Pregnant Type II struggling to control it at work. Help. page

[shema]

Hi everyone. I could use some advice. I’m a pregnant Type II diabetic. It just so happens to be that the second half of my pregnancy is coinciding with an especially hectic time at my workplace. In the past week, I’ve been in non-stop meetings with my boss, and when lunch rolls around she drags me to the cafeteria with her where there is hardly anything suitable for me to eat as a Type II. Most items are carb-laden junk (I'm not opposed to healthy carbs but again, what's available is junk) and what’s not carb laden junk is off limits during pregnancy and I refuse to take any risks (i.e. processed meats, tuna salad, etc.). A few times I’d mentioned that I wanted to run out to grab some lunch and my boss would say “no, there’s not enough time - just eat salad”.

I simply can’t survive on just salad through the long, hectic days.

I would cook more to bring with me as I've done in the past before I was pregnant...although it’s been very hard this time around. I came down with a terrible virus a few weeks ago and I’m still recovering. So the combination of being sick, pregnant, and exhausted, not to mention being run ragged at work leaves me completely sapped of energy when I get home. I have no family nearby who can help me through this challenging period...

Does anyone have advice on what I can do to make things more manageable w/o having to “out” myself as a Type II at work? Any quick and easy sources of protein I can bring with me to supplement my salads or snack on that don't require a lot of prep time? Note: For quite some time I'd been bringing hard boiled eggs with me but after months of doing this I'm absolutely SICK of them. I'm also avoiding canned goods due to BPA.

I’ll really appreciate any advice since I'm feeling very overwhelmed. Thanks for listening!

[Dr. Bork Bork]

I'm T2 pregnant as well. At first I thought "Where's her mate? Can't he help?" then I thought "Hard boiled eggs" then I thought "Protein powder". The latter has been a saving grace for me lately. That & cottage cheese. I've been using Sun Warrior Raw Vegan Warrior Blend with franken-coconut or almond milk (hey it's low carb). For breakfast I'll add grass fed heavy cream and it keeps me full a good long time. I've also been enjoying cheese (0g carb). High fat cottage cheese would be a good option to keep in your fridge too. I probably sound like a broken record, but I love Kalona supernatural products (4% cottage cheese included). Greek yogurt as well. Fage total or Better Whey of Life. Chobani is my #3 choice.

[onalark]

Jerky, shredded coconut, and nuts come to mind. If you think you can do it, maybe drink cans of (full fat) coconut milk?

If you've got a work fridge, then roast up a batch of sweet potatoes and bring them to work. Those with butter have a good caloric impact, and prep and cook time is minimal.

But honestly -- it sounds like your boss is being a jerk and putting your job above your health. Kindly tell her to fuck off, you're pregnant. I'm lucky in this case: I have an awesome lady-boss who has been pregnant and knows what it's like. She was VERY understanding of my situation and didn't pressure me if I was feeling exhausted or pukey. And I, too, work a high-stress job with a lot of meetings and constant iteration from outside "customers".

If you think your boss is going to give you flack, contact your HR department (if you have one) to find out what your lunch "rules" are. I know in California if you're hourly, they cannot require you to "work through" a lunch, and they HAVE to give you 30 minutes of unedited free time.

I don't know if you live in the USA or what, but for your sanity and health, and the health of your child, I'd find a way to politely tell your boss to step off when it comes to lunchtime. Barring that, go above her -- but there should be a reasonable way to say, "Hi. You want me to be at my best, right? Well, I need 30-45 minutes to hunt up some food so I have the energy, as a knocked up lady, to finish out my day and give my job the focus it deserves."

Even hardline execs acknowledge the need for a regular "break" from work. There are plenty of studies that have shown that getting away from the job for even 15 minutes makes you a better worker. Inmates get a lunch break. Why shouldn't you?

[shema]

Hi guys, thanks for your support...regarding hubby and helping, well honestly he's absolutely, pathetically clueless in the kitchen. It IS highly annoying. He also works long hours. The best he can do is pick up take out. But the last thing I want to do right know is fill up on unknown preservatives, unhealthy oils, etc. that take out is typically laden with. I do appreciate the advice on cheese and Greek Yogurt. I have been eating tons of greek yogurt. But if I go crazy with dairy, cheese, etc. it leads to constipation which is the last thing I need right now. Breakfast is the easiest meal of the day for me b/c I can quickly whip something up at home and I have been doing that...usually fried or scrambled eggs and, as you note, smoothies with organic berries and grass fed heavy cream...but I'm screwed when it comes to everything between breakfast and dinner (which is usually late).

