What Should You Eat When You’re on a Gestational Diabetes Diet Plan?

Are you aware of what gestational diabetes is? Diabetes diagnosed while in your pregnancy period is gestational diabetes.

It is most common in 7% of pregnant women. Gestational diabetes usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy and is over after the baby’s birth. However, if not treated well, the one who has gestational diabetes may be prone to complications.

The first step to counter this condition is planning a proper diet to control your blood sugar levels in the normal range. Eating healthy and controlled blood sugar levels helps deliver healthy babies without complications.

How to control your blood sugar levels? The best way to go about it is to monitor the intake of carbohydrates in your diet. Carbs turn into blood glucose inside the body. Glucose serves as the fuel for your body and nourishment that the baby receives from the mother. But it is crucial to gain proper glucose levels in the body.

Let’s read through this blog to understand the types of food moms with gestational diabetes should include in their diets.

Who is at Risk?

Experts say that anyone can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. However, certain factors increase the probabilities of risk. Here is a list of those factors.

• Age (older than 25 years)
• Obesity
• Inactivity
• Heart disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Family History of Gestational Diabetes
• Previous baby weight nine pounds or more
• Having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Gestational Diabetes during Past Pregnancies
• Race (being Asian American, Native American, Black or Hispanic).

What Foods Should You Eat?

The basic diet that gestational diabetic women should follow includes protein intake with every meal. Fruits and vegetables are necessary. You should avoid having processed food and be mindful of the quantities of food you eat.

Basic Healthy Diet

A healthy balanced diet can help reduce the effects of gestational diabetes and manage its symptoms without medication. A balanced combination of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats is what you’re aiming for. However, too many carbohydrates in your diet can spike your blood sugar levels.

If you crave carbs, ensure that you have only the good, complex kinds, such as whole grains, starchy veggies, legumes, etc.

Consult your doctor, who’d recommend a dietician to plan your gestational diabetes diet for proper treatment and health of both you and your baby.

Nutrients

Target your meals in ways that include proteins, healthy fats, and fibre. Limit the intake of processed foods and have a lot of fresh foods. It is normal to have different food cravings, and French Fry craving is quite understandable!

So, keep your options open and choose from satiating food choices that are rich in protein and can satisfy your food craving. This way, you’re less likely to crave less nutritious items.

Additionally, carbohydrate tolerance varies from person to person. However, the ideal amount of carbohydrates for a pregnant woman who has gestational diabetes is below 40%, promoting optimal blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrate needs and tolerance depends on your medical condition. Factors like medication use, body weight, and blood sugar levels determine your carbs requirement and tolerance.

Consult your doctor and dietician to develop a balanced diet catering to your health-specific requirements.

Snacks and Meals

Snacks help stabilize the blood sugar levels. Do not hesitate to eat many fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. Veggies can be raw, roasted, or steamed. You can have them in any way you like.

Other snack items, such as oatmeal, unsweetened coconut, turkey or chicken breasts, sweet potato toast, baked fish, unsweetened Greek yogurt with sunflower seeds, etc., are incredible healthy choices.

All you have to do is keep the quantities to sufficient levels.

The Bottom Line

Managing gestational diabetes with a proper and healthy balanced diet becomes super easy. All you need to do is follow the guidelines strictly and blend them to your tastes and preferences. Additionally, steer clear of fried food, fast food, sodas, candies, and processed carbs.

The main goal is to sustain easy to manage and stress-free habits during pregnancy.