Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

I've been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, so I had to see a nutritionist today to get this diet underway. Long story short, I left there hysterical crying after she lectured me about my diet, gaining too much weight (19 lbs at 29 weeks) and proclaimed this diet "is going to make my baby happy". I couldn't feel more like an unfit mother. I'm on this strict diet now, and her goal is that I don't gain anymore weight, and of course, to get my blood sugar under control. While I take responsibility, I also don't know who to more furious with. Her, or my Dr, who never once raised an eyebrow of concern over my weight gain or diet.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

My advice follow what the nutritionist says to the letter. I had GD with my DS which became type 2 by the time he was 18 months old. I found out later too because I procrastinated with taking the test I gained over 50lbs with him. When I became pregnant with my daughter, I had the whole nine yards, insulin shots 4x's a day and a VERY strict diet. I gained only 12lbs with her. As hard and as annoying as it is, it is the best thing for your little one. Good Luck

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

First of all, do not blame yourself. I have GD and we did not do anything wrong. This is just how our bodies reacts to sugar intake. Where is your nutritionist located?

I've been on the program (my nutritionist doesn't like to call it a diet) for a week now. And it is very manageable. It is a pain to check your levels 4 x's a day, but other than that I am eating and not starving myself.

For you, they are going to see how you do with diet before suggesting insulin. So just stick to your program

Good Luck! You'll be fine!

ETA: 19 lbs doesn't sound like a lot to me at 29 weeks. JMO

Message edited 11/13/2008 8:14:23 PM.

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

I had a mild case of GD (no insulin, and I discovered I could eat some carbs with no ill effects)

Your story makes me mad.... your dietician is an @-hole. she sounded rather self-righteous and caddy. GD is not your fault. Its becuase the pregnancy hormones are messing with your metabolism. she shouldn't have been blaming you for not taking care of yourself.

first of all, 19 lbs by 29 weeks is only a modest weight gain... which is why your Dr. wasn't concerned.... there are many moms who gained a lot more than that, and had a lot more cravings that had healthy babies and never contracted GD.

next, there are many moms (like both you and me) who gained only modest amounts, didn't have a bad diet at all, yet had GD. I suggest you look for another dietician... one who is more supportive of you....

as for the diet, yeah, they start you off with something strict. The important thing is that you test your sugar levels 2 hours after every meal, and you make sure whatever you eat doesn't make your levels above 120 at that time point. If you are consistently much lower than 120, you can ease back in some carby foods (a little potato, a little bread, a little icecream)... as long as these experiments are in modest serving sizes, and you are below 120 two hours later, you can eat those foods in moderation.. (one trick, fat blunts the absorption of sugar, so you may find you can eat a little fatty icecream, but you can't drink a gingerale (becuase there's no fat).

so, in the beginning, the diet is , but as you discover what foods you can re-introduce, it becomes much more live-able. The foods that I knew I could never eat in any quantity were limited... soda, pasta, really sugary desserts, preserves... you get the point. I could eat some rice, bread, potato, even small amounts of cake, ice cream, and truffles....

So don't worry... and don't let that dietician make you feel like you're harming your baby. you aren't
HTH!

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

Posted by wannabemom

I had a mild case of GD (no insulin, and I discovered I could eat some carbs with no ill effects)

Your story makes me mad.... your dietician is an @-hole. she sounded rather self-righteous and caddy. GD is not your fault. Its becuase the pregnancy hormones are messing with your metabolism. she shouldn't have been blaming you for not taking care of yourself.

first of all, 19 lbs by 29 weeks is only a modest weight gain... which is why your Dr. wasn't concerned.... there are many moms who gained a lot more than that, and had a lot more cravings that had healthy babies and never contracted GD.

next, there are many moms (like both you and me) who gained only modest amounts, didn't have a bad diet at all, yet had GD. I suggest you look for another dietician... one who is more supportive of you....

as for the diet, yeah, they start you off with something strict. The important thing is that you test your sugar levels 2 hours after every meal, and you make sure whatever you eat doesn't make your levels above 120 at that time point. If you are consistently much lower than 120, you can ease back in some carby foods (a little potato, a little bread, a little icecream)... as long as these experiments are in modest serving sizes, and you are below 120 two hours later, you can eat those foods in moderation.. (one trick, fat blunts the absorption of sugar, so you may find you can eat a little fatty icecream, but you can't drink a gingerale (becuase there's no fat).

so, in the beginning, the diet is , but as you discover what foods you can re-introduce, it becomes much more live-able. The foods that I knew I could never eat in any quantity were limited... soda, pasta, really sugary desserts, preserves... you get the point. I could eat some rice, bread, potato, even small amounts of cake, ice cream, and truffles....

So don't worry... and don't let that dietician make you feel like you're harming your baby. you aren't
HTH!

