Who knows anything about blood sugar?

[thepeach80]

I know these is some debate about whether GD is a real thing or not, I don't want to go there. I've been having light headed spells the past 3 days or so and I'm pretty sure it's directly linked to my blood sugar. I have my GD test in a week if I don't call and see if it needs to be moved up. I never had any problems w/ AJ so I'm not sure what to do. Does anyone have any tips or diets I can look at. I know I'm bad at eating at regular intervals to keep things steady which may be part of the problem. I worked when I was pg last time so I had a set breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner pattern, this time I don't. I would love any insight from those who have been there and I know we have some more medically minded people on here too. Thanks!

[pamamidwife]

it doesn't sound like you have an issue with high blood sugar, but low.

i'd try eating every hour and a half to two hours. whatever you eat, make sure protein is in the combination. avoid sugary or simple carb snacks - you'll take a nosedive after them.

it's really important to eat often - not just for your sake, but for your baby's too. your low blood sugar will directly affect your baby - and right now your baby's central nervous system is developing quickly and needs blood sugar maintained.

feed your baby like you would a newborn - as often. eat lots of protein, mama!

also, that GD test will be hell on someone like you. be sure that all they're doing is a one hour test...take some protein with you to eat after the test and make sure that someone else comes with you to the test.

[thepeach80]

Thanks. I remember the test last time, it was awful. I felt so light headed and sick after drinking that stuff. Do you have any suggestions on good snacks and things to eat? I'm bad at picking foods by what they contain etc. I usually just eat what I want and it's obviously not working this time.

[pamamidwife]

Good protein snacks include stuff like:

Celery with peanut butter or Laughing Cow cheese
Bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter
Almonds, walnuts, pecans, or cashews
Yogurt (look for a higher protein count with less sugar)
Almond or peanut butter on toast
Luna bars, Cliff Bars, Power bars, etc.
Smoothie with milk and yogurt - easy to mix up with fruit and ice
Popcorn with brewer's yeast sprinkled on it (it tastes like cheesy popcorn!)
Refried beans on a tortilla


Here is my protein list handout that I give clients:

BREADS (serving count is one slice or one item)
Bagel11 gEnglish Muffin, enriched 4.5 g
Pita pocket 4.0 gBread crumbs, 1 cup12.6 g
French toast 5.7 gLg enriched waffle7.0 g

CEREAL
Rolled oats, 1 cup13.0 gToasted wheat germ, 1/4 c8.3 g
Cooked oatmeal, 1 cup6.0 g

DAIRY
Cheddar cheese, 1 oz7.1 gCottage cheese, 2%, 1 cup31.0 g
Monterey Jack, 1 oz6.9 gMozarella, part skim, 1 oz 6.9 g
Parmasean, 1 oz10.0 gRicotta, whole, 1 cup27.7g
Ricotta, part skim, 1 cup28.0 gEgg nog, 1 cup9.7g
Milk, 2% lowfat, 1 cup8.1 gMilk, skim, 1 cup8.4 g
Soy milk, 1 cup6.6 gYogurt, plain lowfat, 1 cup11.9 g
Yogurt, plain, whole, 1 cup7.9 g
Egg - boiled6.1 gEgg - fried5.4 g

FISH/SEAFOOD
Bass, baked, 4 oz23.6 gCarp, cooked, 3 oz19.4 g
Clams, steamed, 3 oz21.7 gCrab, moist heat, 3 oz16.5 g
Halibut, baked, 3 oz22.7 gLobster, steamed, 3 oz17.4 g
Oysters, steamed, 3 oz12.0 gSalmon, pink, cooked, 3 oz16.8 g
Salmon, poached, 3 oz23.3 gShrimp, steamed, 3 oz17.8 g
Shrimp, breaded/fried, 3oz18.2 gSole, fillet, frozen, 4 oz18.0 g
Trout, baked, 3 oz22.4 gTuna, oil packed, 3 oz24.8 g
Tuna, water packed, 3 oz25.1 g

FRUIT / VEGETABLES
Pear, dried, 10 halves3.3 gPeach, dried, 10 halves4.7 g
Raisins, 1 cup packed5.3 gPeas, green, 1/2 cup4.2 g
Potato, baked w/skin, 1 lg4.7 gSoybean sprouts, raw, 1 c9.0 g
Avocado, 14.0 g

LEGUMES (all servings are 1 cup)
Refried beans15.8 gGarbanzo, cooked14.5 g
Kidney beans, canned13.3 gLentils, cooked17.9 g
Baby lima beans, cooked14.6 gNavy beans, canned19.7 g
Peas, split, cooked16.0 gPinto beans, cooked14.0 g
Soybeans, cooked28.6 g

MEATS
Ground beef, lean, 4 oz28.0 gGround beef, reg, 4 oz27.3 g
Beef liver, 4 oz27.6 gBeef round steak, 4 oz22.0 g
Beef T-bone steak, 4 oz29.0 gChicken, roasted, 3.5 oz28.0 g
Turkey, roasted, 3.5 oz28.6 gLamb chops, 4 oz25.5 g
Lamb, leg of, 4 oz32.0 gBacon, 3 slices5.8 g
Canadian bacon, 2 slices11.7 gBoneless ham, 3.5 oz18.5 g
Rabbit, 3 oz28.0 gVenison, 4 oz34.2 g

NUTS / SEEDS
Almond butter, 1 Tbs2.4 gAlmonds, 1 oz4.6 g
Cashew butter, 1 oz5.0 gCashews, 1 oz4.4 g
Coconut milk, raw, 1 cup5.5 gCoconut, shredded, 1 cup2.8 g
Hazelnuts, 1 oz3.7 gMacademia nuts, 1 oz2.4 g
Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 oz6.6 gPeanut butter, chunky 2 Tb7.7 g
Peanut butter, creamy, 1 Tb4.6 gPecans, 1 oz2.2 g
Pumpkin/squash, 1 oz7.0 gSoybeans, dry roasted, 1/2c 34.0 g
Sunflower seeds, 1 oz6.5 gMiso soup, 1 cup32.6 g
Brewer's Yeast, 1 oz11.0 gSoybean protein powder,1oz17.8 g
Tofu, firm 3 oz5.5 g

[pamamidwife]

Sorry the formatting is all messed up on that - there should be two columns there, but they're squished together.

[thepeach80]

Thanks so much! I just feel I have so much to watch now. I have to make sure my son doesn't eat anything w/ milk in it or soy protein and I'm thinking of cutting out all major dairy in the 3rd trimester and now this. Too many things all at once that I have no idea about. The brewer's yeast on the popcorn made me laugh b/c I always thought my brewer's yeast pills tasted like a choco/pb flavor.

[Lisa Lubner]

as salaam alaykum

i don't know what the test was called... but i'm hypoglycemic and i took some test where you eat a big meal and then get your blood taken two hours later. no fasting/sugar drink disaster (that's like blood sugar suicide for a hypoglycemic). maybe you can ask your doc/midwife about it and rearrange your appointment.

[thepeach80]

Thanks! I'll call today and see what they say. I really hate that test.