Kris,

With pregnancy #1 (Mary) I was able to control my gestational with diet and exercise. I was also sent to the nutritionist. She/he will teach you everything you need to know including how to check your blood sugar levels, the number of times per day, the time of day (like how long after you eat), and your food plan.

I'll tell you what...I swear to you Kris...after you get on the food plan (which is basically like doing Weight Watchers only more carb restricted) you will feel so good! I never realize how crappy I am feeling while the diabetes is "raging" until I start eating healthy and exercising.

For me, my body could not process the starchy foods very well. I actually would get higher blood sugar readings after eating a dinner of pasta or side dishes like mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese, b/c they take longer to digest and process than a good old-fashioned ice cream cone or candy bar. For me, the simple sugars could be processed quicker...not that I'm advocating eating candy bars!!!

With Mary, I was diagnosed at 28-weeks, but not checked before then (like I was with Ben). B/c school got out in May (the week I was diagnosed) I was able to really get my eating in check and walk every single day (either early AM or late PM).

The exercise is soooo important b/c it literally regulates your blood sugar ALL DAY. It really did make a huge difference for me.

__________________
Me~39, DH~41
DD~4 (Aug. 2004), DS~2 (Nov. 2006)
Ectopic~2001, Blighted Ovum~2002, Ectopic~2003, Miscarriage~2008

Pregnancy #2: Benjamin

OB checked sugar levels at 14-weeks-ish. If I passed, I would be left alone until 28-weeks, but would have to do the 3-hour immediately (no 1-hour, let's see if you pass kind of thing!).

Passed at 14-weeks, but sometime between 14-weeks and 28-weeks I developed full-on gestational. (I'll be honest with you...I knew it too. I could sense that my sugars were out of control b/c I remembered how I felt with Mary, I was sluggish and tired, peeing all the time as my body was trying to rid itself of excess sugar, etc.)

My pregnancy with Ben was at a different time of year. Unfortunately, I was 28-weeks in late Aug/early Sept. and the school year was on. I was exhausted by day's end and frankly, was not up to exercising after standing and teaching all day....doesn't recess duty count? LOL

Anyway, I know the lack of exercise played its part and although I was able to control my daytime blood sugars with diet, my fasting blood sugar (first thing when you wake up) was slowly creeping up.

She/he will probably give you a food plan to follow that recommends a bedtime snack of protein. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT as the protein will help to stabilize blood sugar throughout the night. I sometimes skipped this part or ate CEREAL (a huge no no!)

Couple the lack of bedtime snack with lack of exercise and frankly, poor diet, and I was unable to control my gestational w/o taking medication.

I was prescribed Glyburide (not quite sure of the spelling) that I took before bedtime and It worked incredibly!!! My OB swears by it and I was able to completely avoid insulin shots!!!

Last thing...(I hate telling you this!!!) another reason that I had trouble with controlling the blood sugar was that I was eating fast food a lot. I can give you all of the excuses in the book (working full-time, daddy on-duty, not wanting to cook for 1-adult + 1-toddler, etc.), but the bottom line is, FAST FOOD interferes with the body's ability to process sugar.

My OB explained it this way...b/c fast food is so high in FAT grams, the FAT actually interferes withe pancreases ability to produce the insulin necessary that the placenta is interfering with! AAAAARGH!!!!

My OB was so cool. She knows the reality of today's fast-paced life-styles. She was honest with me and told that I really needed to cut out the fast-food, but she also understood the reality of the situation and to not feel bad that I needed the Glyburide. (She also didn't expect me to be working out in Oct./Nov. at 8 or 9 months pregnant after putting in a full-day teaching.)

Kris, do not feel bad if you end up needing the Glyburide (or Glucophage sp?) or actual insulin. You are an older mommy, who works full-time, who has a school-age child to care for (in addition to a husband!). Just do your best!!!

__________________
Me~39, DH~41
DD~4 (Aug. 2004), DS~2 (Nov. 2006)
Ectopic~2001, Blighted Ovum~2002, Ectopic~2003, Miscarriage~2008

Thanks Val. I will do my best! I just wish I could see the nutritionist already! They won't see me until the end of the week. I feel really crappy most days. if i can "fix" it, then I will do whatever I have to do, ya know??

I figured fast food wasn't the best for this! I don't do it very often though. The thing that scares me though is that I usually do eat pretty healthy...no white flour, avoid most refined sugars.....(not ALWAYS...but mostly) so I'm concerned that I already do some of this....ya know? I'm sure I'm getting way ahead of myself and I will just wait till after my appt. so I know what I'm doing. I HATE not being in control though and I feel like for the next few days I'm flying blind!

Getting ready to leave for the day...talk to you tomorrow!

__________________

Kris I am so sorry to hear you do have the GD's. I hope you find out how to eat soon. I will be having my test in like a month.

Sorry I tried to let you ladies know where I was today but it looks like it didn't post. I did it from my phone while I was at the hospital with my friend Erica. She is 28 weeks pregnant and so sick she needed 2 bags of fluids and they gave her a prescription for the Zolfan or what ever that is called

__________________
Laura~ 28 DH~31
DD~10-20-06
Angel baby 1~3-21-08 Angel Baby 2~8-20-08

Due 8-18-09!

hey laura sorry to hear that your friend is having a hard time. hope the meds help.

__________________
~Diane~
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/265357
DS 8/98 DD 9/00 DD 2/02 DS 4/04

Make a pregnancy ticker

Kris let me know what they tell you too eat and not eat. I am thinking I might "try" it out and see if that's why I feel so tired then I'll know I probably have it.

__________________
Laura~ 28 DH~31
DD~10-20-06
Angel baby 1~3-21-08 Angel Baby 2~8-20-08

Due 8-18-09!

laura i doubt if you have it. do you have any other indications besides being tired? is something else going on that's leading you in that direction?

__________________
~Diane~
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/265357
DS 8/98 DD 9/00 DD 2/02 DS 4/04

Make a pregnancy ticker

dh brought home a philly steak and cheese sandwich and fries for me for dinner, how sweet is that! I LOVE MY MAN! he's so cool!

__________________
~Diane~
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/265357
DS 8/98 DD 9/00 DD 2/02 DS 4/04

Make a pregnancy ticker