Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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- Remember to eat regularly, have 3 meals and 2-3 snacks per day to help keep control of your blood glucose levels
- Keep hydrated with 8 to 10 sugar-free drinks per day
- Start with your normal high protein breakfast to stabilise your blood glucose readings
- With starters, choose a protein-based starter such as smoked mackerel dip or slices of Parma ham, mozzarella and tomatoes, or garlic mushrooms with cheese
- For Christmas dinner, have extra meat/nut roast and vegetables, sausages in bacon are also good protein choices
- Choose moderate amounts of potato, such as 2 egg sized roast potatoes and an egg sized piece of stuffing
- Condiments such as cranberry/bread sauce can cause your blood sugars to increase, so just have a small amount such as a dessert spoon full
- Add butter, walnuts and bacon to partly cooked sprouts and fry them together, these won’t give you high glucose readings
- For dessert, have it straight after your main meal, choose a small portion and add cream to slow down the release of glucose
- Prioritise the sweet Christmas foods, have a small amount of your favourite one and have it straight after your meal, which will slow down how quickly the sugar is released
- High fat foods take longer to absorb than foods just high in sugar, so a small amount of chocolate would have less effect on your levels than sweets such as jelly babies
- Make up a treat box for after baby has been born, with your favourite Christmas treats such as individual chocolates - so you know it will be there for later
- For restaurant visits, check the menu in advance where possible to find out the best choices
- Keep to your regular meal pattern for the rest of the day and have a small snack such as a piece of fruit or small bowl of soup beforehand, so that you’re not ravenous when you arrive to choose your meal
- Remember that a Christmas walk after a big meal can help improve your glucose levels
- Foods to take care with are chocolate, sweets, Christmas cake, panettone, white bread; sugary drinks including fizzy, smoothies, fruit juice; crackers – have a few wholegrain ones, mince pies – choose the smallest ones or make your own using sweetener and less pastry
- Foods to choose for snacks: nuts, pretzels, twiglets, plain popcorn, a piece of fruit, half a toasted teacake, piece of malt loaf, cheese and wholemeal crackers (any cheese apart from blue veined, unpasteurised, soft ripened or goats)
- Dessert idea: Trifle using sugar free jelly, standard cream and home-made custard, topped with flaked almonds
- Custard: Add 20 g cornflour, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 5 tsp granulated sweetener to 2 tbsp cold milk and stir until smooth. Boil 250 ml milk in a saucepan, then add the cornflour mixture stirring constantly until thickened. If using for trifle, allow to cool
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We hope this is helpful and wish you a very
Happy Christmas!
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.
About this information
Service:
Dietetics
Reference:
DT/017
Approval date:
1 December 2025
Review date:
1 December 2028
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.