Pregnant and Diabetic

Wow.  I am shocked that is how your MD handled this. I was dx'd with GD at 34 wks with my first pg, and at 12 wks with this one.  Each time I was sent to the Diabetes clinic where they educate you and get you on a protocol meal plan for a week to evaluate your bs and keytones. Last time, largely b/c I was so far along my placental hormones were full speed and there was really nothing I could do but insulin injections 4x/day.  I just finished the protocol week (I am 14wks) and do not have to be on insulin yet, hopefully not for a few more months, but the RN assured me that in my particular case its coming.

I am by no means a pro at this but let me give you what I know to try to help.

Carb counting.  15 grams of carbs is = to 1 Carb (diabetic).  Read your food labels!  You should be shooting for approximately 12-15 Carbs per day, unless your MD tells you otherwise.

Here is the protocol I was given:

Breakfast: 2-3 carbohydrate choices (so 30-45 grams of carbs); vegetable if desired, protein (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, peanut butter), fat as desired

Morning Snack: 1-2 carbohydrate choices, vegetable , protein or fat as desired

Lunch: 3-4 carbohydrate choices, vegetables -as desired, 2-4oz of protein, fat as desired

Afternoon Snack: 1-2 carbohydrate choices, vegetable, protein or fat as desired

Dinner: 3-4 carbohydrate choices, vegetables -as desired, 2-4 oz of protein, fat as desired

Evening Snack (before bed): 1-2 carbohydrate choices, 1-3 oz protein, vegetable or fat as desired.  (peanut butter on a good whole grain bread/toast with some milk has been working good for me)

Try to avoid fruit or cereal in the morning as these tend to jack your sugars up.

I was told to NOT count any carbs contained in proteins or fats (like nuts, peanut butter, etc.)

Its good to mix a good protein with a carb choice to even it out a bit.

I have to run at the moment, but hope this helps get you started.

Kimberly

My guess, from what I understand about this personally, is that if your bs are still high even following the meal plan then you will likely need to be on insulin.  It isn't that what you are eating isn't healthy or good.  Its just that as your pg progresses the placental hormones interfer with the ability of your pancreas to produce enough insulin to regulate your bs.  GD generally goes away within 24-72 hours of delivering the placenta.  The injections are not nice, but you can do it.  I recall them being similar or less painful than the finger sticks (and I am a HUGE needle baby).

My plan/dietician says to get a minimum of 12 Carbs (diabetic)/day.  As I understand it, if you are not getting enough then your liver may be kicked into survival mode and produce additional bs b/c it thinks you are starving...that could also be the reason you have higher bs.  If you are monitoring your keytones and not getting enough carbs you will see it in your results.

FYI, your baby's pancreas is doing its job and regulating its own bs.  At birth, especially if you are on insulin at the time, they may need to give your baby some glucose b/c they often will have a low bs due to their heightened production of insulin.