Gestation Diabetes and INSULIN

Hello amicable,

I know a north indian friend of mine who had GD during her pregnancy with twins.I talked to her few weeks back as I was suspecting my test may also fail.
This is what she did and hopefully it may give you some ideas.
She told me that the meals must be mainly of vegetables and dals.For ex,for lunch take around 4-5 rotis and eat 2 cups (cereal bowl size) of veg and dal.She used to eat beans subzi,bindi,carrot,brocolli,and dals were like channa,rajma,and things normally north indians eat.Then 1 full bowl of curds.

Then for snacking she had bought baby carrots that you get from stop n shop and she used to munch on them and if that bored her she used to eat raw cucumber.
Then milk was skimed milk without adding anything.
Lots and lots of water.

This was what she folowed and her kids are v healthy.They were born with a birth weight of 5 and half pounds each.They are now more than a year old and she does not have diabities now.

Pls go through this and hopefully it helps you.I can really understand when doctor tells to make changes in diet how painful it is.For me i have to eat lots of protein and me being a complete veggie am finding it equally tough.Am trying to add protein in all forms i know of cheese,soy milk,badam,soy nuts,yogurt but it is still not meeting the daily recommended value.
Take care.

suji

Dear Amicable,

I too had GD when I was expecting my second son, who is now 17.
I was told to watch my carbs. I have a list of food items and their carb content. If you know how much carbs you can have per meal, you can follow with the information given below. You probably already have the list that your nutritionist gave which has carb content for milk, fruits, bread etc.

Each of the following have 15gm carbohydrate or 1 exchange

cereal cooked 1/2 cup ( this includes upma, lapsi upma )
Lentils cooked 1/2 cup ( this includes dal,rajma, chole)
roti 1 ( 6" across)
rice cooked 1/3 cup
yogurt 3/4 cup
vegetables unlimited
idli 1
Dosa 1 ( 6''across)

Based on however many exchanges you are allowed, you can calculate.
Hope it helps.

Hi Amicable:

After huge trial and error and my decision on not being on insulin, the following is what has helped me and kept my sugar levels low.
The Following is the servings I am allowed each day and below u can find my menu.
Protein is the hardest part for vegetarians ( I am not that much a meat eater ), so I eat daals, lentils etc. Even peanut butter-2 tbsp- as 1 serving falls under protein group.
See if it helps you. It has definitely helped me and my Dr is happy with the performance and asked me to meet him only after i delivery. ( HUGE relief )
With this diet I need’nt even check my sugar levels coz I can blindly say what the count will be each time. Its that comfortable now. My levels are all below 100 mg/dl
Yes the quantity seems less initially but once u get used to it, kinda goes smooth.

And for most of the starch servings during snack time, I eat rice instead of crackers or chips coz that keeps me filled and all fall under starch servings so u can choose anything anyways.

Hope it helps. Take care.

2200 Kcal Diet – For Gestational Diabetes

Servings Allowed

Breakfast:
Fruit : 1 , Protein: 1, Starch/Bread: 2, Milk: 1, Fat: 1

AM Snack:
Fruit: 1

Lunch:
Fruit : 1 , Protein: 2-3, Starch/Bread: 2, Milk: 1, Fat: 1-2, Vegetable raw as desired.

Afternoon Snack:
Starch/Bread: 1, Protein: 1

Dinner:
Fruit : 1 , Protein: 3-4, Starch/Bread: 2, Milk: 1, Fat: 1-2, Vegetable: 1.

PM Snack:
Starch/Bread: 1, Protein: 1, Milk: 1

My Menu:

BREAKFAST:
Apple 1 small, 1 egg, white bread 2 slices, 1 cup milk, butter 1 tsp

AM SNACK:
Cherries 10

LUNCH:
2 cups lentil, bread 2 slices, vegetable raw- 1 cup- lettuce and cucumber, ½ banana, 1 cup milk, almonds-10, pistachio- 20.

AFTERNOON SNACK:
Rice ½ cup, 1 egg OR Peanut Butter and 1 slice of bread.

DINNER:
2 cups lentil, 2 slices of white bread, 1 cup lettuce and tomato, ½ banana, 1 cup milk, butter 1 tsp, peanuts- 15

PM SNACK:
Rice ½ cup, 1 cup milk, ½ cup lentil.

MAYA.

Hi Suji, Usha and Maya...

