https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 18:26:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-454229 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:37:10 +0000 mizjl 454229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ah! Now I see this post! :) I feel exactly the way you do, maybe worse. I'm only at about TEN WEEKS along so I've got 30 more weeks to deal with this!! :( I keep hearing about how only 15% of those with GD will need insulin, and guess what, now I'm one of them. My fastings weren't even bad - only 91 and 92 with one freak 100 after testing for ten days - but the lab got me at 100 again when I did a fasting blood test so my doc decided to put me on long-acting insulin at night. FOR ONCE I'd like to be one of the "normal" ones and not be part of the 15% but oh well.</p> <p>As far as carbs go, lately I've been eating a lot of beans and it's definitely helping with post-prandials. Usually, I'd have to walk at least 10 minutes or so to get below 120, but eating chicken, beans, and some zucchini got me 118 after dinner without moving from the couch AT ALL - I wanted to test myself, and luckily, beans are magic carbs for me. When I did walk for about a minute after lunch today just to go to the kitchen and the bathroom, I got 105 with the exact same meal.</p> <p>My goodness I'm so jealous that your doctor is okay with 100 for fasting and 140 for post-prandial. If that were fine with mine, I wouldn't be in this insulin thing now and I'm afraid I'll have to keep increasing dosage as the weeks go by! I hope yours stabilizes soon, though, and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy... I'm sure it'll go by really fast!</p> <p>@Arden: I might have to look into chia seeds... sounds like it would be helpful for me as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450486 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 02:19:24 +0000 ladyfingers 450486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: maybe, I hadn't heard that - I'll look into it, thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450480 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 01:58:59 +0000 Arden 450480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: What about chia seeds? I'm not an expert on them, but it might be something worth looking into since I've heard that if you eat some of them with your food, they absorb the sugars in your food and then slowly release it, gradually, so to avoid blood sugar spiking. Maybe an option for you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450472 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 01:30:16 +0000 ladyfingers 450472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: thanks! I am pretty excited about that dress ;)</p> <p>@MamaG: true -thanks for sharing your experience!</p> <p>@chrispygal: thanks!</p> <p>@zippylef: good to know!</p> <p>@LazyLightning: does flaxseed lower blood sugar? I don't eat a lot of yogurt these days because I worry about the sugar (and hate plain yogurt) so I just get my calcium in milk. Maybe I can find a good morning oatmeal recipe that doesnt include fruit (no fruit, milk, juice, or yogurt allowed first thing in the morning).</p> <p>My one-hour post-meal after dinner tonight was 141. I had homemade sweet and sour chicken (13g of carbs), half a cup of brown rice, and steamed broccoli. That's half my dinner time carb allowance and I still got a number out of range, for the first time in 3 weeks. I give up. I'm done worrying. This sucks, hopefully I've peaked, but if I have to go on medicine I have to go on medicine. DH and I ended up in a huge fight because I was so upset with my after-dinner number and I went to bed at 8 with no snack. Of course I'm awake now, starving, and refusing to get a snack because my pride won't let me go out there and face him. So I'm sure my morning numbers will be a damn mess tomorrow. I'm hormonal, starving, and pissed that even the shitty food I can eat isn't helping. Bah! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450266 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:10:38 +0000 LazyLightning 450266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awww it'll be OK! I hate that body-is-failing-you thing. Happens to me too (with different issues). People had good diet suggestions here. I know flaxseed is a good one to consider (that's OK with pregnancy right?). Mix it in to yogurt or other things. </p> <p>I'm a child of a type 1 diabetic, which means insulin regardless of what your diet is, multiple times a day. While I was a c-section kid, that was for other reasons, not the diabetes. I was under 7 lbs and perfectly healthy, no jaundice or anything. I didn't later develop diabetes (at least not yet), and I didn't become obese either like they will scare you in to thinking. insulin isn't the end of the world if you end up having to take it... Especially since you only have 7 weeks to go - that's not so long (though I bet it feels like FOREVER!). Hang in there and good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450226 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:58:27 +0000 loveisstrange 450226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: I did not have GD, so I can't empathize there BUT I was induced and I did have a large baby (10lbs8oz, yay for my genetics!) and it was not really that big of an issue. I had her vaginally, although with a little help. </p> <p>I did get put on restrictions at 36 weeks though, due to a heart condition, and it does suck. I'm so sorry that you are dealing with this. Hopefully it stabilizes soon and you are able to avoid more complications. