Newly gestational diabetic

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Loluka88
Loluka88 Posts: 38 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Just found out last night I have gestational diabetes. I picked up my equipment to check my glucose levels this morning and haven't been able to use it just yet (Doc wants me to wait 2 hours after each meal to check). My Doc is hoping that we can control this without medication and just diet alone (I really hope so too). I have an appointment with a dietitian but I wont be able to see her for another week. I'd like to get a jump start on this but I'm not really sure what kinds of foods are best. I know I need to limit my sugar and carbs, and if possible switch to complex carbs when I do eat them. I've already googled diabetic diets but I'm trying to find good recipes I can use. What I should start to eat more of, etc. If anyone has any really good veggie recipes specifically I'd love to hear them!

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  • asdelmonte
    asdelmonte Posts: 171 Member
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    For recipes, I would google the Paleo Diet. I don't follow that diet, but there are some amazing recipes out there and they use all fresh ingredients and it's mostly low on the Glycemic Index since they don't eat grains or sugar.

    Nom Nom Paleo, in particular, is good.

    Good luck!
  • Alexander233
    Alexander233 Posts: 7 Member
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    I found out last week also that I may have gestational diabetes. I am an army wife in Germany and the Germans seem to go OTT on everything. I had the glucose tolerance test and my one and two hour tests after the sugary drink were fine but the midwife was concerned about my fasting test. It was 97 and they wanted it below 92! I've read online that below 100 is considered normal!
    I am now testing my blood 6 times a day. Before eating and 1 hour after eating. It's a pain! I have to be below 92 before food and below 140 after food. After food readings don't seem to be a problem for me, it's the fasting readings that are deemed too high!
    I have just tried to cut out all chocolate, cakes, biscuits etc. but there is so much sugar in so many other foods.
    You need to eat high carbs but not the carbs that convert to sugar ie. pasta, white bread, white rice etc. for me, Special K was mega high! You need to eat high protein so lots of cheese, eggs, lean meat, fish. Basically the GI diet. I was told if you have carbs, they must fit in the palm of your hand.
    I really don't want to go on any medication especially insulin so I'm trying hard with the eating.
  • GlucernaBrand
    GlucernaBrand Posts: 486
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    It's important to remember that women with gestational diabetes are not only controlling blood sugar levels for themselves, but also for your baby. Nutrition needs are different when you're pregnant to support the growth and development of the baby, which makes it important to meet with a diabetes educator who can give you specific guidelines. There is good information here: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/gestational/ ~Lynn /Glucerna
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
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    https://www.pinterest.com -- this can be of some help as long as you keep in mind that these recipes are not from professionals -- some recipes have too many carbs.
    Use various searches to find recipes for low carb and paleo and caveman and such.

    Essentially, instead of using bread, pasta, rice, potatoes as a big part of a meal, drop them completely. Keep fruit very low or go by what your medical team wants.
    Create dishes that are meat, fish, dairy, egg and vegetable- based. On some programs beans and legumes are o.k. Some programs say that winter squash and sweet potatoes are o.k. Most programs say that nuts are o.k.
    Some choices include:
    Fresh vegetables, eaten raw or lightly steamed, roasted, or grilled
    Frozen vegetables, lightly steamed --

    There are amazing things you can do with cauliflower: shred it to use it like you used to use rice or potatoes. Make it into a crust to use for pizza, . .
    http://www.pinterest.com/thesneak50/cauliflower-recipes/
    Have fun and good luck.
  • Loluka88
    Loluka88 Posts: 38 Member
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    Thank you to those that have replied! I am planning on seeing a dietitian and a diabetes specialist. I have appointments with them both, I just can't see them until next week and wanted to start getting my diet controlled. Thank you for recipes and information! I'll definitely look into it all.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
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    Thank you to those that have replied! I am planning on seeing a dietitian and a diabetes specialist. I have appointments with them both, I just can't see them until next week and wanted to start getting my diet controlled. Thank you for recipes and information! I'll definitely look into it all.

    Good luck to you.

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