Thank you so much all for the suggesitons. I really appriciate it. It is really hard being vegetarian to maintain the diet plan. For protein I eat 2 eggs in the breakfast everyday and chicken (rarely). But I prefer vegtarian food. I think lots of lentils and beans have good protein. So, I do eat them 3-4 times a week, which should be enough. About vegetables I am not so particular, whatever is available I cook. I will avoid potatoes from now on. But according the chart I need 2100 K, I need vegetable and daal in my meal plan everyday. Its so much work to cook vegetables and lentils day and night. Its hard to keep track of diet also...so annoying.

Maya..thank you for giving me your diet chart, it made my job easy. I know... I know its cheating (LOL) but see I am greatful. Hopefully, by next week nutrionist appointment my sugar will be controled and they won't put me on medicine which I am not going to take it no matter they induce me soon. I am 34 weeks and 4 days already and after 36 weeks baby is safe to deliever. And by the way I was reading on some website...

After Breakfast sugar level should be under 120.
After Lunch sugar level should be under 130.
After dinner sugar level should be under 140.

No fruit juice at all.

But I remember my nutrionist told me to have sugar level under 120 after any meal. Is that right or am I mistaken?

Once again thank you suji and usha also. Take care.

Hi Amicable:

Well for now i suggest, do not go accoding to what is posted over the internet. Coz many such stuff can be misleading. Just follow ur Dr and things should go fine.
As per my Dr, sugar levels should be less than 120 mg/dl 2hr's after each meal. Fasting/1st morning level should be below 100 mg/dl.
Infact 130 or 140 are considered way too high by my Dr.

And yes, do not opt for fruit juices, instead meal on fresh fruits.

You Take care!

MAYA.

Hi Maya...

Yes..I am also following my nutrionist advice. But I am taking my blood sugar test after 1 hour of every meal, because after meal it is hard to stay empty stomach for 2 hours and if I eat any light snack in between it can increase the blood sugar again.

Are you checking your blood level or done it after 2 hours ?

Thank you for your reply, its helpful.

Ami

I think docs have different routines. For me, fasting has to be between 65 and 100 and 1 hour post meal has to be between 100 and 135.

One thing that I have noticed really works well in controlling post meal sugars is to eat/drink protein as the last part of the meal. I drink 1/2 of a protein shake at the end of my meal and it works wonders!

Like last night, I had 2 chappatis, rajma and parwal curry and ended my meal with 1/2 protein shake. I did not get a chance to walk after the meal so was expecting the sugars to be high. But they came out to be 107! It's the protein shake at the end that made a difference!

Hi Pmahensa...

I was told the sugar level should stay below 120 after lunch and dinner. But mine is always above 140 something. I do not want to show my results to my nutrionist next week. My morning sugar level before breakfast is controlled under 100, but have to control my after meal sugar level. I will buy the protein shakes this weekend too.

Another thing pooja are you talking about 107 after dinner reading or this morning before breakfast reading?

Thanks

Hi Amicable,

Are you vegetarian? Makes life so difficult being vegetarian and trying to eat well! Try the protein shakes after your meals .. just make sure the shakes you get have very few carbs. I get the pure protein shakes from Trader's Joe - the one that has 35 grams of protein per can and drink 1/2 of a can per lunch/dinner. Get some for a week and in the meantime, you can order them on amazon, they are cheaper to buy there by the case. I love the chocolate and strawberry flavored ones.

And you can try walking after each meal for 20 minutes. That should bring down your sugars by atleast 20 points.

Ask your nutritionist if she can put you on glyburide. It's an oral medication that makes your pancreas make more insulin and hence keeps sugars under control.

The 107 was my post dinner sugar. But then I am on glyburide so that really is helping me eat well

Cheers,

Pooja

Hey Amicable:

Well yes I am asked to check my blood sugar levels 2 hr’s after each meal ( breakfast, lunch, dinner). And after I test I am supposed to have my Snacks.
If any of ur readings are above 120, they will put u on insulin. Its really difficult to keep up sugar levels after lunch and more so after dinner. But if u follow the proper serving size then its not difficult at all. As I mentioned earlier, from the time I have started following my serving size, I never go beyond 100, in all the 4 readings of mine each day. And I barely do any walking each day.
Its possible if u follow the diet chart strictly. And soon it will become a routine, u will never tend to deviate from ur diet!!
Anything for the well being of ourselves and the baby right!!!

But some despite following the diet, face difficulties keeping up their sugar levels, and in such case its better to be on insulin than cause harm to yourself and your baby.

Take care
MAYA.