The Contraband List.
My A1c right now is 5.5%. Please take a moment to log that, remember it, frame it in your mind and put it up in the Trophy Case because IT WILL NEVER BE THIS LOW AGAIN (unless we eventually have another kid which also, please don’t ask me if we are going to because I seriously don’t know if I’m even ready for one).
When I met with my high-risk OB for a pre-conception meeting, I waltzed in there with a 6.2% smug as can be and boasted to her about my rock-solid A1c. She smiled, paused, and said “that’s great…I really need you below 6% for pregnancy.” This is not every doctor’s opinion, keep in mind. I happen to have an OB who is coming from the perspective that if I have a normal A1c, then I’ve zeroed out my risk in some ways - your doctor’s advice may vary. At any rate, I dialed it in even tighter and got sub 6%, found out we were expecting, and have maintained these crazy low numbers ever since. It has been, in short a $h!t-ton of work. Micro-bolusing, CGMing like a fiend, and cutting out any foods that could send me reeling have been my tactics.
Between the changes in my diet, axing all alcohol, and slashing my coffee consumption, it’s hard not to feel totally deprived some days. I feel like I’m in a constant state of restriction, monitoring, and denying. Parties have a different vibe, as does the innocent question of “where would you like to go to dinner?” Yes, of course it’s worth it, and yes of course I am happy to do it, and yes, I feel incredibly blessed to even be pregnant and that our child so far has been so healthy. But it is not easy and I’m the first to admit that. I am lucky to have an incredibly supportive husband who has made many of these changes right along side me, and the support of friends and family who don’t judge or ask questions but instead accommodate (“can I pour my Stevia-lemonade into a wine glass at your housewarming party so it looks prettier?” Yes, yes you can friend).
That doesn’t mean I’m not pining for some of my favorites. If you were to open my iPhone and check the “lists” section, you would find a list called “Food.” And yes, seriously, this is a list of foods that I will be dining on once I’m able to relax my standards a little bit (that would be September 8th, if this Munchkin arrives on time). Scroll down that list and you’ll find every T1s favorite problem foods: pizza, mac and cheese, sushi, ice cream, and even birthday cake made the list (honestly a box of that gross, fake, Betty Crocker yellow cake mix with chocolate frosting sounds SO FREAKING GOOD I CAN’T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT. Seriously don’t talk about it). The list helps remind me that this is temporary, and in just four and half short months, I’ll wonder what the big deal even was.
All of these will have to wait until this little one finishes baking though. And truly I am blessed and lucky to have such an important job as to be the nest for a miracle. That doesn’t mean I don’t crave bagels though. Big, doughy, delicious bagels. OMG I have to stop. I wish a bagel store would make me a “one bite to go” bagel situation….
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Comments
I’m not sure this’ll help - but think back 30 years or so. Back then pretty much everything interesting was on the contraband list (especially wine, but that might be an age thing :)). And back then I was told this was going to stay for the rest of my life.
You’ve only got a few more months to go - then you can happily (and healthily) make a few .. what was it? “horrible food choices”. Should be easy peasy 
Thanks for sharing.
I can relate, kind of, because I’m often in a pub asking for a “non-alcohic, non-sweet, non-caffein drink” and am stuck with water or tomato juice (if they have the latter).
Or I look at the menu in a restaurant and try to find a warm (so no salads), vegetarian (most of the choices go here), lowcarb (and that would have been pasta/pizza) dish.
And I’m not even pregnant, it’s just my usual food choices on days I try to take care of myself!
Rich,
1.) I know there are bagel bites but I need someone to sell them to me literally one bite a time, lest I down the whole box in one sitting out of vengeance.
2.) YES BAKED PASTA WAIT STOP TALKING ABOUT THE BAKED PASTA! AHHH
3.) Thank you!
And thank you for your kind words! It’s a ton of work but truly I am blessed and happy to do it. And I know it’s only temporary! Gotta stay patient and on track.
Good perspective Floh! It’s true - this is temporary and so so worth it. I know in just four short months I’ll be wondering what the big deal was. They say it’s like running a marathon with kids - it’s tough getting through it but once you cross the finish line you can’t wait to do the whole thing over again!
What about full fat ice cream? I found that while I was pregnant I could do my whopping dinner dose of insulin (like 16-20 units…when pre-pregnancy I would only take 4-5 units) and once my blood sugar started to drop after dinner from all the insulin, I could have a small bowl of full fat ice cream (like 1/2 cup). The ice cream cushioned the post-meal drop and I think the fat helped slow the absorption. Also, it was just enough of a treat to keep me sane during the last few months!
Also, now that my little guy is 8 months old, I feel like i forgot what it was like to be so restricted with my diet…but I kept my A1C under/around 6 for my whole pregnancy - it was like a second full time job, but so worth it!
I had a list like that when I was pregnant too.
Unfortunately, now 2 weeks post-delivery, my appetite is completely gone and I haven’t had the desire to enjoy any of my fantasy food yet.
1. Bagel Bites are real. You can indulge one bite at a time.
2. Somewhere on The List has got to be the baked pasta from a certain SD restaurant?!?!?
3. You are Rockin’ the DiaPrego Dance Milady :~)
So proud of your discipline. Keep at it. And I made some new friends at a new client Intercept that are ex-Amylites and knew you when …