Gestational Diabetes Diet: Keep You and Your Baby Healthy

Gestational diabetes is found in pregnant women; the name gestational. It is characterized by elevated blood sugar that normalizes after birth. Gestational diabetes is temporary and usually resolves on its own.

During pregnancy, the need of the body to produce insulin increases to keep blood sugar level in check. When a pregnant woman lacks insulin production in sufficient quantity, it results in diabetes referred to as gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes can affect the mother and the developing child. These problems can continue after birth as well. Early detection and appropriate management of blood sugar levels can help in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes for the mother and the child.

The most effective way of managing gestational diabetes is to ensure effective monitoring and control of blood sugar levels. For this purpose, quick blood sugar test kits are most helpful. Simple lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and a special gestational diabetes diet to lower the levels of blood sugar in the body help a lot in controlling this problem.

In severe cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to immediately control the level of blood sugar. In emergency cases, an insulin shot can be prescribed as well since elevated blood sugar levels can cause other complications during critical conditions or delivery. Let’s hope the following can help to avoid these concerns.

What is a Gestational Diabetes Diet?

The most viable and effective method to help with gestational diabetes is a carefully planned diet referred to as the gestational diabetes diet. Women experiencing gestational diabetes can benefit from consuming this diet; that is balanced and healthy and caters the altering insulin levels. A gestational diabetes diet is only recommended for women who are not taking insulin to manage their blood sugar levels.

Diet to control gestational diabetes can include a lot of different foods known to keep blood sugar levels balanced. The labels on packaged food products can help consumers decide on foods that are more balanced and healthier for them.

Pregnant women usually wonder how to manage gestational diabetes with diet. The answer is very simple that the diet should contain a lot of complex carbs, low sugar fruits and non starchy vegetables. The quantity of healthy fatty acids and proteins should be present but in a limited amount. The presence of complex carbohydrate-rich fruits and whole-grain foods should also be present in a limited amount in such a diet. The foods to avoid at all costs include anything rich in sugars and processed foods.

Gestational Diabetes Diet Plan

An effective gestational diabetes diet plan can comprise of medium meals three times a day and also a snack for casual munching once a day. Experts advise that whichever number of meals and snacks is decided should be continued without any fail. Sometimes, the patients skip a meal to manage blood sugar levels but skipping a meal or a snack during a gestational diabetes diet plan can do more harm than good. Controlled meal portions and the number of carbs, proteins, and fats can result in better control of blood sugar levels.

An ideal way of how to manage gestational diabetes with diet is by ensuring that the food intake has the following contents in it:

• Healthy Fats

Although a gestational diabetes diet includes very few fats and oils still, healthy fats and oils in moderate amounts are essential for a gestational diabetes diet plan. The amount of intake of healthy fats should even be limited. Avoid butter, cheese, cheap cooking oils, and margarine as they are rich in highly saturated fats which are not good for blood sugar control in gestational diabetes.

• Proteins

Proteins are important for the body during pregnancy but the intake amount should be kept moderate. Lean meats and lean protein are advisable. White meat in limited quantities is also good for gestational diabetes. However, any visible fat should be removed from the meat before broiling or grilling it so that unhealthy fats are skipped during the sensitive condition.

• Fruits

Fruits are an inherent and essential part of a gestational diabetes plan. A good gestational diabetes plan allows up to 4 servings of fruits in a day. It is better to consume the whole fruit with the fibers and pulp as compared to just taking the juice part. If possible, citrus fruits should be preferred over sweet fruits. Fruit juices should be avoided but if there is no other option than drinking fruit juice, then sugar should not be added to it.

• Whole Foods

Whole foods are rich in essential minerals and vitamins. They are also an excellent source of fiber and good carbohydrates that are healthy for the gut. A gestational diabetes diet plan must include a carefully calculated quantity of whole foods to cater to the minerals and vitamin needs. Whole wheat flour should be used during pregnancy and even after it, whole wheat flour should be preferred for baking and cooking things as it is easier to digest and contributes lower calories in the bloodstream.

• Minimum Sugary Foods

Sweet foods should be avoided as much as possible in a gestational diabetes diet because desserts and candies are rich in sugars and carbohydrates. Their consumption should be limited to a very small amount. The sugar-free option in desserts and sweets is sometimes adapted by obsessed patients but it can be harmful as well because they still carry carbohydrates in them. Read the label for healthy alternatives like monk fruit or stevia to sweeten.

• Dairy Products

Dairy products are good for health unless there is a marked allergic response due to a special condition called lactose intolerance. Skimmed milk and low-fat dairy options can be utilized because dairy products contain essential minerals such as phosphorus and calcium. Products like Alive Probiotics and Digestion Specialist can often help with these issues.

• Exercise

Exercise is always advisable when we talk about preventing or managing any medical condition. Similarly, appropriate exercise can help avoid or manage gestational diabetes as well. A gestational diabetes diet can show better results if along with the gestational diabetes diet plan, an exercise routine is also incorporated into the daily routine. The exercise can be as moderate as walking. Exercise and diet control work in tandem to make it possible for pregnant women to control their blood sugar levels during and after pregnancy.

Should blood sugar remain out of balance, ask your midwife about natural, herbal Blood Sugar Complex as a way to help with insulin resistance.