Gestational diabetes diet plan
If you have been diagnosed with gestation diabetes your head is probably swimming with all of the information that you were given by your doctor. It can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. If you have forgotten what your doctor told you about a gestational diabetes diet there are a few pointers that will help you to stabilize your blood glucose and help protect the health of both you and your baby.
You should always follow what your doctor told you about a gestational diabetes diet. Usually this includes eating three small meals and two or three snacks at regular times each day. When you skip meals or snacks or you eat more often than you normally do, you will be throwing your blood glucose off and it may be hard to return to normal.
It has been found that if you eat few carbohydrates at breakfast than at other meals that you’ll have better control of your glucose. The reason for this is that insulin resistance is greatest first thing in the morning. If you eat a lower carbohydrate dense breakfast you’ll likely see better blood glucose readings throughout the day.
You should also try to eat a consistent amount of carbohydrates during each meal and snack. This will help to keep blood glucose balanced throughout the day. Your doctor will tell you how many grams of carbohydrates you will need to consume at each meal and at each snack. You should stick to these guidelines as much as possible.
If you have morning sickness it can be difficult to control blood glucose levels. If you do suffer from morning sickness you should try to eat one serving of cereal, pretzels, or crackers before you attempt to get out of bed. If you eat smaller meals throughout the day and avoid fatty or fried foods you will find that your morning sickness will likely be better and your blood glucose will be better controlled. If you do continue to suffer from morning sickness and you require insulin, you should be sure that you know how to treat low blood glucose levels as they can be dangerous for you and your baby.
When choosing foods you should try to choose those that are higher in fiber, as this will negate some of the sugar that you do eat. Also attempt to choose foods that are low in fat and sugar and consume eight cups of water per day to keep your system flushed.
You might be wondering what you should eat with all of these guidelines! Ideally you’ll eat or drink four servings of diary products per day. This can include nuts, dairy products, and green vegetables which are all relatively low in carbohydrates. You should also try to eat three servings of iron rich foods such as lean meat, poultry and fish, eggs, and leafy green vegetables. One serving of vitamin C should also be consumed and this can be found in oranges, strawberries honeydew as well as other fruits and vegetables. Folic acid is also important and you should consume one source in any number of legumes or dark leafy vegetables. If you eat a varied diet of healthy foods you should easily be able to get all of these important vitamins and minerals as well as control your blood glucose.
The good news is that even when you are following a gestational diabetes diet you will be able to eat all of your favorite foods. If you like sweets you may just need to eat them in moderation. When you eat smaller meals more often and you balance them, you’ll find that you are able to eat plenty and that you are rarely, if ever, hungry. Following this diet may appeal to you and may very well be something that you follow after you give birth because it simply works well to maintain weight and curb the appetite as well as control blood glucose.
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