Best products from r/GestationalDiabetes
We found 23 comments on r/GestationalDiabetes discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 23 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Nature Valley Breakfast Biscuits, Breakfast Sandwich, Almond Butter Filling, 5 Pack
- CRISPY BISCUIT SANDWICHES: Wholesome, creamy almond butter biscuits made with whole grain oats; A must-have for an on-the-go snack or in a lunch box
- BREAKFAST AND TEA SNACKS: Easy, wholesome bites for breakfast, snack time or an on-the-go invigorating treat; Perfect for the pantry, lunch box, and hiking trail
- WHOLE GRAINS: Contains 14 grams of whole grains per serving, plus almond butter to keep you going throughout the day
- REAL INGREDIENTS: Hearty whole grain oats with no artificial flavors, artificial colors, or high fructose corn syrup
- CONTAINS: 1.35 oz, 5 ct
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3. Care Touch Diabetes Testing Kit – Care Touch Blood Glucose Meter, 100 Blood Test Strips, 1 Lancing Device, 30 gauge Lancets-100 count and Carrying Case
- ✅ QUICK AND EASY TO USE: Care Touch blood sugar test kit delivers results in only 5 seconds with just a 0.5µL blood sample. There is no programming needed since our blood sugar monitor kit automatically recognizes batch codes encrypted on Care Touch glucose test strips. Our state-of-the-art glucometer kit with strips and lancets includes single-touch strip ejection, so you can hygienically remove used diabetic test strips.
- ✅ EASY DIABETIC MONITORING: The blood sugar monitor kit with strips is capable of saving up to 300 readings. The blood glucose test kit also provides a continuous 14-day average of your readings, making glucose monitoring easy for you and your healthcare provider.
- ✅ PORTABLE AND HASSLE-FREE: The diabetic testing kit comes with a handy glucometer case, which means you can check your blood sugar level at home or anywhere else while staying organized. The 10-depth lancing device and lancets will help make blood sugar testing almost painless and hassle-free.
- ✅ COMPLETE DIABETIC SET: The glucose meter kit with strips and lancets includes: (1) Care Touch Blood Sugar Meter, (100) Blood Glucose Test Strips for diabetes, (1) Lancing Device, (100) Lancets for diabetes testing, (1) 3 Volt Lithium Battery, (1) Glucose meter case for your blood sugar tester and diabetic supplies
- ✅ WE CARE BECAUSE YOU CARE: You care about your health, and we care about you. Care Touch is committed to providing the best quality blood glucose monitoring systems. Our care doesn’t end when your sugar tester diabetes kit arrives at your door. We’re fully dedicated to your satisfaction. If you have any questions or concerns about your glucose monitor kit with strips and lancets - contact us at any time.
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4. EasyTouch Glucose Test Strips - (50 per Box)
- Tiny Blood Sample Required – Only 0.5 µL
- 5 Second Rapid Test Results
- Available in 50ct
- For Use with the EasyTouch Glucose Monitoring System Only
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5. Organic Edamame Spaghetti - 2 lbs (907g)
- 2 pound box (18 servings
- Gluten free, vegan, kosher
- Organic
- High Protein
- Low Carb
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6. Nature valley protein chewy bar 26 ct.