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450224 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:54:01 +0000 chrispygal 450224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Vent away! I can't imagine how frustrating it is for you. I ended up having a big baby (I didn't even have GD) and trust me, there are worse things! You are almost there mumma! Keep up the good work and know your doctors will make sure you and baby are kept safe! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450171 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:24:42 +0000 MamaG 450171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ladyfingers: I was induced for my age (37, my doctor considered "advanced maternal age") and GD. She wanted to induce at about 38 weeks. I was closer to 39 weeks when she induced. They were predicting my LO to be over 9lbs.</p> <p>Honestly, I was relieved with an induction. I'm a planner and it was a relief to know exactly when I would need to go to the hospital. And while the c-section was a little scary in that it happened very quickly, I had zero complications from the surgery and the recovery wasn't bad at all. Knowing what I do now, if I have another it will be a scheduled c-section.</p> <p>At any rate GD is a bummer, but it's relatively short term and many healthy babies (and mamas) come as a result. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450169 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:22:29 +0000 sea_bass 450169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: I am so sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. You're doing everything right, and everything you can. Wishing you the best of luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450167 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:19:36 +0000 Smurfette 450167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice, just wanted to send a hug!! I know it has to stink to worry about it. Enjoy your shower to tomorrow! And I know you will look fabulous in your green dress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450148 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:05:35 +0000 ladyfingers 450148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: Thanks for the input. I'm somewhat keeping a food journal but I stopped being as religious about it because I pretty much eat the same basic stuff every day so it's not hard to remember lol. Did you end up induced because they thought the baby was too big due to GD? </p> <p>@autumnlove: Thanks for the input! I've heard this also. Hopefully this is the highest of them. I hate it too! I want a milkshake! ;)</p> <p>@shopaholic: Thanks lady! Sometimes you just have a bummer day and need to let it out ;) I've also been stalking my registry all day so I'm totally in the bell jar lol. </p> <p>@MsMini: That's good to hear about the stabilization. I did read that the hormones peak around 28 weeks which is why that's when they typically test, but that the progesterone doesn't peak until about a month later, which would put me right on track with what I've been seeing. I don't really cheat at all, and when I do, I "cheat" within the guidelines. Like we had ice cream cake at work for a birthday, but instead of having a huge piece with lunch like I normally would, I waited and had a tiny sliver 2 hours later -- and then tested my sugar an hour later and it was only 105. I'm not allowing myself "extra" carbs and when I do want a sweet, I make sure it's a tiny amount and that it's spaced out away from meals so it doesn't do anything nutty to my sugar. It's kind of torture, but it does make that tiny treat taste so good!</p> <p>@BKCaribBaby: Thanks! Diagnosed at 9 weeks wow, I'd go crazy. I told DH the other night, at least I got a good 28 weeks of fun in before all my food splurges were taken away from me ;) </p> <p>@Pumpkinspice: I did think of you as somebody who ended up taking medication. I'm glad to hear it's helped. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450138 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:40:29 +0000 Crisark 450138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been dealing with GD for 11 weeks now and my fasting sugars were also high no matter what I did. I am now taking an oral medication before bed and it's brought the numbers down.<br /> You aren't guaranteed to have to use insulin. And sometimes it's nothing you can do. I still have 19 weeks to due date and I'm already taking the medicine so I can understand your frustration. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450044 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:04:58 +0000 BKCaribBaby 450044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: Hey there! As someone who got diagnosed with GD in my 9th week of pregnancy (eek!!) I hear you. I felt like a weirdo considering that I've never been told anything abut being diabetic and don't fit much of the profile (although I do have a diabetes family history). I felt like I had done something wrong. If anything, this pregnancy has reminded me that I can only control so much. I can just eat well, take my vitamins and keep a good outlook/pray about it. As long as the baby is okay, and I'm okay that's really the priority. Let me not front though. I get totally jealous of women who write about eating tons of sweets, not exercising or just not having to think about diet. </p> <p>You sound like you are totally mindful of what's going on and have the support of your medical team and DH. That's really great, and really the best thing. As Ms. Mini said, let me know if you'd like talk about it ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450006 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:29:59 +0000 MsMini 450006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally understand where you are coming from. My pregnancy had so many complications (hyper emesis, GD and PIH) and I felt so jealous of women with uncomplicated pregnancies. </p> <p>Just remember, GD isn't totally predictable or stable. It has to do a lot with your baby and placenta. If you are 33 weeks you are at the worst it will be. Soon your placenta will start to mature and your sugars will likely stabilize out. If you are watching your diet and not "cheating" you probably won't have a giant baby.