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The worst parts were getting high levels after some meals even after following the carb guidelines. Saturday night I had 40 carbs for dinner (I have a limit of 45) and still had a blood sugar level that was 31 points over the highest average level. The levels I'm supposed to have after meals are 90-120. Before breakfast it should be 60-90. I always have levels on the high side, but I'm not worrying if they are only a couple of digits over. Anyway, it's just stressful when my levels are just as high after eating a low carb meal as they are after eating like I normally do. However, today is the first day that my levels have been within the limit. Yay! Maybe it took a few days for the sugar to completely leave my system?? I have no clue.
The other worst part is how hard it has been to get blood to come out of my fingers. The majority of times I've pricked my fingers so far nothing has come out. However, my fingers are left with bruises and red marks where the needle goes in. I'll squeeze and squeeze and only a little blood will come out, not enough to register on the little machine. So then I have to do it again...and again... and it hurts every time. I tried on the sides of my fingers first (like I was told to do) but even tried on the pad of my finger which usually gives more blood. We made the needle a little longer to make sure it's going in far enough, but then I was getting bruises. Anyway, yesterday Matt read about this problem and said that it's recommended that you wash your hands with warm water and then massage the finger tip a little before pricking it. Sure enough, it's worked the first time every time since then! So I'm glad that it looks like that frustrating and stressful problem is at least being worked out.
I've also been surprised at how hard it is to follow this diet plan. It's very depressing for me to be hungry after not eating as much as I'm used to for dinner and then not even being able to eat my favorite snacks - cold cereal, PopTarts, muffins, and chocolate milk. I didn't think I'd miss those things so much. I also dislike having to snack during the day, I've never been a big snacker, I'd rather eat 3 larger meals than small meals and several snacks. At this point I'm supposed to eat 3 snacks as well as 3 meals. It's hard to find snack food that I enjoy that complies with the diet guidelines. I feel like I'm forcing myself to eat.
The diet is also kind of confusing, I'm still figuring it out. Like, I discovered that you can subtract fiber grams from carb grams if you have more than 5 grams of fiber in a food item. Somehow I missed that part of the "orientation." I'm still confused as to whether you can subtract proteins from the carbs too. For now I'm just making sure that I don't go over the limit of carbs, I'm not even trying to subtract due to fiber. I'll ask the doctor more about it on my appointment on Friday. Did I already mention that now I have appointments every 2 weeks at the diabetes center? It's nice that they are working so closely with me, but a little annoying that I have to spend so much time driving up there and at the appointments.
Anyway, wish me luck, especially at night before bed when I usually eat my "comfort foods" that are no longer allowed. And yes, I do realize that this could be much, much worse and that a diet plan really isn't that bad, etc. It's just been a rough adjustment for ME.
On a happy note - we had a fun Father's Day! I gave Matt gifts in the morning, we went to my parents' house for lunch, and then Matt and I went out for dinner and to see the symphony's free concert in the park that night. It's cool because the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra has free outdoor concerts every weekend in June, they do it every year and even though it was hot last night, we still had a good time!
one of the things i learned from my gestational diabetes adventure was to do the pricks on the sides of my fingers and to only do one had per day. it helped with the soreness of many pricked fingers. :)
ReplyDeleteand i have to admit...i occassionally cheated in my diet. sorry, but it is just wrong to tell a pregnant woman that she can't have chocolate, especially around holidays. in order to make up for it i had salads and lots a veggies for lunch. the only thing i never cheated on was the juice part. i gave it up. and i loves me some oj. :)
Do you like Popcorn? Popcorn is high in fiber and my dad has diabetes and loves snacking on that. Also I know that stress always makes my dad's blood sugar readings higher even when he hasn't eaten really well that day. Maybe that was why you were getting higher readings this weekend. Can you have sugar free candy? My mom orders this amazing chocolate for my dad. I'll get the website info from her if your interested it. It is seriously really good.
ReplyDeleteAs Anne said, her dad is diabetic and is able to enjoy a lot of fruit and veggies, popcorn, sugar free desserts, etc. Not sure how the GD diet plan differs from a "regular" diabetic's diet.
ReplyDeleteYou will get used to not having your usual snacks. Your body kind of has to detox from it, LOL! But oh I feel for you, I really do. And now I'm hoping *I* don't have GD as well (PCOS puts you at higher risk for it).
Good thinking on the finger prick thing. I was going to suggest massaging your fingertips or pinching the skin tight right underneath where you want to prick so it fills with blood.