Unexpected consequences

When I started the gestational diabetes diet, I expected certain changes, such as reduced weight gain, feeling deprived of chocolate, hopefully feeling better as I controlled my blood sugar. But I've also noticed some unexpected changes.

Dairy - I'm eating much more dairy than I used to. Because of the way the diet is structured, I end up having 2-3 glasses of milk per day. I used to drink 1-2 glasses of milk before, just when I was in the mood for it. But now, since I need 3 servings of carbohydrates at lunch and dinner, and 2 servings at each snack after lunch, and not all of those can come from starches, I have to either drink milk (or eat yogurt) or eat fruit. But I'm limited to 2 servings of fruit per day, meaning that I'm forced to have milk at least twice per day. And since my favorite afternoon snack has become cottage cheese and fruit, I'm getting extra dairy there, too. In the long run it is good for me. And I'm just glad I no longer have a problem with lactose intolerance.

No more sharing - I used to happily give Aaron anything from my plate that he showed interest in. He eats pretty well and I like to expose him to a variety of foods. But now, I feel like hungry, snarling animal, protecting my plate of measured portions and snapping at anyone who comes close. OK, maybe it's not that bad, but I definitely don't give up food easily. If I have something I know Aaron will want, I'll try to put extra on my plate to account for what he might eat. But typically it is only veggies that I will give up willingly. My carbs are measured out more precisely, as well as my protein, so I make him go to his dad's plate for those things (if we are all eating together).

Planning - I used to just have to plan my days around Aaron's nap - something too valuable to me to skip or interfere with. Now, I have to plan around meals and snacks. I have to eat every 2-3 hours and I have to test my blood sugar 1 hour after each meal. On Friday, I had a haircut scheduled for noon. I suddenly realized I'd have to carefully plan my morning so I had breakfast, snack and lunch 2 hours apart and was finished with lunch in time for my appointment. But it wasn't until I sat down to eat that I realized I was going to have to take my glucose monitor with me to test my blood sugar during my haircut. It's not a big deal, but it just takes some getting used to.

Focus on the numbers - I find that I focus on my glucose numbers like some people focus on their weight when they have a scale in their house (I don't have one for this reason). I feel a little depressed when my blood sugar is up over 130 after a meal (although it's never been over 140). I even feel a little bad when it is close, but not over, like I could have done better. And I give myself a silent cheer when it is closer to 100 than 130, or when my fasting level is well under 95 in the morning. Although I know it is important to keep my blood sugar in check, I know I shouldn't focus on it so much. I can't seem to help it, though. When I go over my numbers with the dietitian tomorrow, I'm hoping she will convince me that the slight amount I've gone over isn't so bad. I expect that most women with gestational diabetes have a few really high readings and that I don't need to feel bad about a few slightly elevated ones.

Another thing that surprised me was how quickly I have become used to the new diet. I thought I'd feel more deprived that I do. Of course I miss the sweets I can't have, but I find that I have been able to adjust my mindset so that I don't focus too much on what I can't have and instead focus on what I can. I definitely enjoy fruit a lot more than I used to.