- protein bar
- peanut butter dark chocolate
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7. Carnation Breakfast Essentials Ready-to-Drink, Rich Milk Chocolate, 8 Ounce Bottle (Pack of 24)
- Discontinued by Manufacturer. See new listing below
- Carnation Breakfast Essentials Original: The nutritional drink you love at breakfast, available in two easy forms
- Ready To Drink Bottles: For those busy mornings, Carnation Breakfast Essentials ready to drink bottled nutritional drinks help you start the day with protein and other nutrients; Shake, open, and enjoy
- Good Nutrition From The Start: Carnation Breakfast Essentials helps families get the vitamins and minerals they need to start the day, from powdered drink mixes to high protein ready to drink shakes
- Nutritional Drinks For Busy Lives: It's hard to balance a healthy lifestyle and a busy day; Carnation Breakfast Essentials nutritional drinks make it easy to start your day with good nutrition
Features:
8. Special K Protein Meal Bars, Strawberry, Value Pack, 19 oz (12 Count)
- Deliciously portable protein meal bar made to fuel and fill you up without slowing you down
- Satisfies taste buds with a rich, creamy coating outside and fruity bursts of strawberry flavor inside
- 12g protein (23% daily value, 9g fiber (6g total fat per serving); Contains soy, milk, almond, peanut and wheat ingredients; May contain other tree nuts
- Energizing, satisfying meal or snack for work, errands, pre workout and more; Stash in desk, car, and bag for when hunger strikes
- Includes 1, 19-ounce box of 12 convenient, ready-to-eat meal bars; Individually wrapped for freshness and great taste
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9. Fastclix Accu-Chek Fastclix Lancing Device Kit, Black
for use with Fastclix LancetsEasy to UseNo loading of Lancets Each timeItem can No be used with Any other LancetsFor Use with Fastclix lancets Only
10. Organic Paleo Bars 27 oz. (2 Pack)
- A delicious new twist on the banana! Enjoy a fun new take on this classic fruit favorite. The square Banana 2go Fruit bars contain one whole Banana and deliver a mouthwatering bananas of chewy goodness!
- All natural energy bar - indulge in healthy, scrumptious snacking just the way nature intended. Our Banana energy bars are pure Fruit with none of the fillers of other brands.
- On-the-go breakfast & workout snack - the square Banana 2go makes the perfect gluten-free breakfast, snack Fruit to go, and pre-workout boost for anyone wanting a tasty & convenient morning or midday pick-me-up.
- Kids love them - Got a picky kid or fussy eater? We've Got you covered! Our wholesome Banana bars are 100% real fruit with zero added sugars. Perfect for toddler snacks, lunch box treats, and healthy after-school refreshments.
- Vegan, gluten and dairy Free - these irresistible snack & breakfast bars are vegan, gluten-free, Dairy Free, non GMO, and contain no artificial additives or preservatives. You're definitely going to want more than just one!
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11. Caveman Foods Paleo-Friendly Gluten-Free Nutrition Bar, Dark Chocolate Almond Coconut, 1.4 Ounce Bars (12 Count Box)
- Contains 15 - 1.4 ounce of Dark Chocolate Almond Coconut Certified Paleo-Friendly Snack bars
- Enjoy a delicious snack bar with coconut and almonds covered in decadent dark chocolate
- Snack confidently with a certified Paleo-Friendly, Kosher-Dairy, Non-GMO and Gluten-Free Bar
- Caveman Dark Chocolate Paleo-Friendly Bars have no artificial flavors, dairy or soy
- NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS: We’re inspired by our early ancestors, who thrived on simple, nutrient dense foods. That’s why we make delicious snacks that make you feel stronger, sharper & more resilient.
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12. Organic Vegan Protein Powder - Plant Based Unflavored Smoothie Mix - Meal Replacement - Non Dairy, Gluten Free, Kosher, Non-GMO with Soy Protein Isolate - 24 Oz by BlendItUp
- Free of flavors, Smooth no grit, won't change the flavor of your smoothie
- A balanced smoothie every time (healthy fats, complex carbs, complete protein).
