Sweeter Choice

Today I went to the Kapiolani Medical Center for the Sweeter Choice program, designed for expectant mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GD). We met in a small conference room adjacent to the hospital cafeteria where we learned the basics about gestational diabetes (what causes it, potential risks to the baby if left unchecked, and how to manage it), how to monitor our blood sugar levels, and a dietitian explained all about portion sizes and healthy eating.

They gave us each a blood glucose monitoring system (OneTouch Ultra) and showed us how to use it. They also had us each take turns doing a test with the nurse observing closely to ensure that we could perform it properly to get accurate results. A few women were very hesitant to do the needle poke, but since going through IVF and being poked everyday for months on end with much bigger needles than that, it didn’t phase me at all. My blood glucose measured at 78 — but that was about four hours after my last meal, so it wasn’t a good indication of my levels.
A few interesting things that I learned:

• Brown rice and white rice are the same when counting carbs. The same goes for whole wheat bread versus white bread. DOH! I thought eating brown rice and whole wheat bread would at least be slightly better for me than the refined stuff. I mean, it is better for my health, but just doesn’t give me any advantage when counting carbs.
• I don’t have to eat sugar-free everything — I just have to be mindful of portion control. In other words, I can still eat a Big Mac, I just need to skip the fries. (Not that Big Macs are highly recommended, but I’m just using it as an example.) Also, I don’t have to give up my ice cream! I just have to make it fit within my carb allowance.
• Brown drinks are bad because of the phosphoric acid. There goes my hopes of drinking diet Mug Root Beer to curb my carb cravings.
• You must eat a snack two hours after every meal (after you test). Yay for not having to starve myself between meals!

They also fed us a hearty lunch to end the class: meatloaf with mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, salad with French dressing, assorted fruits, sugar-free jell-o, and a small carton of milk. It was more food than I could eat, but the instructor said that it was a good example of a healthy meal within our GD guidelines.

Two hours later, I took my first reading and it was a bit high at 134. It’s supposed to be less than 120. Tonight, two hours after dinner, I took my evening reading: 123. Better, but still higher than it should be. I have a feeling that this isn’t going to be easy. I just hope I can manage the GD with diet and exercise and that I won’t have to go on medication.

Since they recommended keeping a food/exercise diary, I figure that I might as well use my blog to help me keep track. At least it will prompt me to blog daily.

Breakfast: Special K with Strawberries cereal with milk
Lunch: Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, salad with French dressing, assorted fruits, sugar-free jell-o
Snack: Glucerna mini snack bar
Dinner: 2 pieces of shoyu chicken, brown rice, salad, a small serving of salsa and tortilla chips
Dessert: Sugar-free jell-o
Late night snack: Glucerna mini snack bar

Exercise: 2 mile walk, 5:30 – 6:15 pm

Blood Sugar Tests:
(Guideline is less than 90 fasting and 120 after meals)
Fasting: none
Breakfast: 78 (not accurate, taken 4 hours after eating)
Lunch: 134 (high)
Dinner: 123 (high)

Week 33 – 49 days until my due date!