GD.. so frustrated

So Ive been on the GD diet for about 9 days now. My fasting numbers are always high (between 90-100). My meal times #'s were fine for the first 7 days, always under 130, 1 hour after I ate. Well, I went to see the dietitian a couple days ago and she said that based on my food journal, I am not eating enough carbs. My range for breakfast needs to be 15-30grams, which I eat 15. But for lunch and dinner, it needs to be 45-60grams and I was only eating about 35-40.
She said I must at least meet the minimum for lunch and dinner of 45 grams. Well ever since I started doing that, my meal time #'s are high. Between 130-148.
Now, I have to go back on Wednesday and speak to her and the doctor about starting insulin or Metformin. I know that that I definitely need it at night in order to get my fasting #'s lower, thats understandable. But as far as my after meal #'s, why do I have to eat more, which makes my #'s go above range and then have to take meds then too? I was never hungry while only eating the 35-40 grams at lunch and dinner.
Im just so frustrated. Is there anything else I can do to naturally bring my #'s down? I am already walking 30 minutes right after dinner each night. Thanks in advance for any advice or help you can offer!
PS: the reason I am so scared to take insulin/meds is because I already suffer from bad anxiety and I am afraid of the side effects that those drugs may bring.
Sorry so long!

Re: GD.. so frustrated

This is such a frustrating condition! I'm not a doctor or dietician so I don't know why they want you to eat more carbs. Is your weight gain ok? I would question them on this. Also, I'm just tossing ideas out there but I would ask them about trying more protein to balance out the extra carbs (although if they're being that picky maybe they wouldn't want you having additional protein). I'm assuming they must know something I clearly don't!

Also, are you able to exercise? That can help get your numbers down.

My numbers have been ok (thank God!) but I'm still only 17 weeks (was diagnosed early the 2nd time around with GD) and who knows what I'll be dealing with as things progress. I was never told to keep a food journal and I don't count carbs that closely BUT I'm guessing I probably would be told to if my numbers were high.

I hope this resolves for you!

GD.. so frustrated

Wow, I can't believe they're making you stick to a minimum number of carbs! I thought that as long as you didn't have protein in your urine, you were getting enough carbs.

Maybe making sure you are eating enough protein, fats, or fiber to slow the digestion of the carbs?

Not sure if any of these things work, but I've heard of people trying these to lower blood sugar.
Cinnamon
Green tea
Red Raspberry Leaf tea
Chia seeds

For fasting numbers, I think exercise after dinner is great. I find if my number is ok before bed, it's fine in the morning. Some people need a snack before bed to help with the morning number - some swear by a 1/2 cup of ice cream, but everyone is different. You might do better with a low carb snack or even no snack.

Good luck! I totally understand you not wanting to go on meds unless it's necessary. It sounds like your numbers are close enough to the cutoff that you might be able to get them down.

Re: GD.. so frustrated

personally i would lower my carb intake to be able to control the numbers after meals. As for the fasting, I had to take the oral medicine to control that.

Re: GD.. so frustrated

It is very frustrating GD. For some reason when I didnt have a late night snack my fasting numbers were higher than if i did. I dont understand why addind carbs would lower my numbers but it did.

It might be the combo of how you are doing it. I know that for me I could not have bran but I could have rice. Rice did not really elevate my #s at all and I had a good portion. Not everyone is different and I know that it took some tweaking to get my #s lower for what I had to eat. Fruit for me was killer so I had to work with the nutritionist and play around. But for some that doesnt work and you may have to do meds. I hope that you dont have to do that but what ever is best for you and the baby. Good thing is once you give birth its all over. you can have whatever you want.

Good luck.

Re: GD.. so frustrated

If it makes you feel better, I was on insulin 4X/day when I had GD with my DD. The shot is painless, so easy and NO side effects. Honestly, although I was dreading it, it made managing the GD so much easier.

When I had GD my carb requirements were as follows: Breakfast (15 grams), Morning Snack (15 grams), Lunch (30 grams), Afternoon Snack (15 grams), Dinner (45 grams), Nighttime Snack (30 grams). I was religious about following that and my numbers were ALWAYS right where they needed to be and my DD was born healthy.

Also, try not to have your nighttime snack (if you have one) any later than 8-8:30. I find if I eat any later than that my fasting numbers go up, even on insulin. When you eat, always combine some sort of protein with your carbs. It helps you to digest it better and it keeps your numbers from spiking.

Also realize, that as your pregnancy progresses you're going to have to CONSTANTLY readjust your eating and insulin levels. What worked one day or week didn't work the next, things were always fluctuating based on my changing hormones throughout the pregnancy. In my last 3 or so weeks, my GD basically went away and they kept wanting me to take my insulin still but sugars kept dropping out REALLY low........in the low 60's. I always kept sugar tabs on me and if you find your sugars falling, the quickest way to get them up is a big glass of milk. You'll know if you get too low, I get faint feeling, very shaky and jittery.

My other advice is once you find something that works and keeps your sugars in check, stick with it. Mornings were always hard for me, once I found a meal that kept my numbers good that's the meal I had EVERY morning. It was just easier that way. Try different things, you will be surprised at how some foods (ones you think are even *bad*) have little or no effect on your sugars and others that skyrocket it. It takes some time but you get the hang of it and you tweak it as you go along.

Good luck!!!! Just remember, it won't last forever.........when the baby comes the GD goes away.

GD.. so frustrated

GD is frustrating... when I started I was failing on fasting numbers, and half the time failing on my meal numbers. Plus I don't walk, which hurt me even more.. I quickly learned pizza could only be 1 slice with a side salad or else skip it, no bagels or rolls because sizes are all over the place.

I quickly turned it around.. For night time the 1/2 cup of Breyers icecream - the plain flavor like strawberry thats 16g carbs for 1/2 cup - use an actually measuring cup to make sure you aren't going over...or weight watchers snickers style bar.

During the day -
Wendy's Full Size Salad,
at work Chopped Salad with sugared walnuts, grilled chicken, shredded cheese, strawberry and balsamic vinagrette.
Applebees - Sirloin Steak (1/2 of it) with 1/2 baked potato with butter and veggies.

At Breakfast - Quaker Oatmeal weight control
1 cup cherios with 1/2 cup milk and some walnuts on the side.
This morning dunkin donuts ham egg cheese on english muffin worked too.


Don't forget to eat your snacks.... I've done best with the 100 cal snack packs.

Message edited 8/31/2012 4:49:38 PM.

GD.. so frustrated

Thank you so much for all of the advice! I showed my DH all of the responses I got on this post and he said "the girls on there are so f#%*ing nice.. He always had a way with words, lol.
As far as exercise, I'm doing 30 minutes of walking right after dinner. I could also do 30 minutes in the morning but it would have to be before breakfast.. Can I walk on an empty stomach or should I at least have a piece of fruit or something befoe I go?
As far as bedtime snacks, I'm already eating a carb and a protein, usually a piece of fruit and a string cheese or just a yogurt.
I'm definitely going to try the cinnamon pills.. A couple of people now have told me that worked for them.
I've only gained 4lbs and I'm 25 weeks however I started off overweight so the doc is ok with that. Since starting the GD diet, I've lost 2 so now I'm up 2lbs.
My next appointment is on Thursday so we'll see what Dr. El Kady says.
Thanks again for the support, I really appreciate it!