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13. Real Food for Gestational Diabetes: An Effective Alternative to the Conventional Nutrition Approach
- Prevent swelling & varicose veins
- Energize legs & alleviate achiness and heaviness
- 15-20 mmHg graduated compression
- Multi-dimensional weave and 200-needle count for comfort, flexibility and breathability
- Appropriate for all day wear, everyday
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14. BSTEAN 1ml Syringes with Caps (Pack of 25)
- 1ml / 1cc capacity syringe
- 25 pack syringes and caps with a low bulk price
- 0.01 ml graduation interval for precise measurement
- Can use with any Gauge BSTEAN blunt tip needls
- For industrial use only
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16. Mary's Gone Crackers, Herb, 6.5 Ounce
1 Box, 6.5-ounce(184 grams)crispy, herb-flavored crackers made with organic whole grain brown rice, organic quinoa, organic flax seeds, and organic brown sesame seedsCertified organic, wheat free, gluten free, and kosherNo added oil or fats
17. Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Whole Food Magnesium 421.5g Powder, Raspberry Lemon, Chelated Non-GMO Vegan Kosher Gluten & Sugar Free Supplement with Probiotics, Best for Anti-Stress Calm & Regularity
- Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan Certified, NSF Gluten Free Certified, Sugar Free, Star K Kosher
- Supports relaxation and restores optimal magnesium levels while providing a better night's sleep
- 350mg Magnesium of Whole Food Magnesium, Made Using Organic Brown Rice Protein Magnesium Chelate.Soy free
- Contains Live Probiotics-1 Billion CFU
- Fizzy Drink Before Bedtime. Well tolerated-no gastric side effects
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18. Lifescan Onetouch Delica Lancing Device
OneTouch Delica Lancing DeviceOnetouch Advanced Glide Control System offers reduced vibration for smoother lancingOnetouch Lancets available in two sizes: 30 Gauge Fine and 33 Gauge Extra FineOnetouch Ejection control for safe and easy removal of the lancets7 depth settings allow for personal comfor...
19. Natural Vitality Natural Magnesium Calm, Cherry (2 Bottles of 8 Ounce)
- Best-Selling Magnesium Supplement
- Balances your calcium intake
- Restores healthy magnesium levels
- 2 Bottles of 8 Ounces
- Cherry Flavor
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20. Premier Protein 30g Protein Shakes, Chocolate, 11 Fluid Ounces, 4 Per Pack
- Chocolately goodness: Smooth and creamy, rich chocolate flavored shake; Winner of American Masters of Taste Gold Medal for SUPERIOR TASTING ready-to-drink protein beverages
- 30g of protein to help curb your hunger, as a mid-day snack or for post workout recovery; includes all essential amino acids
- 24 Vitamins and Minerals: Support a healthy immune system as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle (Antioxidants Vitamins C and E + Zinc), 50% daily value of calcium and 30% daily value of Vitamin D to help maintain healthy bones
- Guilt free indulgence: 1g Sugar, 5g Carbs, 160 Calories and Low Fat; Gluten Free, No Soy Ingredients; Keto and Bariatric Friendly, Kosher
- NOTICE: Use this product as a food supplement only. Do not use for weight reduction
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I’ve had good luck with a premier protein shake paired with a Nature Valley almond butter biscuit. Got both of these from Costco - I think it’s around 25ish carbs all together. I’ve never been a breakfast eater and definitely don’t cook in the morning but I can put these down pretty easy.
The biscuits are legit good, not just GD good. They’re excellent paired with a glass of milk but I can’t do that in the AM. The protein shakes are super good too - cookies and cream is my fave. They mix super well with cold brew coffee for a fake out latte.
https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Breakfast-Biscuits-Sandwich-Filling/dp/B01BK9MXZE
Reading this book honestly changed how I felt about GD entirely. It helped me really understand some good eating options, how to mix and match, and be confident in my ability to diet control. Is it a major bummer that I can't give in to every craving now (hello, milkshakes, french toast, and kids cereal)? yep. Do I love how I have been feeling (and looking!) since I've switched to the GD diet? absolutely. As others have said, I am looking forward to keeping control of my weight gain and hopefully having an easier time after LO is here losing it all again.
Good luck! You've got this!
That's really awesome of you to stick by her. Honestly you do get to eat a lot of options, you just can't wash down chocolate cake with a milkshake. I know you said you couldn't find a lot of good resources out there book-wise but I am a fan of Dr. Kleiner and her book The Good Mood Diet because a lot of the same ideas apply for diabetes. Mostly eat a carb with a fat and a protein so that all three can work together.
Good luck to you guys!
So for the record, I didn’t use this one specifically, it’s just the first one I saw: link
From the photo, the bright blue things are lancets - they’re basically the needles that go into your fingers. You’ll want to alternative fingers when testing - that helps prevent scarring (if you reuse them too much, it’ll get dull which causes the scarring). New lancet per blood draw. You’ll want to take the blood from the sides of the finger (though idk why) - too far to the side though and it’ll hurt more than necessary.
