Gestational Diabetes Diet Plan

Gestational (jes-TAY-shun-ul) diabetes is diabetes that is found for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Out of every 100 pregnant women in the United States, three to eight get gestational diabetes. Diabetes means that your blood sugar is too high. When you are pregnant, too much sugar in your blood is not good for your baby. For most women, blood sugar returns to normal after having the baby.

During pregnancy, your hormones change and you gain weight. Both are part of a healthy pregnancy. In some women, these changes make it hard for your body use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that carries the sugar (from food we eat) out of the blood and into the cells. The cells use the sugar for energy. With Gestational Diabetes, your body doesn't get the energy it needs from the food you eat.

Some women are more at risk for developing Gestational Diabetes. If you have any of these following risk factors, you should see your doctor about it at your first prenatal visit:

You are at high risk if you are very overweight, have had gestational diabetes before, have a strong family history of diabetes, or have glucose in your urine.

You are at average risk if you checked one or more of the risk factors.

You are at low risk if you did not check any of the risk factors.

Your doctor will decide when you need to be checked for diabetes depending on your risk factors.

• If you are at high risk, your blood sugar level may be checked at your first prenatal visit. If your test results are normal, you will be checked again sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy.
• If you have an average risk for gestational diabetes, you will be tested sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy.
• If you are at low risk, your doctor may decide that you do not need to be checked.

If left untreated or uncontrolled, Gestational Diabetes can have harmful effects on your baby such as:

Treatment of Gestational Diabetes involves diet, physical activity and sometimes medications. Medications include diabetes pills and insulin. Your doctor will decide if you need medication and which is right for you.

Survival Skills for Gestational Diabetes

1. Eat 3 meals and 3 snacks. There should be about 2 hours between meals and snacks.
2. Eat a consistent amount of carbohydrate (starch, fruit, milk) from day to day according to meal plan.
3. Avoid all beverages sweetened with sugar, limit fruit juices.
4. Do not use table sugar, brown sugar, honey, syrup, regular jam/jelly.
5. Always eat a bedtime snack.
6. Have milk/milk products 4 times a day.
7. Use artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet&Low) in moderation
8. ALWAYS take prenatal vitamins - if not tolerating, talk to doctor about an alternative

It is very important to get enough calories for you and the baby while you are pregnant. Eating 3 meals and 3 snacks daily will help you get all the calories and nutrients you need and control your blood sugar. It is also important to balance the type of food you eat at each meal and snack.

For more personalized menu planning, click here for MyPyramind compliments of the USDA.

Drink water and sugar free beverages with your meals and throughout the day.

In addition to your meal plan, it is important to include physical activity in your day.

HOW?

• Start with 5 – 10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes; include a 5- 10 min warm up and cool down
• Don’t exercise too hard or get too hot
• Do not let your heart rate exceed 140 beats per minute
• Stop exercising if you become dizzy, short of breath, have pain or vaginal bleeding
• Drink lots of water before, during and after exercise

Before starting an exercise program, talk with your doctor about what is right for you. Your doctor can advise you about limitations, warning signs and any special considerations.