My newborn was diagnosed with G6PD deficiency, and from what the doctor told me, only fava beans, chinese herbs should be avoided. But as I searched online, turns out all legumes aka beans are best avoided, including soy bean products, bitter gourds, and the list goes on.

It seems kinda troubling, so how do you cope with that?

it ain't all black and white with G6PD deficiency........

there are levels of deficiency.......

some tolerate a wide list of food and beans, some don't.

Remember that what the doctors advice is always more to avoid further damage, not to improve your life further.

So fava beans, moth balls, chinese herbs and certain malaria medicine can REALLY harm a boy with G6PD deficiency. The list the doctor gives MUST MUST MUST avoid.

The other food is harmful more in the same way that lots of sugar and salt is bad for you. We all know that sugar and salt will eventually cause diabetes and high blood pressure, but we still eat it right? So if you're going to feed your baby sugar and salt, makes no difference if you also feed him legumes and stuff. I'd say, as long as you're not giving your baby sugar and salt, then don't give legumes and whatever, but when you start introducing sugar and salt, then might as well start introducing all the other foods in the same small amounts, and just keep monitoring his behaviour/reactions to the foods, and moderate them like you would moderate sugar and salt.

For my boy, doctor only advise us to avoid moth ball, fava beans and certain chinese medicine/herbs. Didn't get further long list of stuff to avoid.

Anyway, we avoid fragrances and freshener as well. Though it may not be related to G6PD, but that is not good for small baby.

We actually did let him consume chinese herba soup (those very general kind). Did asked doctor before, he said not totally reject chinese herbs/medicine. As long as you know what he is consuming, that should be fine. Meaning, you can try but if ever he gets into "difficulty", at least you know which ingredient he should avoid. So far, he is ok with herb soup. But we never let him take chinese medicine.

As for beans, he is ok with all sorts of kacang and soya bean too. We restricted him from fava bean totally.

On moth ball, he never touch and we avoid letting him get to near with it (say at shopping mall shelves). But once in a while he come across places with expose moth ball nearby.. so far ok.

He is now 8 years old. Touch wood, never encounter anything and he well accepted our explanation that moth ball and fava bean can kill him.

Should guide him when he goes to public toilet himself. Most of public toilet sure will put moth ball. Must keep remind him on do & dont.

thanks for the input guys. I guess I am overreacting over the matter. Hopefully everything will go well for my baby, as my wife and I didn't know she was a carrier.

This will only be passed to boys.. Girls won't have it. G6pd can varies from different people on reactions to certain food.. Chinese herb, Fava, almond, Hazel nuts.. These are the top avoided food by me.. Soya beans, bittergout, pistachio, peanuts are fine on me..

I beg to differ, I'm a girl and I have G6PD.
Tried all types of nuts including fava beans, no effect on me.
But I do feel dizzy if I smell moth balls, so I guess it does varies from person to person.

TS don't be too worried

I have G6PD too. But I am okay with nuts and mothballs. Basically immune to everything.

It is a cumulative effect, folks, not an immediate thing. LoL It's like saying I eat sugar everyday, and I'm totally healthy!

Errr, diabetes is a silent killer and you will not see its affects unless you keep eating lots and lots and lots of sugar. You only will know you have diabetes if you go test. G6PD is also a silent problem. You won't feel any issue unless you keep eating fava beans every single day. Moth balls are more powerful than fava beans, so yes, you would feel it more quickly than with fava beans.

If your doctor doesn't realize that you have diabetes/G6PD when you go into an operating theater for operation and plan the operation with your condition in mind... You might not come out of the operating theater alive.

If you're really sick due to something else, diabetes/G6PD can make recovery more difficult. So please DO avoid things on the list when sick, even if you don't want to avoid them when you're completely healthy. Also, always make sure to remind your doctor about the G6PD, whenever they are about to recommend some medicine/treatment/whatever.