Failed the 1hr GD test, as I feared earlier. Pretty bummed about it because I was going to make another batch of white-chocolate covered Oreos. I guess that will have to wait another 3 months or so.
Lisa/Lori, you guys had a post about sample diet for GD--I tried to look for it because I got my results right before lunch and I had no idea what I should eat anymore =P but I couldn't find the post. I ended up having chicken because I figured that was pretty safe...
I think I'm going in for my 3hr test tomorrow. Part of me wonders if I should wait and not eat sweets for a week before doing that? But then part of me just want to get it over with so I can start managing it if I really do have GD.
Re: Failed my glucose test...
Aw hon, I'm sorry.
But really, GD isn't so bad - honestly, the worst part of it for me has been keeping an eye on portion sizes (which is a good habit to have anyway!).
I'd do the 3-hour test ASAP. I had to wait a week for mine, and I hated it...I just wanted to get started on the testing and the diet if the GD was confirmed. I had to go on a special high carb diet for three days before my test (it helps avoid false positives) - not sure if you have to do the same? Must not if you're going in tomorrow.
Here's the previous post - Lori had tons of ideas for snacks!
Your doctor/dietitian may advise you differently, but my guidelines are 45g of carbs per meal (only 30 at breakfast because I can't do 45 without my sugar level shooting way up - apparently this is quite common as you're coming off a fast and your hormones are different in the morning) and around 15-30g of carbs for snacks (you'll need a morning snack, an afternoon snack and quite possibly a bedtime one too).
It's important that the carbs are complex - e.g., wholegrain bread vs white - and paired with a protein, which helps to slow the sugar's absorption into your system. So, for example, right this minute I'm having a snack of an apple (the carb) with peanut butter (the protein).
It's also important that you don't just cut carbs completely, even though it's tempting since that makes it easier - your body and your baby need them, so make sure you're getting that 45g per meal. If your body can't handle this, then that's when you go on insulin - but hopefully you won't need that!
Here's what I might have on a typical day, just as an example:
Breakfast: yogurt (check the sugar content!) with muesli, or maybe two scrambled eggs with a slice of toast and a glass of milk
Snack: two wholegrain crackers with cheese (my crackers are these, so they're quite large - you may need more crackers depending on what kind you have), or some mini pretzels with cheese
Lunch: chicken or tuna with lettuce on wholegrain seeded bread (I had to try several brands before I found one that didn't make my numbers go wonky) and a handful of grapes, or maybe a chef salad that includes mixed beans, cheese and some kind of meat
Snack: apple with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, or a pear with a few slices of cheese
Dinner: curry with meat and veggies and basmati rice on the side (if you want rice, basmati is the lowest GI around), or maybe grilled chicken with veggies on the side and a wholegrain roll (or a couple slices of bread - again, you want to hit that 45g mark)
Snack: wholegrain crackers/toast with cottage cheese
It's also important to make sure that you exercise - just a little, just lightly - each day. 30 min of walking ought to do it.
Boo! The good news?
Many women go on to pass the three hour...so there's hope! Do you know what your numbers were from the one hour or how badly you failed?
Also, most doctors recommend carboloading before the 3 hour so go ahead and have those cookies tonight!
As for sample menu, check out my posts on Pregosaur:
http://www.pregosaur.com/2009/11/twenty-nine-weeks.html
I was allowed 30 g/carb for breakfast and snacks and 45 g/carb for lunch and dinner. You can also visit the High Risk Board on The Bump...there's a GD Mamas check-in and the ladies there are very supportive.
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
Thanks girls for the link to the posts for diet
Good to know that the carbs are actually recommended for the 3hr test, because my mom said that she just avoided sweets and carbs and passed her 3hr test when it happened to her, so that's why I was thinking about postponing the test. But I think I'm gonna go do it tomorrow! Wish me luck!
I was so stunned and even kinda depressed when the nurse called me that I FORGOT to ask for my numbers and I was hitting myself in the head all day about it cuz I kept worrying because I don't know how badly I failed. I think I was also at a loss for words during that phone call because they also told me at the same time that I was also tested anemic, so I need to get on iron supplements fast and iron makes me more nauseous so I was taking in two bad news at once =(
oh bummer...I am sorry. Hopefully you will pass the 3 hour test with flying colors!
I had no idea how common GD was. I learn so much from this board!!
Good luck on your test! and keep us posted!!
Hopefully you'll pass the 3 hour test with flying colors.
I have GD as well !!! My 1 hour number was 152 (they want it under 130) and my 3 hour went like this:
Fasting 70 (below 90); 1 hour 201 (should be below 180); 2 hour 166 (should be below 150); 3 hour was a good number.
I've started testing 4 times a day but haven't been super strict on my diet because my every day numbers are below the minimums. However, I am getting concerned 1) because the doctor said the numbers start to creep up around week 30 and 2) the number that starting to creep is my fasting number. I'm concerned because the only way to control the fasting number is through insulin. I really don't want to have to take insulin.
I have it too!!! My 1 hour number was 152 (they want it under 130) and my 3 hour went like this:
Fasting
I have it too!!! My 1 hour number was 152 (they want it under 130) and my 3 hour went like this:
Fasting
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
I was anemic too...took the extra iron at night so it wouldn't make me nauseaus...they have a type that is gentler on the stomach too and you should ask your doc about it. It can make you constipated...I added Colace to my daily regimine. :-/
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
I read somewhere that it's like 1 in 5 pregnancies...the numbers may be higher these days that in years past because they test EVERYONE for it now around 28 weeks. And there are more risk factors under consideration with today's pregnant women (including older than 30, overweight and family history of diabetes). That said you can have NO risk factors and still test for GD. It's all due to the placenta's output of hormones and how your pancreas and liver handle it or not that determines GD. The good news? 9 times out of 10 once the placenta is delivered the issue is resolved. I had no blood sugar issues within 6 hours of giving birth.
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
That's great that your numbers have been good without much diet modification. The numbers do start to creep...I had to increase my insulin at 33-34 weeks because my fasting number went up (again, which was why I orginally started insulin).
1) You can try to mitigate that fasting number by having a snack in the middle of the night when you get up to pee. Like 8 oz. of milk. That works for some ladies.
2) If you do have to do insulin it's really not that bad...I promise. What I imagined it would be was FAR worse than what it was in reality.
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
Thanks for posting the numbers! I'm in the lab right now, waiting for my first blood draw after the drink and it's good to have these numbers to compare my levels to. My fasting was 82, which is higher than yours and closer to 90 =( I'm so hungry too =P 3 more hours to go...
Fasting 82 is good! Here's hoping your hourly numbers stay low too!
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
Yes 82 is a good fasting number!!! Keeping my fingers crossed that you pass the next three tests. And remember you can fail 1 and pass the entire GD test. You're lucky that they are running your blood as they draw. I had to wait 3 days to get my results back.
Thanks Lori...I'll try the snack thing tonight...maybe some almonds.
Honestly, I wasn't super surprised when I got it - like Lori said, the odds of getting it are actually surprisingly high! And when you have multiples, it's even higher (I think 1 in 4, but that's an old figure, and it may be higher these days because more women have more of the risk factors). But like she said, the good news is that most of the time, it's resolved right away after giving birth.
Definitely try having a snack. I hadn't been until now, and my fasting numbers were a little high (still technically in the range, but at the high end). Last night I decided to try having a snack and BAM. Number went down this morning. I know it's only once so far so that's hardly conclusive evidence, but I'm going to keep doing it. I've noticed that with my body, I have to keep it to a VERY strict schedule as far as eating is concerned - if I eat later than usual, my numbers tend to go up. My body needs a very steady supply of food.