Disclaimer :: I am in no way a medical professional; this is solely my experience with gestational diabetes. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding your own health.
As I waddled into the third trimester of my fourth pregnancy, I failed the dreaded one-hour glucose test for gestational diabetes. It took me by surprise because I passed the test with my previous three pregnancies. Several people reassured me I shouldn’t worry since many women fail the one-hour test, but then pass the three-hour glucose test without any problems.
Not me. At 30 weeks pregnant, I found myself in a room with eight other ladies learning how to prick our fingers, count carbs, and muddle through changing our entire lifestyle to keep our little ones safe.
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The first two weeks surviving gestational diabetes were completely awful. I second guessed everything I ate, and then panicked while I nervously waited for my blood sugar numbers to pop up on the glucometer. I followed my carb count religiously, but my numbers were high no matter what.
Thanks to a dear friend, I found some tried-and-true food choices that helped me not only survive, but thrive, as I carried our boy to full term and delivered a healthy baby.
Here are five foods that helped me survive gestational diabetes.
Note: My carb counts won’t match yours. Women with gestational diabetes follow different carb counts based on what a dietitian recommends.
1. Egg Casserole for Breakfast
At first I tried to cook eggs every morning, but soon found that cutting a piece of casserole and tossing it in the microwave would allow me a few extra minutes of sleep and make mornings more manageable. A piece of egg casserole, some toast, and coffee with a splash of heavy cream tasted great, and kept me full until morning snack time.
2. Low-Carb Yogurt
Game changer, y’all. Most of these yogurts have five to six grams of carbs, and I could enjoy one with dinner every evening. It felt like dessert, and there are more than 15 delicious flavors. I looked like a crazy lady every time I went to the store because the entire surface of the cart was covered with CARBMaster products. When I finally discovered the CARBMaster chocolate milk around week 35, I cried tears of joy when I drank my first glass.
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3. Protein Granola Bars
My morning and afternoon snack included 15 grams of carbs, and these protein granola bars come in right at 14 grams. I didn’t have to pair it with anything else, since the nuts included enough protein. I bought them in bulk and stashed them in my purse, the car, and my desk.
4. Quesadillas
Towards the end of my pregnancy, I ate a quesadilla almost every night for dinner. It’s quick, simple, and customizable. I used a whole wheat tortilla, cheese, shredded chicken, and whatever else I felt like that evening — onions, peppers, salsa, guacamole, sour cream . . . even broccoli, pickles, or olives. By the time you’re 38 weeks, weird stuff works.
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5. Low-Carb Ice Cream Sandwiches
My favorite bedtime snack was the Vanilla Gone Wild Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches. I found that my numbers would only tolerate this as a bedtime snack. I paired the ice cream sandwich with a handful of nuts for protein, and then washed it all down with a huge glass of water. I hated staying up until 10:00 p.m. for my final snack of the day, but eating an ice cream sandwich made me a little less grumpy.
Find Support in a Friend Who’s Done It
The support of someone who’s navigated gestational diabetes before is more valuable and important than any food plan. I discovered ZERO of the above foods on my own. A dear friend of mine, who survived gestational diabetes through two pregnancies, dropped by my house with carb-free soup, cheese sticks, and a box of the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches the day after my doctor called with my failed test results. She reassured me that it would be confusing at first, but very doable. She explained that I would need protein with every meal, as she unpacked the cheese sticks and introduced me to the blog, https://peaceloveandlowcarb.com/.
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The first few weeks when I felt helpless about my high numbers and scared that I was going to hurt my baby boy, she fielded my questions and encouraged me in a way only someone that’s been through it before could. Her insight, advice, and care allowed me to truly thrive as we waited for our son to be born. If you find yourself in a dietitian’s office learning how to survive gestational diabetes, my best advice is to reach out and find someone that’s walked this road before. Their support will mean more than any ice cream sandwich or quesadilla.
An hour after my son’s birth, my parents delivered a Reese’s Sonic blast that I devoured within minutes. For a few weeks after his birth, I enjoyed all the carb goodness I could handle. But a few months later, I found myself drifting back towards this food plan because it’s simple, gives me plenty of energy, and it’s helped me shed the majority of my baby weight. As difficult as it was to figure out at first, it’s now an easy and helpful plan for me.
