http://www.star94.com/cindy · 8/14/2012 8:53:00 AM

Did you have GESTATIONAL DIABETES?
 
So, last week at 28 weeks into my pregnancy, I went for my pregnancy glucose test and didn't pass. I then had to return the office a few days later to take the fasting three hour glucose test. That was a littttttle more difficult considering you have to fast starting at midnight the evening before.  Being that I get up at 4am because I work mornings, my eating stopped at 9pm so it made the following morning a tad bit challenging. My poor coworkers,  (lol) pregnant and hunger do NOT go together!  Anyway, I didn't really know what to expect at this three hour test except for hunger pains. :o) It seems that you get your finger pricked three times during these three tests and it turns out I failed two out of the three tests so I was given the gestational diabetes diagnosis.
 
I have no experience with gestational diabetes as I did not have GD (which is how we refer to it from here on out) with my first daughter. I felt all sorts of emotions immediately following the news such as what did I do wrong? Was I eating improperly? Was I not getting enough exercise? Then I checked my reality and figured I need to pull it together and worry about the rest of my pregnancy and not what I did nor didn't do in the last seven months.
 
I was told to book an appointment with my OBGYN's nutritionist so I have one booked for this Friday. In the meantime, I wanted to learn more about GD, educate myself and see what I can or cannot eat so I headed straight for the most reliable source...the Internet! HA Probably not the best idea but I figured I had days before this appt on Friday and I wanted to get a head start on what I needed to stop eating or doing. Being a super SUPER picky non veggie eating person, I am a little intimidated by what this nutritionist is going to tell me Friday but since first and foremost my priority is the health of my new little baby girl, I will figure it out and make it work! (as Tim Gunn from Project Runway always says!)
 
I know many many women have experienced GD and this is why I am writing this blog. I would love if you could share your knowledge and experience with me so I can learn from you. Any tricks of the trade for picky eaters? Did you find this easy or difficult to manage?
 
Any tips, advice or suggestions you can send my way would be most appreciated. AND for those of you who have never had GD, I thought I would share this lovely little picture fo Ryan Gosling. hee hee Enjoy and thanks in advance for your help!
 
Until next time!
 
Happy day!
 
xo
♥ Cindy  :o)

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  1. JenniferA_0724 posted on 08/14/2012 09:31 AM
    I had GD with my second, not my first as well. For me, just not eating too much at one time and not going crazy with the carbs was all it took. Stress can also raise your blood sugar, so try to watch that. If your numbers do go too high, a little exercise will bring them down again. No worries, it's nothing you did. You might have to take a class that explains all of it and know that after that baby is born, the GD will be gone.
  2. tammy posted on 08/14/2012 10:08 AM
    Cindy, I had GD with my first pregnancy. It really is not a terrible thing. Like you, I was a very picky eater. I just learned not to eat sugar basically. The nutritionist will help you balance a meal with what you like to eat. You have to eat several times a day and check your blood pretty much everytime you eat. I had always heard if you have GD with the first pregnancy you will have it with all of them. Not true in my case. I did not have GD with my second pregnancy. Don't stress out over it. It's not complicated and it only lasts a few weeks until you deliver.
  3. Kerrie posted on 08/14/2012 11:01 AM
    Cindy,
    I had GD with my 2nd and 3rd children (both in my 30's). The good news is - the result will be a smarter, more health conscience mom for the baby and your family. The healthy eating that the nutritionist will impart to you, if followed throughout your life, will assist you in fending off heart disease, diabetes and other poor health conditions that are related to our misconceptions of portion size, sugars and starchy foods. Your approach to healthy eating will instill good eating habits on Lilly, which will help her, throughout her life as well.
    If the eternal optimist in me always looks for the good in any situation - it is that you will be a better wife and mother because you now wield knowledge that you didn't have before this experience.
    Good luck and prayers to you and your sweet baby!
  4. Jennifer Lugo posted on 08/14/2012 03:49 PM
    I too was just diagnosed w/GD. I was like you wondering what I did wrong, etc. I went to a class at Gwinnett Hospital & I found out that it's nothing that we have done wrong. I did not have GD with my son & I was not diabetic before this pregnancy. I was shocked, upset, mad, in denial, etc when I found out. But after taking the class I felt better & had more of an understanding what GD was & how to treat it. I thought it was going to be hard at first to manage your meals & to prick your finger 4x's a day, but you get use to it. The class where I went to gave me a meal plan & sample menus. It is stressful at first, but you will get the hang of it. My readings have all been within range minus a few after eating what I thought would be ok, but turned out it raises blood sugar..like pizza!!! Opps! No more pizza for me! Hang in there..You will get through it like I did & the million other women who have GD!
  5. Mary G. posted on 08/15/2012 07:57 AM
    I had GD with my first pregnancy and actually found it very easy to maintain! The nutritionist will help you a lot. You will find what easily spikes your blood sugar, mine was pizza. So say instead of eating 3 pieces I would cheat and have 1. You will find a lot of sugars that are in bread are bad for you so for lunch instead of having white bread switch to wheat; I also tracked my food and glucose levels on www.livestrong.com which was such a big help! Their glucose tracker was so easy to log into and then you can print it and give it to your doctor.
  6. Pam posted on 08/15/2012 08:05 AM
    I had GD with my first but not my second. I thought I was being good by switching from soda to 100% fruit juice but turns out this was not so good (especially with the quantity I was drinking!). Now, mind you, this was 20 years ago and nowadays with all the nutrition info being pumped through the TV it probably seems like common sense to know that fruit juice is loaded with sugar. The nutritionist told me to cut out the fruit juice (and the nightly ice cream...darn those cravings!) but not too much else was wrong with my diet. That seemed to do the trick. And my healthy 20 year old son is none the worse for it! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
  7. Debbie posted on 08/15/2012 08:24 AM
    Cindy -

