confused about gestational diabetes counting carbs diet!?
Posted by admin on Nov 11, 2009
This is so confusing. I need to know if this is alright. I just started my gestational diabetes low-carb diet. My three meals a day range from 30-45g of carbs while my three snacks range from 15-30g of carbs. I don’t want to keep eating just turkey sandwiches and fruits and vegetables. Would it be ok if I ate the following, as long as it is within carbohydrate guidelines?
For example ..
(3) chicken strips from Sheetz w/ nacho cheese – 26g carbs, no sugar
Grilled chicken wrap from Sheetz w/ cheddar cheese, cooked peppers & onions, bacon, & tomatoes – 31g carbs, 3g sugars
McChicken from McDonald’s w/o the bun, mayo, & lettuce (just the plain chicken patty) – 10g carbs
Can I eat this stuff (obviously not at the same meal or anything) since it’s within the carb guidelines I am supposed to follow?
Also .. some more examples .. not that I want to eat this stuff daily or anything, just using these as examples ..
Low Carb Options (each under 10g* of carbs):
• Low Carb WHOPPER® Sandwich* • (3g)
• Low Carb WHOPPER® Sandwich w/ cheese* • (5g)
• Low Carb DOUBLE WHOPPER® Sandwich* • (3g)
• Low Carb DOUBLE WHOPPER® Sandwich w/ cheese* • (5g)
• Low Carb WHOPPER JR.® Sandwich* • (1g)
• Low Carb WHOPPER JR.® Sandwich w/ cheese* • (2g)
• Low Carb BK™ Double Stacker Sandwich* (5g)
• Low Carb BK™ Triple Stacker Sandwich* (6g)
• Low Carb BK™ Quad Stacker Sandwich* (6g)
** ALL WITHOUT THE BUN **
My numbers weren’t that bad they said, they didn’t give me exacts though, I’m going to ask them next time I go in. I’m not asking you to verify if my diet is good — I just want to know if I am counting carbs for a diabetic diet could I eat this stuff since the carbs are within guidelines? Obviously not for every meal every day, but maybe one meal a week or something like that.
Just to add — my levels today were -
Fasting – 81
1 hour after breakfast – 103
1 hour after lunch – 105
(didn’t have dinner yet .. and YES my doctor has me monitor ONE hour after a meal, not two!)
ok no need to lecture me on fast food alright i believe i clearly stated above that i do not eat this every day nor do i have any intentions on it i was just asking a simple question
I had gestational 3 years ago…
my numbers werent that bad either…..I only had to do diet as do u.
I would eat from Wendy’s a child’s meal and a side salad almost daily for lunch and I was fine…..
Actually the nutritionist had me try this and it worked fine….and sometimes I would sneak in a half of a choc chip muffin and it was still fine.
Take Care and good luck.
Sounds like ur doing great.
Machelle
If you get gestational diabetes do you have to take insulin or can it be monitored with pills and diet?
Posted by admin on Nov 6, 2009
Are women always required to take insulin for gestational diabetes?
Your practitioner will monitor you closely and you’ll most likely be able to keep your blood sugar levels under control with diet and exercise, and by getting insulin shots if you need them.
If you’re unable to keep your blood sugar under control or it’s high enough that you need insulin, or if you have any other risk factors, you’ll probably begin to have fetal heart monitoring (nonstress tests) or periodic ultrasounds around 32 weeks to check on your baby’s well-being. (This kind of ultrasound is called a biophysical profile.) If you can keep your diabetes well under control without insulin and you have no other problems, you might not begin these tests until your last few weeks or until your due date.
Your practitioner may also order an ultrasound around 29 to 33 weeks to measure your baby and estimate his weight. At that point, if your baby is already getting too big, you might be started on insulin. She may order another one closer to labor if she suspects your baby is large, but ultrasound is not usually very accurate at determining a baby’s size late in pregnancy. Depending on your circumstances, you might be induced before your due date, or your practitioner may recommend delivering by c-section.
Are there any sites which give a "Sample" diet for gestational diabetes?
Posted by admin on Nov 3, 2009
An excellent site is www.blueribbonbaby.org
How will be the weight gain in the women with gestational diabetes….?
Posted by admin on Oct 30, 2009
I am about 33 weeks pregnant and was diagnosed gestational diabetes in my 28th week. Now I am controlling my sugar levels with the diet given by the doctor. I did not gain any weight since 4 weeks with this diet. My total weight gain in 33 weeks is 20 pounds. But I am worrying that did not gain any weight during these 4 weeks with Gest.Diabetes diet…Can somebody help me in this…?
if you are overweight, you don’t have to worry about not gaining weight during pregnancy if you’re following the gestational diabetic diet – the diet is taking off the fat, but your baby is still getting the nutrition it needs.
*VERY* strict diet for Gestational Diabetes..normal?
Posted by admin on Oct 27, 2009
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes last week. I’ve since met with my nutritionist, and what I was told *NOT* to eat floored me:
NO dairy (any kind..especially milk)
NO fruit
NO fruit juices/vegetable juices
NO sugary drinks (soda)
NO diet soda/ANYTHING with artificial sweetener (was told *everything* turns to glucose in the end, which i find hard to believe).
NO more than 75g of carbs per day
I feel like I’m starving…feel terribly deprived…and have very little energy. Does this mean that my nutritionist is wrong in the diet plan that she’s given me, and that I need to consult a new nutritionist…or am I just overreacting?
