Gestational Diabetes Diet
A medical condition causing high blood glucose levels in women during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. Hormonal changes occur in all women at the time of pregnancy and gestational diabetes results due to such changes. The obstetrician or nutritionist may give the woman a gestational diabetes diet to follow during pregnancy.
This being said, it doesn’t mean all women acquire this condition during pregnancy. A condition called insulin resistance occurs due to a rise in levels of specific hormones in the placenta. These hormones interfere with the insulin’s ability to control glucose level. In general, a woman’s placenta produces more insulin to make up for this problem. Gestational diabetes occurs when the placenta is unable to produce more insulin.
Here are few tips sbout a gestational diabetes diet that could prove helpful during pregnancy:
Carbohydrates in Diet during Pregnancy
It’s important for the pregnant woman to control her carbohydrate intake during pregnancy when she has gestational diabetes. This is because carbohydrates greatly affect the glucose levels in the body as they break down to glucose during the process of digestion. Women with gestational diabetes should make sure they eat enough protein and fat during each meal along with a limited amount of carbohydrates.
Develop Healthy Eating Habits:
1) Make sure to eat 3 small meals everyday alone with 2-3 snacks in between meals. Eat the food at the right time and avoid skipping any snacks or meals.
2) Insulin resistance is the greatest during morning hours. Make sure to eat less amount of carbohydrate during breakfast compared to any other meal.
3) During each snack and meal, have a consistent amount of carbs.
4) If the pregnant woman is suffering from morning sickness, she could have a small amount of pretzels, cereals, or crackers before getting out of bed to help alleviate morning sickness symptoms. Avoid deep fried, fatty or greasy food and have frequent, small meals throughout the day.
5) Food that is high in fiber like pasta, rice, fruits, cereals, whole-grain bread, and vegetables are highly recommended.
6) Avoid food with high fat or sugar content.
7) Enough minerals and vitamins are required to maintain your health in good condition. The pregnant woman could ask her healthcare provider to prescribe supplements during pregnancy for your nutritional needs.
More Guidelines for Gestational Diabetes Diet
- Pregnant women need a minimum of 1200mg of calcium in their diet every day. This can be achieved by having 4 servings of calcium rich food or dairy products every day. Eggs, green vegetables, and unsweetened cereals are rich in calcium.
- 30 mg of iron is required in her dietary supplement every day. Leafy vegetables, poultry, fish, and eggs have rich iron content.
- Tomatoes, oranges, strawberries, honeydew, and grapefruits are rich in vitamin C. At least include one source of vitamin C in the diet.
Follow the above mentioned gestational diabetes diet rules and make sure you have a healthy pregnancy.