I am currently 14wks,1 day pregnant with my second baby and have been getting attacks of low blood sugar. They come on very suddenly and leave me pale, shaking, sweating and dizzy. It happens without warning. I'm also noticing that I'm hungry (almost starving) not long after eating meals and getting bad headaches. I eat very healthy and otherwise feel fine. I had a couple of low blood sugar attacks with my first pregnancy but later on in the third trimester. I plan on phoning my midwife in the AM but I would love to hear some thoughts/opinions from other moms. I don't have any diabetics in my immediate family and have always been very slim and healthy. I haven't had any sudden weight gain..in fact I lost quite a bit due to severe MS (which has since subsided). Thanks!
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Keep food on hand for those low sugar times! But to help avoid getting them in the first place, don't eat any carbs that aren't complex carbohydrates. A good way to remember it is don't eat any "white" carbs: white bread, white potatoes, white rice, white tortillas, sugar. When you eat carbohydrates, make it whole grain, whole wheat, high fiber.
The other tip is to never have a carb by itself. If you have an apple, always have it with some cheese or turkey. If you have crackers, make sure they are whole wheat and have it with protein every time. The protein will slow down how quickly it all breaks down which means your body produces insulin to handle it at a more gradual rate.
In contrast, if you have a juice or a soda or even a bunch of saltine crackers by themselves, your body rushes to produce enough insulin to cover all the sugar hitting your system at once. Once the sugar is all safely processed, you're left with too much insulin sitting around with nothing to do - and you crash.
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before i was told i had gestational diabetes i was starving all the time i was having to eat continually..im only 23 and considered young to have gestational diabetes..they dont know why i have all ive ben told is that i was unlucky.. maybe you are aswell.. i get the same way when my blood sugar goes to low..i get the shakes and feel very sick..it might be a good idea to buy a blood glucose monitor you can get them for around $30 at the chemist/drug store. test your blood two hours after your main meal and try to eat at least 30-40g of carbs at each main meal.. this should be enough to steady your blood sugar out... also i would keep some sort of sweet on hand in the even that your blood sugar does go to low..eating something will bring it up quickly... having low blood sugar is just as bad as having high blood sugar.. hope that helped a little...but do make sure you tell your doc whats happening
I had this happen too.
Make sure you are eating several small meals a day. Eat foods that are high in protein such as a sandwich for a snack. Milk helps too. Avoid sugar as much as possible. The more sugar you put in the more you produce therefore your sugar level will drop.
Good foods
PB and J sandwich
Cheese and crachers
Meat and cheese sandwich or crackers
Eggs
Not female, but am diabetic, and you do sound like you have symptoms of hypoglycemia. This is something to talk to your doctor about.
Until then, make sure you are eating steadily throughout the day, have a little snack here and there and take a snack around with you just in case you start feeling woozy, some candy or non-diet soda will do the trick.
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I hear low blood sugar is bad during early pregnancy.
Please be careful!!!