The test strips (here’s a closer look) are what reads your blood after pricking your finger. The side with the arrow goes into the machine and you’ll want the strip in the machine before you draw the blood (other side of strip, in the middle). Not sure if it was my machine being finicky, but I had to angle it a certain way so the blood wasn’t drawn up too quickly or the machine would throw up an error - you’ll have to play around with that. The strips are really the most expensive part in all of this (there’s bits of gold in it) but it’s also the bit you can’t reuse.
The silver pen looking thing is what holds the lancet. You basically open it like a pen and put a lancet in before recapping. You’ll probably have numbers - the lower the number, the less the lancet comes out (shallower prick), the higher the number, the more the needle comes out (deeper prick / if you develop calluses).
Ideal, by the books method of using it is alcohol swab the finger/area you will prick. Put a new lancet into the pen thing. Turn on machine and put the strip in. Immediately prick, squeeze blood out, dip the strip into the puddle of blood and wait the 1-2 seconds for your result (or notification of error...in which case you repeat the dipping with a new test strip). Clean and bandage your finger.
You’ll want most tests under 140. Occasional blips are ok (ie your baby shower and gender reveal are ok) but don’t make it a daily thing.
The meals don’t have to be full sit down meals - 3 normal meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) + 3 snacks in between...which is a lot easier said than done in the beginning. After like a week, I found myself constantly starving so that made eating a lot easier (ofc then I found myself staring longingly at my food and waiting for the next meal to come).
For tracking purposes, I found glucose buddy to be great. I jotted down what I ate in the notes section and at the end of the week, you can download a report with your numbers and your meals come up as little footnotes.
Edit: as an aside, the monitor comes with a pouch for you to put everything into. There’s a mesh zipper pocket on one side (for bandaids, alcohol pads, lancets) and elastic bands on the other. Both the pen and monitor goes alongside the spine, the test strips stay in the container it comes in and goes perpendicular to the spine.
I eat mostly gluten free at home simply because my husband has a gluten intolerance and we don't keep much gluten in the house. You didn't ask for tips about food, so feel free to ignore this. But I've found some bean based pastas that are gf and much lower carb/higher protein and fiber than regular (gf or otherwise) pastas.
Here is one of the brands I like on Amazon. Not a good price; just wanted to provide an example. I buy it at Costco and a local grocery. https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Edamame-Spaghetti-lbs-907g/dp/B00TCUM7X2
If I use it in a dish with plenty of fat and protein (e.g, pasta with pesto and chicken or pasta carbonara with shrimp), my numbers do great. Hope this is of some use to you! Good luck :)
Basically you are looking to balance carbs and protein.
Carbs are sugars, and grains. Fibrous carbs (check the nutrition label to see how many of the carbs are fiber) are better than simple carbs (think fruits, bread, rice, and other grains). Protein carbs (nuts, beans, legumes) are also better than simple ones.
I found the app, Carb Manager, to be a god send. You type in what you ate and how much and it tells you how many carbs/fiber and protein is there. Helps you get a good feel for what portion sizes you can have of things.
General rule of thumb for amounts seems to be:
Breakfast - no more than 30 carbs
Lunch - 45 to 60 carbs
Dinner - 45 to 60 carbs
With 2-3 snacks a day at no more than 15 carbs each
You will want to wait at least 2 hours between eating (for blood sugar testing). I found that spacing my meals out more like 5-6 hours with a snack at the 3-4 hour mark worked best for me.
It was also emphasized to me that I should be EATING my carbs not DRINKING them, so no juices or sodas. (That really helped with my water intake. 😋)
All of these need protein with them. My favorite snacks are Nature valley protein bar, Special K Protein Meal Bars, and Carnation Breakfast Essentials, in addition to nuts and cheeses.
I don't know what kind of lancing device you use, but there was only one lancing device I've ever used that is by far the most painless. I have mine on a zero. It could also have something to do with the needle size. Some lancets are much bigger than others and it certainly does not make the process any easier. This fastclix accuchek is the one that I use. It was given to me by the diabetes doctor but diabetes runs in my family so I've had a wide variety of stabbers to experience and the one they gave me is by far the best. There is no pull back spring action too.