    I had a unique version of GD. It didn't rear it's ugly head until the last trimester of my pregnancies, then it went very high. My doctor was super cautious with both pregnancies and I did have GD with both.

    I was put on a very typical diabetic diet right from the start, both of my children were born at 37-1/2 weeks as the sugar levels continued to increase - and both children were born extremely healthy!!! No problems at all!! AND, the GD miraculously disappears immediately after birth!!! The day after my daughter was born, my husband brought me coke, chocolate ice cream and potato chips - proceeded to climb into bed with me at the hospital, and we ate all the stuff I couldn't touch for so many months - with no problems!

    You'll be fine, and so will your baby. Just take it seriously and follow the doctor's orders on what and what not to eat!!!

    Best of luck to you!
  8. Shaela Toni posted on 08/15/2012 08:32 AM
    I have 4 kids but only had GD with #2. I found that when I over did it on bad sugars, I was lethargic within 30 mins. Tracking your sugar intake helps and limiting portions. That was 4 yes ago so I don't remember what cookbook I bought but I did get one of those diabetes cookbooks. The most annoying part was pricking my finger a minimum of 6 times a day. On a positive note, I'm sure Paula Dean will have some good GD friendly recipes.
  9. Laura posted on 08/15/2012 08:47 AM
    Cindy,

    I had GD with my 2nd and not my first, and I've concluded that it just means your baby is extra sweet :o)

    The hardest part for me was all the needles! I'm deathly afraid of needles, so that was pure torture.

    For the diet part, you pretty much just have to cut back on the carbs and sugary stuff, but you can still have your sweets, in moderation, if you make it with a sugar substitute.

    I don't think the veggie issue is really a problem. You can eat the things you like, but just in the right proportions.

    Good luck!!!

