Well kids, I’ve stumped another diabetes professional. That increases my count to about 5 people that really have no idea what to suggest to help me counteract the extreme postprandial readings I experience, mostly after breakfast and lunch.
Backstory: I’m not a textbook diabetic. I’m sure many people can argue this, but really. I’m so not! It’s not that I’m insulin resistant – it’s just that the meds that are supposed to peak at 15-30 minutes usually peak at an hour instead. Thus resulting in an epic spike an hour to two hours post meal, and then an epic drop to normalcy around the three hour mark. This of course hurts my chances of ever maintaining a controlled rise. My doctors have tried cocktails of insulins to try and counter the spikes, which typically only left me crawling on the floor asking for juice to pick me up from hypoglycemia. But – perinatal docs all want me to have my postprandials at 120-140 during pregnancy… which is my struggle.
So today I saw a dietitian that specializes in mostly GD, but also works with T1s and T2s during pregnancy. I figured she’d have a better idea or different suggestions on how to get her patients to stop spiking.
Our conversation went like this:
Me: So I have been micromanaging my eating habits and blood sugars lately and I’m not seeing a difference. I’ve got dinner down, but breakfast is hell. I’ve tried just about everything humanly possible with the exception of starving myself.”
D: Well, maybe you shouldn’t have any milk or dairy at breakfast.
Me: I don’t.
D: Well, have you tried complex carbs and under 30 grams.
Me: I have. Sometimes I just have 15 grams.
D: Are you consuming about 8-10 grams of protein as well?
Me: Sometimes more. I was given a rule of thumb to try a 1:2 ratio between protein:carbs.
D: And you still spike?
Me: Every time.
D: …
Me: …
D: I have no idea. Maybe you should talk to your endocrinologist.
Me: <ragequit>
I’ll give it to her though. At least she’s being honest and was extremely happy that I’m trying to figure out what the hell is going on BEFORE we start trying to throw pregnancy into the loop. But as a dietitian she couldn’t really advise me to increase my already, crazy high, insulin ratios. (1:4 most times of the day.) And bonus – apparently this clinic appointment was 100% covered by my insurance so I didn’t need a co-pay to get more non-answers.
However, I apparently gave my perinatal the impression that I had no idea what I was doing, carb wise. Though I’m pretty sure I told her that I’ve tried everything and that my docs at the previous hospital pretty much threw up their hands and said “no idea!”
Next week, I meet with the endocrinologist who can probably hook me up with a dietitian that, you know, works with diabetics. (Concept!? Amazing!)