Gestational Diabetic new to RAW

[Trishy]

Hello everyone :)

Thank you Southpaw Shelly for directing me to this place! I'm very excited to be starting my new journey, something I've been thinking about for a while but haven't gotten the oomph to do yet.

But...I just recently became pregnant, and even more recently was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Needless to say I am a little thrown by this information, and it has highly motivated me to make a much needed change toward health in my life. After discussion with my partner, he wholeheartedly supports it and will make the transition with me to become a RAW family.

My question is this: Does anyone have any experience/advice on transitioning to a RAW diet as a gestational diabetic? My main concerns are controlling my blood sugars to my and the doctors satisfaction (as they are monitoring me very closely) for my health and the babies, and getting enough nutrients for the pregnancy. I -know- this is possible on a RAW diet...I'm just not finding a lot of information readily available on this!

Thanks for any help!

Trishy

[Sweet lips]

Congratulations on the new life, how blessed you are. Be concerned, but do not worry - with some helpful hints you will do just fine. You are not alone, we will give you so much love, you might just get tired of us.

In most cases, gestational diabetes is managed by diet and exercise and goes away after the baby is born. The treatment would be the same as a Type II diabetic, which I am. I have successfully lowered my blood sugar with the raw diet, although I am still on medication - working toward eliminating medication as well.

Diabetes is a disease of excessive fat from the cooked foods,( this is simplified) but it is wise to watch it on raw as well.

1. Keep your consumption of dehydrated nuts to a minimum - if you have nuts at breakfast, try not to eat too many for the rest of the day.

2. When juicing fruit or carrot juice add either a cucumber or celery to your juice as this avoid your blood sugar to stablilize.

3. Use your glucometer faithfully to determine your base line -and where your sugar readings are highest. Mine are higher in the morning because of the overnight action of specific hormones levels in my body. Since raw, upwaking, my blood sugar has been around 110-125.

4. Avoid constipation at all cost - this will invaribly cause the blood glucose to rise because of those toxins - avoid it by eating your greens, adding flax to your diet- either through juice, or even salad dressing, or making some the dehydrated crackers or breads - the poop patrol will thank you

5. Eat from A Grade Protein List - Green leafy vegetables, olives, pimpkin seeds (seeds of all kinds are good protein choices); hemp seeds (these seeds contain edestin, a complete protein), almonds (most raw nuts are power packed with vital living protein), ALL SPROUTS

6. Fresh air, sunlight and exercise is an excellent way to help improve blood glucose control. It is now being promoted as part of the treatment plan for women who are willing and able to exercise. For some women, exercising, such as walking after meals or at specific times of the day, helps to keep blood sugars in better control. Exercise is also important to improve flexibility and prepare you for childbirth; however, starting or continuing a new or strenuous activity should only be pursued after discussions with your family doctor or specialist.

7. Eat often, instead of three squares a day - have 6 mini meals to get your blood sugar balanced

8. Be stress free as much as possible, depend on God through everything.

I hope this helps you.

7.

[JustMe]

Sweet lips pretty much said everything and from experience! We cannot all emphasize enough about getting lots of greens in your diet! Also try coconut oil as i have heard that it can help in stabilizing blood sugars. stay away from real sugary veggies and fruits such as carrots and beets, though they don't have to be eliminated completely, but like sweet lips said add greens to stabilize. also berries are low sugar as well as kiwis.

Good amount of fiber does slow sugar absorption thus stabilizing blood sugar levels. flax oil or seeds are a good source of omega 3 one of the good fats to help stabilize blood sugars.

sprouts are also good to have in your diet and they are nutrient dense too!

Take care and congratulations on your new little addition!! It is wonderful to "hear the pitter patter of little feet!" lol

[Trishy]

Thank you for your replies :) I'm starting to transition from the "doing the research" phase to the experimenting phase, so today I go to the store for a blender and some fresh foods.

I do test my sugars at least four times a day, and am relying on diet changes so far to manage it. It's a challenge so far, and I'll often find myself looking into the refrigerator cluelessly...but we'll get there. It's simply a bit overwhelming, but I see it as a cry of my bodies to change my diet and be healthier for myself and my baby! My partner is excited about the change as well, and ready to jump in with me. My plan is to start out eating very simply and monitor the bloodsugar changes as well as how I feel, then progress to book-buying and appliances, etc.

I appreciate your replies and advice, thank you so much. I have to say, I've been browsing recipes and they are making my mouth water (which is saying something as -no- food has sounded good to me for a couple of weeks)!

Trish

[Aleesha Sattva]

this is a very old thread... but i wanted to update it for informational purposes.

sprouts should not be eaten during pregnancy. i've read that flax should be limited (as well as parsley not taken in large amounts).

if anyone has any other information regarding gestational diabetes... i'd love to hear it. i would think (think not know) that gestational diabetes won't happen to a raw mama... but i'm wondering if this could still be a concern???

i was gestational diabetic with my last baby... 11 pounds 5 ounces of babe later... and i don't want to do that again!!!

[juliebove]

I was told I had gestational diabetes, but I really think it was type 2. Why? I had all sorts of symptoms after I had the baby. I believe I was unwittingly controlling it with diet and exercise. Eventually I would up in the hospital with complications from the diabetes and this is where I was diagnosed. I should add that I was on vacation then and not eating my normal diet.

My one skinny as a rail SIL had gestational diabetes and her skinnier still sister had it. With each pregnancy, theirs not only came back but became harder to control and eventually they had to use insulin.

When I was pregnant, I did not have the best advice on nutrition. I was sent to a dietician who didn't seem to know what she was talking about. She told me to eat feta cheese and I had just seen on the news not to eat this when pregnant because you could get listeria. I have since learned this is not necessarily true. I believe it is only raw cheeses (dairy based, not nut cheeses) that could cause the problem. But the dietician had never heard of listeria! She also didn't know how to use her computer so she couldn't look it up.

I was a vegetarian at the time. Dieticians seem to hate vegetarians. They probably hate vegans even more. Most of the ones I've seen have been big meat pushers. This one was a big protein pusher. She chastised me with every meal I ate that didn't contain what she considered to be enough protein.

The last dietician I saw was a lot more realistic. She said most Americans eat too MUCH protein. And I believe this is true. She had no problems with a raw vegan diet. She didn't know anything about it, or myb food allergies, but at least she didn't tell me I was wrong!

I have read that sprouts shouldn't be eaten during pregnancy, but... I would feel safe in eating sprouts I have made myself. I know I do them properly, making sure the containers I make them in are very clean and that they get many rinsings each day. The same could be said for raw unpasturized juices. They say to avoid those too. But if you know you are cleaning the fruits and vegetables first and drinking the juice right away, it should be safe.

[Aleesha Sattva]

ya i wouldn't be at all concerned about the juice i make myself... and i don't make sprouts successfully. *yes i'm a sprout reject - lowers head in shame*...

thanks for sharing...