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

Posted by juju

Posted by wannabemom

I had a mild case of GD (no insulin, and I discovered I could eat some carbs with no ill effects)

Your story makes me mad.... your dietician is an @-hole. she sounded rather self-righteous and caddy. GD is not your fault. Its becuase the pregnancy hormones are messing with your metabolism. she shouldn't have been blaming you for not taking care of yourself.

first of all, 19 lbs by 29 weeks is only a modest weight gain... which is why your Dr. wasn't concerned.... there are many moms who gained a lot more than that, and had a lot more cravings that had healthy babies and never contracted GD.

next, there are many moms (like both you and me) who gained only modest amounts, didn't have a bad diet at all, yet had GD. I suggest you look for another dietician... one who is more supportive of you....

as for the diet, yeah, they start you off with something strict. The important thing is that you test your sugar levels 2 hours after every meal, and you make sure whatever you eat doesn't make your levels above 120 at that time point. If you are consistently much lower than 120, you can ease back in some carby foods (a little potato, a little bread, a little icecream)... as long as these experiments are in modest serving sizes, and you are below 120 two hours later, you can eat those foods in moderation.. (one trick, fat blunts the absorption of sugar, so you may find you can eat a little fatty icecream, but you can't drink a gingerale (becuase there's no fat).

so, in the beginning, the diet is , but as you discover what foods you can re-introduce, it becomes much more live-able. The foods that I knew I could never eat in any quantity were limited... soda, pasta, really sugary desserts, preserves... you get the point. I could eat some rice, bread, potato, even small amounts of cake, ice cream, and truffles....

So don't worry... and don't let that dietician make you feel like you're harming your baby. you aren't
HTH!

Well Said!

I discovered that I can still have my panera bread soup and salad! So that made me very happy! Like the OP mentioned, you will discover on your own which foods are good for you. I too can eat that ice cream as a snack! Oh yeah, I also can eat two small cookies! So, it is not impossible. I agree with the OP....your dietician is an a$$

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

Posted by juju

Posted by wannabemom

I had a mild case of GD (no insulin, and I discovered I could eat some carbs with no ill effects)

Your story makes me mad.... your dietician is an @-hole. she sounded rather self-righteous and caddy. GD is not your fault. Its becuase the pregnancy hormones are messing with your metabolism. she shouldn't have been blaming you for not taking care of yourself.

first of all, 19 lbs by 29 weeks is only a modest weight gain... which is why your Dr. wasn't concerned.... there are many moms who gained a lot more than that, and had a lot more cravings that had healthy babies and never contracted GD.

next, there are many moms (like both you and me) who gained only modest amounts, didn't have a bad diet at all, yet had GD. I suggest you look for another dietician... one who is more supportive of you....

as for the diet, yeah, they start you off with something strict. The important thing is that you test your sugar levels 2 hours after every meal, and you make sure whatever you eat doesn't make your levels above 120 at that time point. If you are consistently much lower than 120, you can ease back in some carby foods (a little potato, a little bread, a little icecream)... as long as these experiments are in modest serving sizes, and you are below 120 two hours later, you can eat those foods in moderation.. (one trick, fat blunts the absorption of sugar, so you may find you can eat a little fatty icecream, but you can't drink a gingerale (becuase there's no fat).

so, in the beginning, the diet is , but as you discover what foods you can re-introduce, it becomes much more live-able. The foods that I knew I could never eat in any quantity were limited... soda, pasta, really sugary desserts, preserves... you get the point. I could eat some rice, bread, potato, even small amounts of cake, ice cream, and truffles....

So don't worry... and don't let that dietician make you feel like you're harming your baby. you aren't
HTH!

Well Said!

I discovered that I can still have my panera bread soup and salad! So that made me very happy! Like the OP mentioned, you will discover on your own which foods are good for you. I too can eat that ice cream as a snack! Oh yeah, I also can eat two small cookies! So, it is not impossible. I agree with the OP....your dietician is an a$$

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

That is not a lot of weight to have gained at all. I don't know why they would even comment. Don't let it get to you and as far as the GD, I had it too and you get use to the diet. If the diet alone can't control the sugars and you have to do the insulin shots like I did it's really not terrible once you get use to it. It makes keeping your sugars in check much easier. And the good news once the baby is born the GD is done!! Sorry you have a bad experience so far.

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

Thanks so much! Your advice and support go along way. I'm calling Madonna perinatal tomorrow to see who my follow up appts are with, and if the same, I'm asking to change to another person. If that is not an option, I'm going to confront her and tell her how insensitve she is. She actually admitted to me that she has a tendency to make people cry! Weirdo.

I see my OB in a little over a week, where Im going to address the weight gain with her, and ask why this hasn't been addressed before, and why she and the nutritionist she recommended wouldn't be on the same page.

In the meantime, I'm sticking the plan, and praying that the change in diet will bring those numbers down. The last thing I would want to do is hurt my little guy.

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

Re: Gest Diabetes. Confused and venting.

From what I understand, GD is about the way your body processes food more than about what you eat. I have heard of woman who are diagnosed that already have healthy diets. Also 19 pounds is not much at all for how far along you are.

They way she is talking to you is unacceptable-you want to do what is right for your health and the health of your child, but you do not need to deal with this person to do that. Switch nutritionists asap!