Gestational Diabetes with Low Sugar Levels

Sounds like you are doing a good job controlling it; those #s are in completely normal range. My doc wanted me to stay below 140 while pregnant (would be 120 if not pregnant). I did keep good control but did need 2 low doses of gluburide due to occasional spikes (would happen with any fruit or milk regardless of how much protein I ate), dd was born perfectly healthy and 6 lbs 14 oz, 10 days early. A book I found helpful was The Insulin-Resistance Diet by Hart/Grossman. I kept my carbs to the following, making sure I had protein every time I ate (ate lots of cheese, nuts, salami, lol). Breakfast 15-20g, snack 15-20g, lunch 30-45g, snack 15-20g, dinner 30g, snack 15-20g.

Perhaps I misunderstood, but it sounds like your sugars have been between 80-120, right? That is actually a very normal range. It's right where your sugars should be. Below 70 would be too low, but 80-120 is not too low.

Contact Nashoba Hospital, they have a Joslin Clinic, all the education you would need Your numbers do not seem bad to me at all but maybe you test when they are good.. You should be having fasting tests and glucose tolerance tests, then you will really know where you are at.

With all due respect to your MIL, unless she's a Certified Diabetes Educator or Endocrinologist, she likely doesn't have the training to make suggestions regarding your gestational diabetes.

Controlling diabetes goes well beyond what you're eating. What have your numbers been if you're saying they're too low? Different people experience symptoms of hypoglycemia at different levels. The normal person should keep their glucose levels between 90-110 fasting. Numbers following meals (called postprandial glucose levels) can be up to 140 to be compliant with recommendations from the American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).

I'd call your local hospital and ask if they have a Certified Diabetes Educator and ask the question to them. In addition to your meals, your liver is a source of glucose during the day. Your pancreas produced a hormone called glucagon that signals the liver to produce and release glucose when you're low. It's a natural function that often results in many patients having higher than normal glucose levels despite taking medication correctly/eating well.

Also, when are you testing? It's important because if it's too close to meals, it may really skew the results.

I'm not a certified diabetes educator, but I did sell insulin and other hormone-based diabetes medications for 8 years, and I know the disease well.

In addition to calling your local hospital (you should be able to speak with an educator immediately), you can check to see what resources are available on the following site (American Academy of Diabetes Educators):
http://www.diabeteseducator.org/search.html

Good luck!

N.,

Having had GD myself, and being able to control with diet - this does not sound bad at all. Consistent numbers means that you are doing a good job controlling your sugars by what (and how) you are eating. I agree that talking with your endocrinologist this week will help to reassure you. If you are unsure of your diet, ask to speak to a nutritionist (most likely they will be a Certified Diabetes Educator) as well. You will want to write down all of your numbers after you test your levels (if you aren't already) so they can see the trends in your numbers. They are also going to ask you if you have had any issues with feeling light-headed or dizzy - if you have, then this may signal too low sugars and they will want to re-evaluate how many carbs you are eating. It may be that you can sneak in more carbs (and enjoy them too) without a problem.

I would not try to increase your numbers just because you (or your MIL) think they are too low. I would keep doing what you are doing, and talk to the doc this week. If they see an issue, they will surely let you know. The last thing you want is your numbers too high or uncontrollable because that is how you end up on insulin. Keep up the good work!!