</p> <p>My GD baby was 7 lbs 12 ounces, so totally average, and totally healthy. He did have some blood sugar issues at first, but nothing a couple formula top-ups after breastfeeding in the hospital didn't fix!</p> <p>I did have an induction (due to reverse cord flow from my PIH) and a c-section because Sawyer didn't tolerate labour. You know what, it doesn't matter how your baby comes into the world. We have a great breastfeeding relationship at 7 1/2months PP, we are extremely well bonded, and he is healthy and happy.</p> <p>If you need to chat feel free to wall post me and we can exchange messages or emails! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-450005 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:29:33 +0000 shopaholic 450005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: Awww...don't have experience with this yet, but just wanted to give you a {HUG} and say "go ahead and vent!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449977 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:09:31 +0000 autumnlove 449977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry! My dr told me my numbers will get higher as my pregnancy progresses and there is no worry if I am still eating well!</p> <p>I hate GD! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449971 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:07:11 +0000 MamaG 449971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ladyfingers: I'm sorry you are frustrated. I've been there. I had GD and went through this exact same thing of having things I knew I could eat and then the next day it suddenly wasn't as okay anymore. Does your doctor have you keeping a food journal? Does your doctor offer alternatives that might be other food options? </p> <p>I ended up on glyburide (the lowest dose) as I could not get my fasting blood sugar under control. I took it every evening after dinner and it kept me in check for the duration.</p> <p>I did end up with an induction and c-section, so I can't offer any positive experience there. But honestly, to have a healthy baby I'd do it all over again. </p> <p>My LO was born smaller than expected at 7lb 10oz. </p> <p>Oddly enough, the one meal that was completely safe for me was 1 cup of spaghetti prepared with whole wheat pasta. I ate this too many days for lunch because it was easy and I knew it worked for me. And 1 cup is quite a lot of spaghetti. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449956 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:48:53 +0000 ladyfingers 449956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I actually don't know. The counseling program is only 3 weeks long (I paid $600 for basically a $10 glucose monitor, one home visit, and maybe three phone calls from a nurse -- such a complete rip off) and I've been discharged already, so I'm on my own with meal plan stuff now. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449949 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:46:43 +0000 mrbee 449949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yah changing diet is a cause of much misery. :(</p> <p>Would your diabetes counselor be ok with almond flour bread? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449943 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:37:15 +0000 ladyfingers 449943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: NP. I actually eat very few processed carbs as it is. I know pasta will spike me, I rarely eat bread because I don't want to chance it. The exception is a piece of multi-grain toast with breakfast because, well, there are only so many breakfast choices for getting me up to 15-20g of carbs. And I've been having that one piece of toast every single morning with no problem until lately so it's like, great, now I can't even eat toast for breakfast. It's just hard to constantly battle with food all of a sudden and to be basically starving all the time because there's so little I can eat. Tortillas spike me also (I tried a breakfast burrito), whether they're flour, corn, or whole wheat. I tried eating an egg with my toast instead of the cottage cheese, on Friday, and I was still in the 130s an hour later.