Not yet registered? Create a OverBlog!

Create my blog

What is the gestational diabetes diet plan?

Gestational diabetes can cause problems for both mother and baby. This article explains how with professional guidance and a carefully planned diet, the condition can be managed for a healthy and happy pregnancy.

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs for the first time during pregnancy. Diabetes develops when the body is unable to efficiently produce insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating healthy blood sugar levels. During pregnancy, the body produces extra insulin to meet the needs of the growing fetus, especially in the third trimester. Some women are not able to produce the additional insulin needed and because of this, their blood sugar levels rise and they are at risk of developing gestational diabetes. High blood sugar levels may cause the baby to grow large, increasing the risk of complications during birth. There is also evidence that suggests babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to become obese or suffer from
type 2 diabetes as they grow older.

Managing gestational diabetes

If your doctor or midwife suspect that you are at risk of developing gestational diabetes, they will arrange for you to have an oral glucose tolerance test approximately half way through your pregnancy. Although some women need to have insulin injections to manage gestational diabetes, most are able to control the condition by carefully following a specific meal plan to regulate blood sugar levels.

Gestational diabetes meal plan

If you have gestational diabetes, it is strongly recommended that you visit a registered dietician to help you plan a pregnancy diet that’s individually tailored to you. However, the basic principle of a gestational diabetes meal plan is to restrict the amount of carbohydrate food that is eaten to prevent high blood sugar levels developing. A typical gestational diabetes diet plan would include: - A small, well-balanced breakfast with a small portion of carbohydrate and a larger portion of protein, such as one slice of toast and an egg. You might have to avoid fruit juices which are high in natural sugars. - Three small meals and several small snacks eaten at regular intervals throughout the day to keep blood sugar levels stable. It is important that your meals and snacks are nutritionally balanced, and should contain plenty of non-starchy vegetables, fruit, low fat protein rich foods such as tuna and chicken and a source of calcium from low fat dairy products. - Avoidance of foods rich in simple sugars such as fizzy drinks, flavoured tea, sweets and desserts. These foods can cause your blood sugar level to rise very quickly, it is best to avoid them completely or look for alternative products which contain artificial sweeteners. References:
Babycenter.com

Same category articles Dieting

How to lose stomach fat through exercise

How to lose stomach fat through exercise

The major form of body fat accumulating around the stomach area is refined carbohydrates. You can stop fat from accumulating around the abdomen area by eating fat burning foods and by eating less refined (processed) carbohydrates. Top tips how to lose stomach fat and tone up your stomach. These are the secrets that got many people a firm, toned and flat stomach.
How to make Atkins shakes

How to make Atkins shakes

Science has been the corner stone of all Atkins products. Every shake that is made here is carefully made with a view to help customers to eat the right food while limiting the intake of carbohydrates. Atkins shakes have a high content of protein that goes long way in providing the required nutrition for the body. In fact, it is often taken as a meal replacement shake.
What are the different types of weight gain shakes?

What are the different types of weight gain shakes?

While most people spend most of their lives trying to lose weight, there is a small minority such as extremely thin people and professional bodybuilders who need to gain weight and do so by drinking weight gain shakes.
The benefits of a protein shaker bottle

The benefits of a protein shaker bottle

The protein shake bottle comes in handy and people love using it as it is absolutely perfect for all their health supplements and fruit juice drinks. This article will illustrate the benefits of a protein shaker bottle.