    :o)
  10. AliciaM_34 posted on 08/15/2012 08:48 AM
    I had it for my 2 pregnancies and chances on being a diabetic later in life is higher and yes I became a diabetic but I have been 4 years now with normal A1C levels. First of all you will need to follow a diabetic diet and adhere to it if you do not you will feel lethargic swell up and be miserable. This I learned when I had my daughter 26 years ago. My best friend became Crystal Light and water. You have to watch "sugar free" items most are not good for you. You will benefit a lot from a nutritional person letting you know what you can have or not have. Water water water clear when you go to the bathroom more yellow can mean your sugar level is up, I stick to 10mg or less of sugar a day I am very anal when it comes to reading labels and it seems when you start looking at labels you will be shocked what is in them sugar wise. Hope they teach you about sugar alcohols if not ask how they work this is where the sugar free is tricky. Example Murry's Sugar Free cookies are a BIG NO NO they are something you can not have. Calcium I know you need them and they have a sugar free chocolate ones omg that will help with the cravings too of chocolate.
    Is this difficult YES but each day take it one day at a time. You may go through the headache phase promise once you do 3 days at most it is well worth it for yourself and your baby.
    You did nothing wrong this is a complication at this point from your pregnancy. Stress is another thing you need to watch for and becoming sick these will all raise your sugar levels.
    I would do it as a whole for all in household now my son lives a sugarfree life but the treats in life have sugar and it is good for him as well because his chance is higher as well with my outcome of having it.
    I hope this helps you out some and wish you the best of luck.
  11. DanielleN_2052 posted on 08/15/2012 09:06 AM
    All these ladies have given you excellent advice. I had GD with all 3 pregnancies, and my daughters are healthy. Portion control and exercise are key. Try to stick with whole grains if you can. Drinking lots of water will help with a lot of the pregnancy issues, too. Your nutritionist will give you your specific eating plan; they will know what is right for you, and can help you fit foods you enjoy into your plan. Just on a practical note, if you can get a Delica lancet, pricking your finger to do your tests will be much more comfortable. It is a tiny tiny lancet. Nothing like the ones they use at the doctor's office. Keeping a food and exercise journal can be helpful, too. GD will go away after your daughter is born. Focusing on that helped me through! Wishing you all the best!!
  12. Candi posted on 08/16/2012 06:45 AM
    Hi Cindy - I had GD for both of my pregnancies. My kids were born super healthy and around 7lbs each. They induced me at 38 weeks. I had to test my glucose 4 times a day and very quickly I learned what I could eat and what I coudn't.. The diet is not hard to follow. It is more than "don't eat sweets"... the carbs are the bad guys. I didn't gain any weight during both of my pregnancies, so by the time I delivered my babies, I was around 15lb lighter than when I got pregnant. That was awesome. Not gaining weight while I was pregant was fine, due to the diet, but that it didn't mean my babies were not growing. All the measures were fine, my belly and baby kept growing. You will be fine and learn a lot about nutrition along the way.
  13. Holly long posted on 08/18/2012 07:32 PM
    Hey!
    I was one of the nurses that cared for you (gave your chemo) I was preganant at the time with my son who will be two in Sept. I did not have GD with him but I did have another baby since then #4 a girl this past December and I was SHOCKED when I got the GD diagnosis because I didn't have it with any other pregnancy! I went through all the emotions you described. Anyway look at it (if u can) as a little gift. This new way of eating will suck at first but once you grab a hold of it you will feel so good! I would as a treat eat a cheeseburger (from your place of choice) without the top bun. Egg mc muffins without the top muffin are good too for a morning snack. Vanilla wafers as a snack are okay too (portioned correctly). I always carried string cheese with me and crackers (portioned correctly) as a snack. If you have a slip up np worries your human! My doctor would even say so:-) also!!! This just may prevent any unwanted weight gain so look at it as a head start to getting into "shape". You'll have ups and down's with this diagnosis. One minute you will feel "okay" and the next day you may be MAD!!!! It's normal!!! chances are in your favor that after delivery your blood sugar levels will return to normal. The placenta and increased hormones is the cause. Take care and good luck!
  14. Staceysemi posted on 09/05/2012 01:20 PM
    Hi Cindy,

    I too did not have GD with my first pregnancy but I did for my second pregnancy with twins.

    The worst part about GS was really only that long test. I actuallty passed out during one of the testing times and ended up in the back room on a couch. After that I actually ate much better. I had to because they were checking me every week and wanted to see my food log and my sugar levels log. Because of this I felt much better throughout the pregency and only gained 30 pounds with twins as where with my daughter I gained almost 90 and wassick the whole time.

    You are also aready in great shape so you will be fine. Just follow the doctors advice.

    :)
  15. girivin posted on 11/16/2012 06:33 PM
    Thanks for sharing your stiry with us . It is easy to manage most of the time if you remain calm and positive. Your diet and exercise you a lot in your diabetes problem to maintain your sugar level.
  16. Girivn posted on 12/13/2012 04:41 PM
    Hay, I have no personal experience of gestational diabetes but i know how to behave with the disease like this!! You just think positive and remove artificial sugared things. You can eat fruits, specially berries and other green food for your hunger. For more inforamtion you can visit my wesite.
  17. gestational diabetes diet posted on 02/18/2013 06:04 AM
    nice article on gestational diabetes diet i follow http://www.gestational-diabetes-diet.com to read more about gestational diabetes diet
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