Question:
My wife has just been diagnosed with GD, in an otherwise fit, healthy
pregnancy.
I'll be bringing many of these questions to her GD specialty-care team,
but would also like any opinions anyone out there has.
Her post drink sugars on the 3-hour test were slightly high, while the
fasting pre-drink rate was normal.
She is starting the 4x per day glucose monitoring, and is going on a
dietician-prescribed restricted carb diet (40% of calories). So far
within the diet's first day, she has passed threshold on all her
self-measured blood tests. However, the low carb diet has meant an
extreme drop in carb intake, from 100-150 carbs/meal down to 30-45
carbs per meal.
Our number 1 concern is the health of the baby.
I have done as extensive web-based research on GD as possible. Based
on the readings, our plan is to start with the recommended restricted
carb diet. Then, if she continues to pass her self measured tests,
increase carbs by 5-10 per meal until back to her pre-GD diet or she
starts failing the self tests.
We plan to do this ASAP as we are concerned with the fetal risks of the
diet intervention, especially the safety risks of the sugar
replacements in low-carb food, and of the risks of birth defects from
low carb ketosis.
Within a week or so, we hope to have found a stable diet level, and
then want to cut down the blood measurement frequency due to the pain.
Our target was 1 fasting and 1 post-meal test per day, twice a week.
This plan was based on my (non-medically trained) interpretation of the
literature on GD. Our care team's plan seems much more aggressive
(trying the low-carb diet for a full week, and still continuing 4x/day
glucose testing until delivery). Does anyone have any opinions on
risks/benefits of our desired plan to switch to a less aggressive
management of GD?
Answer:
there are some greater experts than me, but here are some thoughts of mine
- if the finger prick test is really causing terrbile pain, maybe you need a
sharper /better lancet? or turn down the pressure of it? i found it not
too awful, certainly not enough to be put off receiving the helpful
information to be gained!
- not that you are questioning it, but it is well worth a well controlled pg
gd-wise, for the mum, i found my controlled gd pg was SOOOOOO much better
for me! GD controlled and not controlled pgs worked out ok in each case for
the bubs, only one was 2 lb bigger and i ended up down teh c-section path...
- read up on the glycemic index for the types of carbs that are preferred,
ie slow acting ones, eg whole grain over white bread
- excercise helps the results
- i agree with your thoughts on sugar replacement, ie artificial
sweeteners, they are far more scary that slightly elevated blood
sugars!
- if she was to follow the books that set out a super healthy ideal
pregnancy diet - IME that would allow me to keep the BG under control
