Can't control levels

[Rhapsody23 0]

This is my first pregnancy dealing with GD. My last they think I had it, but wasn't not caught. I normally have impaired fasting glucose...so I'm used to how I feel with different levels.

This is the first time I've ever had to monitor and now take insulin. I started early with everything and started insulin at 18 wks. I was hoping to control with diet, but my doctor says no. I'm not very high, but I can't seem to get near where they want me. I started my diet with 2 carb servings for breakfast and snacks and 3 at lunch and dinner. Now, they want me to only have 1 serving for breakfast. I'm currently at 12 units twice a day. What I don't understand is why after a week or so of my doctor increasing my insulin do my levels go back up? This morning my fasting was 111 and my 2 hr post breakfast was 120. I haven't changed what I eat for bedtime snack much and I eat the same thing everyday for breakfast. I know levels get higher as pregnancy progresses, but my doctors have said if I don't get them lower, they want me to cut more carbs out of my diet. I'm so hungry!! I think this would be my break down point if they cut anymore food out. I'm 25 wks now and only 135 lbs. the lightest I have been in any pregnancy. What suggestions does anyone have? Thanks, and sorry for the long post!

[Aggie 830]

I can't speak to the pregnancy issue, but from a diet issue, you shouldn't be hungry.  You should up your fat intake while cutting the carbs.  High fat foods have a lot of calories and are very filling, and won't raise you blood sugar.  Cheese, nuts, eggs, meat/fish?

[princesslinda 2,839]

I have no experience with pregnancy, but perhaps if you ate a really low carb breakfast, eggs, meat and cheese, you'll be less hungry, stay satisfied longer and require less insulin.  I find the more carbs I eat, the hungrier I get and i'm the most carb sensitive earlier in the day.  Do you have to have the snacks?  Perhaps try nuts, cheese, pork rinds, celery/cucumbers, green peppers with ranch dressing or celery with peanut butter...these lower carb options might help with #'s and hunger...you could also keep some boiled eggs on hand if you like them, and have one for a quick snack.  You shouldn't have to be hungry when you're cutting your carbs.

[Tanikit 1,520]

You are pregnant - increase the insulin - really that baby needs food. I agree increase the fat and all that - but really why can you not be on lots of insulin - maybe that is what your baby and your body needs. It is also possible that two injections of long acting a day is not good enough - maybe they need to switch you to bolus insulin also. 

 

As far as insulin with type 1 diabetes goes, many diabetics by the end of pregnancy are on three times the insulin they started on - so if they were taking 30 units/day at the start they will end at 90 units a day - and this varies from person to person so could be more even. GD is slightly different and works slightly more like type 2 diabetes but again the hormones that insulin is fighting are incredible - you need more and more and more - so take more! Don't let the doctors decide how much is too much - let your your body decide - too much is if you have any lows and you are not there yet (aim for something that will keep you at less risk of lows - which does also mean lowering the carbs slightly... but you are pregnant - you body does need some carbs.

[Orlando 10,178]

Maybe try some ground flax seeds. I started using them because they are very low in carbohydrates, have good protein content and contain omega 3 fatty acids.The fibre content is also high, another advantage for low carbers.

 

In the beginning I just used to add water to the ground seeds and drink the stuff. Now I add hot or cold water to make a porridge, I tart it up a bit with salt and pepper to improve the taste, but obviously

 

there are many ways of flavouring it.

 

Here are the nutritional values for flax seed,

 

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3163/2