Gestational Diabetes Diet

I am really worried that I will have to have a really restricted diet because I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It makes me feel so anxious, and guess what? That makes me want to eat. How am I going to survive this upheaval?

A restricted diet often has the reverse effect, of making one want to eat! However, this is a really serious situation, and controlling your diet is vital during your pregnancy. You will have to plan your diet very carefully so that you do not get hungry and want to binge. There are plenty of ways to create satisfying and healthy meals which are delicious and nutritious. This is a good reason why a nutritionist can be an invaluable asset in helping you acquire the skills you need to control you blood sugar levels. Remember that the alternative is to spend time in hospital to learn the strict control you will need to manage this portion of your life. It is a helpful alternative for many women.

Because every person has an individual way of digesting their food, there is no hard and fast rule to follow. You need to learn the guidelines and then monitor your blood sugar closely so that you know what works for you and what does not. For example, some women can drink fruit juice without too much blood sugar disruption, while others have severe problems with blood sugar after drinking fruit juice. You will find this information through trial and error.

The general outline of a healthy eating plan will be:

• Half your daily intake from complex carbohydrates and beans
• Plenty of vegetables, legumes and grains, all as unrefined as possible
• Approximately 20% of your intake as protein
• High in fibre (40 – 70g) and low in cholesterol and fat
• No sugar
• No skipping of meals
• Several small meals spread out through the day rather than a few large meals
• Small snacks between meals can be very helpful in maintaining blood sugar

See also
Gestational Diabetes – Early delivery
Gestational Diabetes – Exercise
Gestational Diabetes – Insulin
Gestational Diabetes – Learning to manage
Gestational Diabetes – Management
Gestational Diabetes – Nutritional Support
Gestational Diabetes – Overweight
Gestational Diabetes – Reason for test
Gestational Diabetes – Symptoms