</p> <p>Ugh. At least I only have 7 more weeks of this :) Baby's obliviously bopping around right now. lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449941 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:33:12 +0000 mrbee 449941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry didn't mean all carbs, meant processed carbs. Sorry about that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449940 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:27:58 +0000 ladyfingers 449940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I'm not supposed to cut out carbs. Since I'm pregnant, ketosis would be quite dangerous. I actually have to check my ketones in my urine at home once a day to make sure I'm getting enough carbs. </p> <p>The cottage cheese was recommended to me by my diabetes counselor because it's high in protein and the serving I have only has about 5 grams of carbs (1/4 of a carb serving). I have to combine proteins and carbs with every meal. At any rate, my fasting blood sugar is independent of anything I eat, so even if it was safe for me to cut out carbs completely throughout the day, my fastings are still climbing and there isn't anything I can do about that. </p> <p>@MrsCB: I've read conflicting things on this. I know that many women take Glyburide during pregnancy, but it's not FDA approved for GD and is still listed as a Class C drug, so that would concern me even more. Metformin is Class B. I don't actually know what my doctor would put me on, if he puts me on anything, but I know that insulin is the safest. Whatever I take, I feel like it's just going to put me at a higher risk of medical intervention during labor, which really depresses me. Maybe not, though. I don't know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449923 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:12:10 +0000 ShootingStar 449923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you asked your doctor whether there's anything you can take besides insulin? I was doing some research on GD because I'm pre-diabetic thanks to PCOS and I found that Metformin and Glyburide (both help treat diabetes/blood sugar issues) are considered safe for pregnancy, and Glyburide was found to not even cross the placenta. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449919 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:05:50 +0000 mrbee 449919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to eat cottage cheese all the time, but it turns out it's pretty high in sugar!!</p> <p>I has trouble controlling my blood sugar until I cut out wheat completely. Was inspired by this blog:<br /> <a href="http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/09/diabetes-cured-by-wheat-belly/" rel="nofollow">http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/09/diabetes-cured-by-wheat-belly/</a></p> <p>Maybe try a carb/wheat elimination diet? It's not fun (I'm doing it now), but it can make a huge and quick difference! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449916 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:03:54 +0000 ladyfingers 449916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: True... DH keeps telling me how on top of it I am, that everything will be fine because I actually care and am testing and sticking to the diet, and now that I'm going weekly, the doctor will be able to act fast if anything does get out of control. I'm just feeling mopey about it right now because it seems like all of a sudden it's out of my control. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449910 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:59:23 +0000 T.H.O.U. 449910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww I am so sorry you are going through this and not being able to enjoy things. </p> <p>I had a friend who didn't take the GD seriously and did deliver early. Just keep remembering this is probably small in comparison of the sacrifices you will make for your child! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-feel-like-my-body-is-failing-me#post-449902 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:55:03 +0000 ladyfingers 449902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just need to vent. </p> <p>I have GD, and my numbers have been pretty good since I started testing three weeks ago. The last few days, though, my numbers seem to be going up steadily no matter what I do. My fastings used to be in the 70s and 80s; they've been consistently in the 90s for the past few days. My readings one-hour post meal were once in the low 100s or 110s; the past few days they're all in the high 120s or 130s -- 130s used to be rare, like if I'd eat pizza without knowing it would spike me, or after Thanksgiving dinner. Every once in a while I would have numbers like this, but now it's every day, and every day a little higher.</p> <p>The doctor wants my numbers below 100 for fasting and below 140 post-meal, so I know I'm still in range, but I still have 7 weeks of the pregnancy to go, so I feel like it's just a short matter of time before I'm too high and have to start taking insulin. I'm terrified that means the baby will be too big, I'll need to be induced, I'll need a c-section, the baby will have health problems, etc. I'm doing everything I possibly can and even not having as many carbs as recommended with meals, and I'm still higher than normal. I had cottage cheese and a piece of whole wheat toast with peanut butter for breakfast -- same breakfast I've had every day for two weeks -- and I was 137 an hour later. Used to be like 110. </p> <p>Anyway, I just wanted to bitch. I feel so frustrated because it seems like everybody around me has happy normal pregnancies, and I'm the 15% of the 15% of the 15% who will end up needing insulin to control my blood sugar in pregnancy. I should be happy that the baby is growing well so far, they'll monitor me, he's moving, etc. And instead all I can focus on is my damn blood sugar numbers. This is driving me absolutely nuts. Plus it's the holidays and my shower is tomorrow and I can't even eat any fun food because all I can have is effing cheese and carrot sticks ever anytime.</p> <p>Sorry, thanks for letting me vent. </p>