In most cases, after you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you start testing your blood sugar 4 times a day. You might have noticed that your fasting blood sugar and the 1-2 hr postprandial after breakfast are the hardest numbers to control. It’s not your imagination. And it’s not your fault either. Your hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day and night. Early mornings are when the hormones that cause insulin resistance are the highest. But if you’re looking for gestational diabetes breakfast ideas, don’t worry. I’ve gotcha covered!
The general recommendation for a gestational diabetes breakfast is between 30 and 45 grams of carbohydrate. You’ll have to play around with it to see how your body responds though. Sometimes fruit can be difficult to handle for breakfast but fine other times of the day. If you want to try fruit in the morning, try choosing something that’s higher in fiber. All berries are good sources of fiber, but raspberries have the most. 1 cup of raspberries has 8 grams of fiber! And it’s 1 carb serving. Adding protein to fruit can help slow the blood sugar spike. So, raspberries and cottage cheese with whole wheat toast on the side would be a great option. You’ll get additional fiber in the whole wheat toast too.
I would caution you against solely following the glycemic index chart though. Since foods are usually part of a bigger meal or snack, it’s the total glycemic load that influences blood sugar more that the glycemic index. That’s why when you combine high glycemic index fruits like bananas or watermelon with protein, you can make them work as part of your gestational diabetes diet. Everyone’s body responds a little bit differently though. You might have to do a little detective work to find out what works for you. That’s why it’s so important to keep a gestational diabetes food and blood sugar log. It can be an important tool in helping you make tweaks to your diet and spot trends.
If fruit doesn’t work for you in the morning, don’t worry. There are plenty of other creative gestational diabetes breakfast ideas to try. Scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, and veggies inside a whole wheat pita is something different. A breakfast wrap that includes scrambled eggs, veggies, cheese, and even potatoes could work. Make sure to read the label on the tortilla though. Tortillas come in a lot of different sizes. Obviously, the bigger it is, the more carbohydrates it will have. Choosing corn over flour tortillas can also make a difference. Corn tortillas are lower in carbohydrate and higher in fiber. Low-carb tortillas are another option.
My recommendation is to be willing to experiment and try different options until you find the ones that work for you. Combining carbs with protein and fat will help to control the blood sugar response. What gestational diabetes breakfast ideas work for you? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to download a gestational diabetes food and blood sugar log to keep track of what works and what doesn’t.
