Gestational Diabetes Diet - Know about the Plan to follow

23 Apr

Posted by admin as Diabetes Diet

Gestational (jes-ta-shun-ull) diabetes is when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high while you are pregnant. Gestational diabetes often goes away after the baby is born. But, you may get diabetes later if you have diabetes during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes, also known as gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM, or diabetes during pregnancy, is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. If a woman gets diabetes when she is pregnant, but never had it before, then she has gestational diabetes.

An overall gestational diabetes diet plan takes into account the physical, psychosocial, and educational requirements. For the woman with this form of diabetes reliance on her health care providers to help manage her condition is vitally important. Her registered dietician has the primary responsibility for developing and teaching her the individualized dietary plan that will work best for her

Eat and drink at least 4 servings of dairy products and calcium-rich foods a day to help ensure that you are getting 1200 mg. of calcium in your daily diet. Sources of calcium include dairy products, some nuts, green vegetables and foods and beverages fortified with calcium, such as calcium-fortified, unsweetened ready-to-eat cereals.

Foods that are high in carbohydrates provide energy, minerals, and vitamins. Food sources of complex carbohydrates and fiber are fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, dried beans and peas, and lentils and legumes. Meals should be eaten at approximately the same time every day.

Cereals and grains: Serving sizes of ready-to-eat cereals vary. Look at the serving size and the total carbohydrate amount listed on the food label. Each serving of food listed below contains about 15 g of carbohydrate .

• Three-fourths of a cup of unsweetened, ready-to-eat cereal or one-fourth cup of low-fat granola.

• One-half cup of cooked cereal or oatmeal.

• One-third cup of pasta or rice.

A gestational diabetes diet plan will always include a snack before bedtime. This snack will ensure that your blood sugar levels stay within the acceptable range over night. Also, sometimes a gestational diabetes diet will include snacks in the morning, or throughout the day. Eat at the same times each day if at all possible. This will allow your body to settle into a schedule, and become used to the appropriate amount of calories that your body takes in.

Milk is a healthy choice, but in moderation. Since milk is high in lactose, a simple sugar, drinking more than two or three glasses a day may do you more harm than good. Other sources of calcium are available. Try for example club soda with a squeeze of lemon or orange, or unsweetened decaffeinated iced tea.

Slowly increasing your activity level, exercise, is also a good way to keep your glucose levels normal. Always remember however to consult with your doctor to see how intense your exercise can be. Intense exercise can be harmful for gestational diabetes.

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