I am 26 weeks along, and failed my 1 hour non-fasting test with a 160..and also failed my 3 hour fasting (never was told the numbers, just that I had failed and now had G.D.)
Please, please, get a better nutritionist !!!
That diet is absolutely stupid for a pregnant woman!
Artificial sweeteners are exactly that, artificially sweet. Have you seen the size of them? Even if they do turn into glucose, there is such a tiny amount it makes absolutely no difference.
Feel free to drink as much diet soda – sweetened teas/coffee as you like.
You need dairy. Saying no dairy to a diabetic makes absolutely no sense at all.
Fruit, fruit is good. Full of vitamins, minerals, and lots of goodness your body needs right now.
Eat a healthy diet, avoid anything with added sugar, and get a better nutritionist that had an idea of what she’s on about.
Less than 75 carbs is a low-carb diet, that takes a lot of research and thought to make it a balanced, nutritionally complete diet.
Personally, i’d sue that woman for preffessional incompetence. That is a terrible, terrible diet.
What kind of diet were or are you on for gestational diabetes?
Posted by admin on Oct 27, 2009
How hard is the diet to stick to? I have a bad feeling that I am going to be hungry all of the time:(
So far, it’s mainly a low-carb diet . . . kind of. One of the things I did wrong early on was to cut back TOO far on my carbs, so that I wasn’t getting enough calories, and I started having ketones in my urine.
So far, I’ve had to cut out fruit juice, soda and sweet snacks (cake, cookies, candy, etc.) out entirely. I’ve been experimenting a bit with some other things. Waffles are bad, tacos are ok. Apparently, for each person, it’s a little different. You’ll get a blood glucose meter (like a regular diabetic person!) so that you can see how certain foods affect your blood sugar. You’ll have to avoid fruit early in the day, but you’ll be encouraged to eat it later in the day.
In terms of being worried about being hungry — it’s unlikely. You’ll be asked to eat at least 6 times/day. I have trouble making myself eat often ENOUGH and I haven’t gained any weight since being diagnosed, so I don’t think I’m eating too much.
Overall, I find the diet not so bad to stick to. It’s the way we all know we should have been eating all around.
Gestational Diabetes?
Posted by admin on Oct 24, 2009
I was recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The doctor put me on a strict diabetes diet and I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day. Does anyone know of any foods that will keep me full but still follow the diabetes diet? This diet is leaving me starving for most of the day. Im 29weeks and 5 days. Please help.
hi hun although i am not a dr but i have this as well,and i,m 33 weeks pregnant and they hadme on that same diet with my first son who came out at 4lbs and 7 ounces and i told the same dr he was full of shittt and i absolutly will not go on a diet with this one! they didn’t have this
GD crap 50 years ago and i for one am not for half the crap dr’s say now day’s but i just thought i would give you my opinion and keep in mind they say if you have GD the baby will come out bigger there for i will not go on a diet i,m 4’7 and 100lbs i,m sure you can understand the reason why i,m not going through with it my mother didn’t do it with me and i,m not doing it with my other baby.. but i say good luck to you!
Has anyone else had gestational diabetes and controled it through diet?
Posted by admin on Oct 21, 2009
I had it 6 years ago and was able to cut out bread, sugar/sweets, potatoes.
I have it again and need help with finding what I can eat. Any good websites or books that you know about? Experiences to share?
Hi – I had it with my recent pregnancy. The first thing I cut out was sweets. Then I stayed away from high carb foods like pasta and breads. I still ate fruit and whole wheat products. The best bet for me was to eat continuously throughout the day. Every two-three hours I was eating something. It kept my blood sugar constant.
Good luck!
Has anyone else had gestational diabetes and controlled it through diet?
Posted by admin on Oct 18, 2009
I had it 6 years ago and was able to cut out bread, sugar/sweets, potatoes.
I have it again and need help with finding what I can eat. Any good websites or books that you know about? Experiences to share?
You shouldn’t be cutting out all carbs! A pregnant woman needs 4-6 serves per day. I found the only way I could keep it under control and still have adequate carbs was to have two slices of a multigrain Burgen brand bread with each meal. Everyone’s body is different though, so you may be able to eat other carbs, or you may have it worse this time and have to go on insulin. You ought to be referred to a diabetes educator and dietician for support. Ask your doctor/midwife about that.
Anyone have gestational diabetes? What kind of diet were you on? Are there different levels of diabetes?
Posted by admin on Oct 15, 2009
I just had my 3 hr test done yesterday and will find out if I have gestational diabetes on Friday when I go to the doctor. I was just wondering what to expect if I do have it… and if there are different levels of diabetes? How will it effect the baby?
Its a low carb diet. It totally sucks and you have to poke yourself 4-6 times a day. If you have severe GD then you will have to take insulin and be on a low carb diet. In GD, the glucose in your blood is processed at a much slower rate-therefore exposing your baby to increased sugar for longer periods of time.
The only way that GD really affects the baby is that he/she runs the risk of being large which can lead to a difficult birth. If baby is too large, sometimes during a vaginal delivery arms and shoulders are broken. Doctors do not want this to happen and hopefully the size can be determined before hand and a c-section can be performed. These extremes really only happen with untreated GD.
Additionally, babies can be born with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This is generally cured by breastfeeding immediately after birth.
