Gestational Diabetes
A lot of people have asked for an update on the gestational diabetes, and whether the diet I was using had actually helped me through the entire remainder of pregnancy. The answer is YES!
Because of that diet plan I was able to keep my levels low enough, even in the mornings, throughout the rest of the pregnancy. It was wonderful! I felt healthier and more energetic also!
My daily glucose morning (fasting level) readings were typically from 115 to 125, which was great and the doctor was very happy with that. (Much better than the previous readings of levels up to 205). And throughout the day, they stayed low, many times going down to 95 by dinner time.
It was hard being that strict with my diet...the first couple of weeks I literally had withdrawal symptoms from going off of sugar completely. It was HARD. All thought about was sugar, and all wanted to eat was sugar. I was completely fatigued for about 1 week after going off of it. But after that week was over, it got so much easier. I even learned that I actually LIKE coffee with no sugar and just a little bit of half and half. I never would have thought I would like that before.
(After about a month on the diet, I did sometimes let myself have a sugary snack every so often to "reward" myself for being so good, but in much smaller amounts and MUCH less frequently than before- and as long as I exercised or worked afterward, it wouldn't affect my blood sugar levels at all).
I think that the diet has a lot to do with the fact that I gained less this pregnancy also, and lost it almost right way after having the baby. I somehow lost 30 pounds after the baby was born. (I was 155 the day I had Ian, and weighed 125 a week later). That is not usual for me...it usually takes me at least 6 months before I lose all of my baby weight, but this time was different.
I am not on the diet anymore, but I am still trying to watch what I eat more carefully, and always eat protein with my carbs. I'm always conscious of what I'm eating and how it might affect me, because I am at risk for becoming diabetic later in life, not only because of the gestational diabetes, but because my dad and grandfather were both diabetic.
Because of that diet plan I was able to keep my levels low enough, even in the mornings, throughout the rest of the pregnancy. It was wonderful! I felt healthier and more energetic also!
My daily glucose morning (fasting level) readings were typically from 115 to 125, which was great and the doctor was very happy with that. (Much better than the previous readings of levels up to 205). And throughout the day, they stayed low, many times going down to 95 by dinner time.
It was hard being that strict with my diet...the first couple of weeks I literally had withdrawal symptoms from going off of sugar completely. It was HARD. All thought about was sugar, and all wanted to eat was sugar. I was completely fatigued for about 1 week after going off of it. But after that week was over, it got so much easier. I even learned that I actually LIKE coffee with no sugar and just a little bit of half and half. I never would have thought I would like that before.
(After about a month on the diet, I did sometimes let myself have a sugary snack every so often to "reward" myself for being so good, but in much smaller amounts and MUCH less frequently than before- and as long as I exercised or worked afterward, it wouldn't affect my blood sugar levels at all).
I think that the diet has a lot to do with the fact that I gained less this pregnancy also, and lost it almost right way after having the baby. I somehow lost 30 pounds after the baby was born. (I was 155 the day I had Ian, and weighed 125 a week later). That is not usual for me...it usually takes me at least 6 months before I lose all of my baby weight, but this time was different.
I am not on the diet anymore, but I am still trying to watch what I eat more carefully, and always eat protein with my carbs. I'm always conscious of what I'm eating and how it might affect me, because I am at risk for becoming diabetic later in life, not only because of the gestational diabetes, but because my dad and grandfather were both diabetic.
Good for you!!
You don't have to eat a protein w/a carb, and vice versa.
And you might even be better off if you didn't go back to eating sugar and sugary foods. but to look for healthier sugars such as sucanat and rapadura.
We've been fasting for the last 2 weeks as a church. And because I don't have sugary foods, or add sugar, I haven't craved sugar, or wanted anything sweet. I'm buying organic juice, pure apple juice etc. And I haven't felt better!
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Good for you Bethany!! I am so glad it worked that well. I might pass your diet along to some family and friends who have gone through the same thing. There is no messing around with that diabetes. Gotta get it under control. It's hard to do I know. I have studied it a lot this year. It can cause so many problems. Glad you were able to control it!
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thanks for the info...
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