Some of these Costco bars are "granola" bars in terms of form factor but don't have any grain! Like, they have these: https://www.amazon.com/Caveman-Foods-Paleo-Friendly-Nutrition-Chocolate/dp/B00IRRJY2S which TBH are so good I had a hard time believing the carb count. These also have no grain and are also really good: https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Paleo-Bars-oz-Pack/dp/B07PPR5L4M
Yes there's definitely sugar in them...but also plenty of protein and fat.
I’m a big fan of [this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJ7DCQ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_phaMDb382RKYZ protein power. I only use one scoop and it’s 8g carbs per scoop. Tastes decent and has a ton of good reviews on Amazon!
Also, to clarify (since I was on my phone before) - I think the recommendations by diabetes professionals/educators (and most dieticians) are way above what is necessary. But if you do wind up with GD again you can expect to hear the same from them and should be ready to defend what you're doing.
From what I could tell the 175g minimum is arbitrary and based on a (faulty) assumption that basic human needs are 100g minimum + 75 for being pregnant. (see this book: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Food-Gestational-Diabetes-Conventional/dp/0986295000)
Hitting 150-160g per day has worked for me (typically with 50g of that being fiber) but if my numbers were high I'd restrict carbs further.
What I have seen is that people who have never done keto get cautioned by their doctors against going keto for the first time in the middle of a pregnancy. From your earlier comments I didn't understand that you'd been keto up until recently, and was also unsure if you were simply confusing keto diets for diabetic low carb diets - and those aren't the same at all. Keto definitely may be better for you (especially if it's worked for you in the past!) and lots of people swear by it even during pregnancy. I personally worry a little about keto's effect on organ development based on the study I linked, so I wouldn't lower my carbs to that degree even if my numbers were high, but many many people have great pregnancies and healthy babies using keto.
Sorry if my earlier comment sounded in any way dismissive of your background/experience with keto!
I did this. They sell tiny oral syringes on amazon you can fill and freeze. I used none of it in the end but felt better having it. It was my 3rd, so I just manually expressed 2ml a day.
Edit to add link
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZ4BZ15/ref=sspa_mw_detail_4?psc=1
Insurance covers my supplies and it's still cheaper to buy them off off Amazon. It's such a sham.
EDIT: I got this kit with insurance for $130 USD. Amazon is charging $56.04. Lancets are cheap for this, maybe $11 for 100? So $67 dollars vs. $130.
Cheese and these Mary’s crackers have been a godsend this week. Also the Skinny Pop popcorn is only 14 grams of carbs for 3.5 cups of popcorn and they have all sorts of flavors. Not exactly healthy but soooo nice to not be like “I’m craving something crunchy, guess I’ll have like two tortilla chips or a half of a bland ass rice cake”
i think to an extent, it’s largely out of our control due to so many variables (hormones, stress, sleep, etc.) but, i will say, i have been successfully able to bring mine down a little bit by taking magnesium every night. my last snack (usually a glass of fairlife chocolate milk) and a glass of water with magnesium mixed in, around 10-10:30 pm each night (yep, getting to the point where i set an alarm in case i fall asleep, to wake up & drink) and then dutifully wake up at 6:15-6:30 am to test.
here’s what i take. spendy but worth it:
Garden of Life Magnesium Powder
Type 1 diabetic, just visiting here-the running joke over at r/diabetes is that we never change our lancets. Most Type 1's I know, myself included, change the lancet every few months.
That being said, try a different lancet device if your's is painful. I recommend the Delica.
My leg cramps dropped by about 90% when I started taking magnesium citrate every night before bed!
This
You can buy this- it’s great! https://www.amazon.com/Care-Touch-Diabetes-Testing-Kit/dp/B076VSN7TR/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542850970&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=glucose+meter&dpPl=1&dpID=51WLUxdu5SL&ref=plSrch
Comes with all you need!
Based on what I've seen on here, I think most of these questions are dependent on your provider, and are great things to ask during your phone call!
For me: