Gestational Diabetes

[yvonne dohnev]

I´m 29 weeks pregnant and just diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Altho it´s not the best news I´ve ever been given, I could cope with it. But i find taking sugar readings 6 times a day frightening - it´s like an obsessive fixation. And i´m spending all my time worrying what the next result is going to be and then being really depressed when it´s not what it should be.

The doctors gave me a strict diet to follow but it doesn´t seem to make any difference - the results are still high. and am exhausted, walking and walking for hours as there is no other exercise available to me.

I´d really like to hear from anyone that´s been through the same and above all, to know if changing diet has an immediate effect or is a delayed effect. I´ve been following the diet strictly with no improvements, for 1 week. Is it too early to see results?

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi yvonne,
This must be a very worrying time for you.
Worrying about your readings is not a good idea as this may indeed be sending them higher.
You say you are following the diet that you have been given but could you explain to us what you have been told to eat as this may also have some bearing on the readings.
There are plenty of members who may be able to advise you so please don't despair.
Look forward to hearing more from you.
Regards, Catherine.

 

[yvonne dohnev]

hi. thanks for your message. my diet info is here - sorry if it´s a bore to read through. I have to eat/drink:

200ml skimmed milk with coffee for the morning. 25g of cereal (porridge, with nothing added)
40g bread with 50g ham and 1 medium fruit, mid morning
lettuce& tomato salad lunch, 60g when dry rice/pasta. 100g chicken breast. 40 gram bread. 1 medium fruit for lunch
2 x skimmed yoghurts for mid afternoon
200g veg. 60g when dry rice/pasta. 100g chicken breast. 40 gram bread. 1 medium fruit for dinner.
200ml skimmed milk before bed.

the chicken can be changed with beef or fish (or horse, I live in Spain and this is part of the diet here!). Actually, I think that has made things worse, dealing with this in a Spanish Language.

the lunch and dinner bread can be interchanged for more pasta/rice. beans/lentils/pulses too for midday, but not in the evening.

Sorry if it´s too detailed. Any help you can give/advice will be totally welcomed.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi again yvonne,
Thanks for the info about your diet.
What are your readings like and when do you test?

 

[yvonne dohnev]

in the morning, nothing more than getting out of bed, they have been between 116 and 103. Two hours later, 109 - 85. Before lunch 68 - 85 then two hours later 134- 113. before dinner 101 - 121and two hours after 110 - 161. In each case, I´ve given the highest and lowest that I´ve had, but they are all around this, with the exception of before lunch, which is normally 84/85 and after dinner 135.

Again, am grateful for any advice. yesterday I walked before and after meals, for around 3 hours in total, and got no difference in the readings at all. thanks - yvonne.

 

[sugarless sue]

Just had a look at your diet Yvonne,you are eating a lot of starchy carbs,rice pasta ,bread,etc.try cutting these right down to small portions and see what difference that makes to your readings.Some of us cut these right out of our diets but we are all different and it's just a case of trying things till you find what works for you.

 

[yvonne dohnev]

thanks sue, have decided to cut out the bread as a starting point. my biggest worry is that since starting the diet (8th of January) i have maintained my weight and am now losing weight. In total, have gained 10K for the pregnancy (around 22 pounds) and am now losing. And this is the time that the baby should be gaining the most (although of course, do not want an enormous baby either, as seems to be the most frequent result of gestational diabetes).
If I take out carbs, should I replace them with vegetables or more fruit? or even more yoghurt and milk?
I have got an appointment at a specialist next monday, but that seems a long way away at the moment.
Thanks again, yvonne.