And regarding telling my boss to chill out, I really wish I could. But it was incredibly stressful just to tell her I was pregnant b/c i knew she was not going to be thrilled. Before I'd told her about my pregnancy she'd openly complained to me about other pregnant employees that were "conveniently knocked up" so they could go out on leave. Even upper management seemed visibly troubled when I shared my "good news". And I doubt my HR will be of much help...certainly if they say something to her, it will taint our working relationship. Sadly, I work in a place that pays a lot of lip service to employee health and well being but the culture is unbelievably workaholic. And given the economy these days, there's this unspoken understanding that we're all expected to deal with it or go elsewhere if we can't...

[teach2183]

I also had the "where's the father, can't he help though." Barring that, do you have mor energy on the weekends? Bake some chicken and cut into strips. You can then freeze some for W/Th/F, keep the rest in the fridge for M/Tu. Take one portion with you each day. If you don't have access to a fridge at work, find a small cooler bag with an ice pack to keep everything cold. You could even do this with other meats - steak, pork, turkey. Throw in some veggies, maybe some full fat yogurt and that should be good. And I highly recommend using a crockpot to cook your evening meals during the week or at least prep your meals for the end of the week so you don't have to worry about anything when you get home either.

[onalark]

And regarding telling my boss to chill out, I really wish I could. But it was incredibly stressful just to tell her I was pregnant b/c i knew she was not going to be thrilled. Before I'd told her about my pregnancy she'd openly complained to me about other pregnant employees that were "conveniently knocked up" so the could go out on leave.

Okay, I'll just say it because this makes me go red with fury: WHAT A BITCH.

Argh. Seriously. WTF?

I wish many daughters upon her.

[Dr. Bork Bork]

But if I go crazy with dairy, cheese, etc. it leads to constipation which is the last thing I need right now.

Miralax, prunes, and dark chocolate can help with that problem

I've been having constipation issues cuz I've gone from veggie junkie to veggie aversion (it's a texture issue. This kid is Jewish. I'm convinced. I've developed a bacon aversion, too. Smells great, but I gag when I try to chew any). Started taking Miralax once every other day with a prune or a square of dark chocolate and got me going again.

[shema]

Okay, I'll just say it because this makes me go red with fury: WHAT A BITCH.

LOL! Thanks for your support. It IS really frustrating. I wish I lived somewhere else like Europe where women supposedly get something along the lines of paid year long maternity leave with job security n' all. I mean I already have nosy coworkers asking me how long I'll be on leave for, etc. Sigh.

Dr. Bork: I'm scared of Miralax. B/c I've seemed to fluctuate between constipation OR, um, er, loose stools. (TMI I know.)
Do prunes spike your blood sugars? Aren't they a concentrated source of sugar? If I remember correctly you are not on insulin, right? I am also not on insulin although my endo keeps pushing it with overzealous determination. Do you mind my asking what your post prandials are like?

[emmie]

I was concerned by your comment that you don't want to 'out' yourself at work as a Type2. Just what kind of a workplace is this? Diabetes isn't leprosy, and there's no reason that you can't be frank about your nutritional needs.

As to your boss's previous comments about pregnant employees, I would have already been talking to someone in HR about her because you should protect yourself against any retaliation during your own leave.

Both her remarks and the lunchtime issues are not something that you should tolerate.

[Dr. Bork Bork]

Do prunes spike your blood sugars? Aren't they a concentrated source of sugar? If I remember correctly you are not on insulin, right? I am also not on insulin although my endo keeps pushing it with overzealous determination. Do you mind my asking what your post prandials are like?

I only eat 1 prune and take the miralax with it (I do 1 packet of miralax with 30 oz of water. Super diluted. Only take it every other day or as needed). I haven't tested after eating a prune, but I don't feel like I get a spike. After meals, though, my sugars are generally pretty good. It's my fasting sugars in the morning that suck an elf.
I get the sunsweet prunes in the yellow bag. There's only 5g carb per prune.
Oh, and, yes, I'm drug free. My endo was super impressed with my last hA1c and I hope to keep it equally low when I see her again on the 30th. Trying to stay insulin free for as long as possible.
I expressed to her that I feel like going back on drugs makes me feel like I have failed. She reassured me that having insulin resistance is actually a really good thing. If you don't get a little bit resistant, it means the baby isn't growing. Of course we want our baby to grow! Maybe it's CW nonsense, but I'll accept it to help lessen the emotional blow of "failing"

Anyway... after I had my daughter, 4 years ago, I had nightmarish poops. I didn't go for more than a week after she was born. Colase did NOTHING. Prunes and chocolate milk did the trick.