Platinum M
I am 14 weeks pregnant with twins, and found that I have gestational diabetes. Therefore, my OB has asked that I follow a diabetic food plan, but that I must be aware to consume the necessary caloric allotment of 3,200 daily. That is a lot of calories when almost eliminating carbs! Does anyone out there have a suggestion for a helpful (and easy) cookbook designed for women with gestational diabetes? I am sure I could use any diabetic cookbook, but am hoping for one geared more towards pregnant women, to help me get enough nutrition and calories in. Your help is appreciated.
Oh, and consuming meat is either hit-or-miss for me daily, as my morning sickness still lingers some days.
ADD: Yes, I am fully aware of the fact that I could easily look online. However, the whole point of using YA is to get actual perspectives and ideas. (Otherwise, wouldn't the suggestion of just using Google pretty much eliminate about 95% of the questions on YA)
Answer
I feel your pain!!
I am experiencing my second pregnancy with gestational diabetes. Since I hae a strong family history of diabetes, they generally test me at about 8 weeks so I get to spend the entire pregnancy eating a diabetic diet.
With my first pregnancy I was not very good about following my diet and gained 40 pounds in a singleton pregnancy.
Now I'm 18 weeks deep into my second pregnancy and have been following the diabetic diet since beginning. I was nearly 20 pounds heavier when I conceived this time than last time and I have yet to gain any weight. Instead I've lost 8 pounds and remain 8 pounds lower than my pre-pregnancy weight. Again, I am carrying only one baby.... (and I was overweight.)
I spend a HUGE amount of time researching gestational diabetes and diets during my first pregnancy and discovered that of the inter-connected library service in my county (connected to three other counties there was only ONE book about it. Since the book had a long waiting list I only got to keep it for four weeks. Since it was dry as hell, I think I only got through three chapters.
I have yet to find any cookbooks geared toward pregnant diabetics. :-(
I will list in my resources the two BEST diabetic websites I have found to date.
Additionally, I will tell you that the key to my current success is walking after meals (about 10-20 minutes) and limiting my carb intakes to that which was specifically directed by the dietitian I was assigned to.
Further, here is a list of "super foods" I have found to give me great energy, meet my dietary requirements well, allow for second helpings, and keep my blood sugars low:
Spinach Quiche (If you like eggs,want a recipe I have a really easy one, email me and I will send it back to you.) The added benefit to this is that my midwife informed me that egg consumption helps strengthen the amniotic sac!
2. Home-made turkey chili (beans add additional which not only helps to keep sugar levels down, but had *ahem* added benefits to counteract pregnancy symptoms... again I have a great recipe.)
Great snackies:
Kashi brand makes a cracker that is virtually identical to a Triscut, but it has no added sugar and half the carbs, I get mine by the three pack at Costco. It's called Heart-to-Heart
Plain Greek yogurt 7g carbs per serving! If you add 1-2 Splenda packets to a 1/2 cup, it tastes like creme freche! I like to throw a couple of raspberries in too for a low carb, low sugar fruit yogurt.
Places to find hidden sugars:
TOMATOS, tomato sauces. If you like Italian food... stick to meaty stews with small amounts of polenta and cheese... red sauce spikes my sugar every time!
Carrots (sad but true!) and OK in limited quantities ix-nay on the ranch dressing dip.
Peanut butter! Seems like a great place to get protein, I know! Actually it is, but you have to seek out the "special" peanut butter that is made with only peanuts and peanut oil. No added sugar (you can toss the Skippy and JIF right now.) Plus, this stuff usually requires refrigeration...
Pre-cooked bacon or jerky. Both of these are typically cured in sugar, so make sure you read packages.
It's tough but not impossible. If you do it well you're in great shape. If you have trouble, talk to your doctor, they can offer medication that isn't insulin to try to help control it.
Best of luck to you!
I feel your pain!!
I am experiencing my second pregnancy with gestational diabetes. Since I hae a strong family history of diabetes, they generally test me at about 8 weeks so I get to spend the entire pregnancy eating a diabetic diet.
With my first pregnancy I was not very good about following my diet and gained 40 pounds in a singleton pregnancy.
Now I'm 18 weeks deep into my second pregnancy and have been following the diabetic diet since beginning. I was nearly 20 pounds heavier when I conceived this time than last time and I have yet to gain any weight. Instead I've lost 8 pounds and remain 8 pounds lower than my pre-pregnancy weight. Again, I am carrying only one baby.... (and I was overweight.)
I spend a HUGE amount of time researching gestational diabetes and diets during my first pregnancy and discovered that of the inter-connected library service in my county (connected to three other counties there was only ONE book about it. Since the book had a long waiting list I only got to keep it for four weeks. Since it was dry as hell, I think I only got through three chapters.
I have yet to find any cookbooks geared toward pregnant diabetics. :-(
I will list in my resources the two BEST diabetic websites I have found to date.
Additionally, I will tell you that the key to my current success is walking after meals (about 10-20 minutes) and limiting my carb intakes to that which was specifically directed by the dietitian I was assigned to.
Further, here is a list of "super foods" I have found to give me great energy, meet my dietary requirements well, allow for second helpings, and keep my blood sugars low:
Spinach Quiche (If you like eggs,want a recipe I have a really easy one, email me and I will send it back to you.) The added benefit to this is that my midwife informed me that egg consumption helps strengthen the amniotic sac!
2. Home-made turkey chili (beans add additional which not only helps to keep sugar levels down, but had *ahem* added benefits to counteract pregnancy symptoms... again I have a great recipe.)
Great snackies:
Kashi brand makes a cracker that is virtually identical to a Triscut, but it has no added sugar and half the carbs, I get mine by the three pack at Costco. It's called Heart-to-Heart
Plain Greek yogurt 7g carbs per serving! If you add 1-2 Splenda packets to a 1/2 cup, it tastes like creme freche! I like to throw a couple of raspberries in too for a low carb, low sugar fruit yogurt.
Places to find hidden sugars:
TOMATOS, tomato sauces. If you like Italian food... stick to meaty stews with small amounts of polenta and cheese... red sauce spikes my sugar every time!
Carrots (sad but true!) and OK in limited quantities ix-nay on the ranch dressing dip.
Peanut butter! Seems like a great place to get protein, I know! Actually it is, but you have to seek out the "special" peanut butter that is made with only peanuts and peanut oil. No added sugar (you can toss the Skippy and JIF right now.) Plus, this stuff usually requires refrigeration...
Pre-cooked bacon or jerky. Both of these are typically cured in sugar, so make sure you read packages.
It's tough but not impossible. If you do it well you're in great shape. If you have trouble, talk to your doctor, they can offer medication that isn't insulin to try to help control it.
Best of luck to you!
Meal Ideas for Gestational Diabetes?
PapasChick
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and am having trouble thinking of meal ideas. Normally being a huge carb eater I am finding this very difficult and am stuck with the same meals and snacks everyday which is getting very boring. I defrosted steaks tonight but don't want just plain steak. Any ideas?
Answer
find veggies you like with low carb amounts such as spinach, brocolli, and string beans. Load up your food with this to stave off hunger. Plus high fiber foods will help keep you full. This way if you make say rice or pasta you can have a ratio of say 3 servings veggies to 1 serving carb. Then add 1-2 servings protein and you got a meal. I would make things like non breaded eggplant parm, tuna noodle casserole, pasta loaded with canned diced tomato, american chopsuey, green bean casserole. trick is to keep the above ratio and add lots of low carb flavors. I tend to add lots of fresh and dried herbs, butter, chicken stock, lemon or lime juice, and higher salt amounts to my meals instead of sugary sauces, or cream sauces. I can give you some of my recipes if you like.
Another thinbg you might want to think about is upping your fiber. Metamucil has the best type of fiber for diabtes, psyllium. Do your research on it. Fiber acts like a counterweight to carbs. It neutralizes it. Also, and again do your research, there are certain safe herbs you can have during your pregnancy that helps control sugar. One such thing is the sweetener stevia, it is very good for you and tasts no worse than other typical artificial sweeteners, Red Raspberry leaf tea and dandelion leaf/root. When you get 3 weeks away from your due date you can take evening primrose oil, it helps with many things including diabetes control but it is best known for helping a womans body get ready for labor.
If you ask a mainstream doc or nutritionist they might shy away from the thought. They do this because THEY have never studied these herbs. This is why you should study it yourself and possibly contact your local herbalist.
I got gestational diabetes twice. Supposedly it is supposed to get worse with each pregnancy, instead the second time I barely had it and the next two pregnancies I didn't get it at all.
Also, up the protien content. This, just like fiber helps to control diabetes. If you can go to the gym and walk this would really help. The best workouts are 10 minute vigorous workouts right before or after a meal. Such as a 10 minute power walk. However I barely worked out, I feel very bad about that too, lol.
I will give you recipes if you like,
find veggies you like with low carb amounts such as spinach, brocolli, and string beans. Load up your food with this to stave off hunger. Plus high fiber foods will help keep you full. This way if you make say rice or pasta you can have a ratio of say 3 servings veggies to 1 serving carb. Then add 1-2 servings protein and you got a meal. I would make things like non breaded eggplant parm, tuna noodle casserole, pasta loaded with canned diced tomato, american chopsuey, green bean casserole. trick is to keep the above ratio and add lots of low carb flavors. I tend to add lots of fresh and dried herbs, butter, chicken stock, lemon or lime juice, and higher salt amounts to my meals instead of sugary sauces, or cream sauces. I can give you some of my recipes if you like.
Another thinbg you might want to think about is upping your fiber. Metamucil has the best type of fiber for diabtes, psyllium. Do your research on it. Fiber acts like a counterweight to carbs. It neutralizes it. Also, and again do your research, there are certain safe herbs you can have during your pregnancy that helps control sugar. One such thing is the sweetener stevia, it is very good for you and tasts no worse than other typical artificial sweeteners, Red Raspberry leaf tea and dandelion leaf/root. When you get 3 weeks away from your due date you can take evening primrose oil, it helps with many things including diabetes control but it is best known for helping a womans body get ready for labor.
If you ask a mainstream doc or nutritionist they might shy away from the thought. They do this because THEY have never studied these herbs. This is why you should study it yourself and possibly contact your local herbalist.
I got gestational diabetes twice. Supposedly it is supposed to get worse with each pregnancy, instead the second time I barely had it and the next two pregnancies I didn't get it at all.
Also, up the protien content. This, just like fiber helps to control diabetes. If you can go to the gym and walk this would really help. The best workouts are 10 minute vigorous workouts right before or after a meal. Such as a 10 minute power walk. However I barely worked out, I feel very bad about that too, lol.
I will give you recipes if you like,
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Title Post: Helpful cookbooks for gestational diabetes?
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Rating: 95% based on 95 ratings. 4.8 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks To Visiting My Blog
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