Gestational Diabetes and the Importance of Effective Glucose Management During Pregnancy

By now, hopefully most Americans know that diabetes can develop in otherwise-healthy individuals over time, brought on by high sugar intake and weight gain. In some instances, the diagnosis can come out of nowhere; however, in most cases, it’s a gradual process.

People who consume high quantities of sugar, fatty foods, and rarely exercise need to be aware of the risk and improve their lifestyle before the symptoms of diabetes start to appear.

The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes, quite literally comes out of nowhere; women who previously exhibited no symptoms of diabetes start to exhibit high glucose levels during pregnancy. And unlike Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, there are few symptoms for gestational diabetes.

This ailment afflicts roughly 3-10 percent of pregnancies, leading some medical experts to conclude it’s a natural occurrence. But that’s of little consolation to mothers who have it: babies born to mothers with the disease tend to be abnormally large, have low blood sugars, and jaundice. Fortunately, gestational diabetes can be treated by effectively managing one’s blood sugar levels.

Therefore, if you are pregnant, it is critical to talk to your doctor about this and to closely watch your diet.

The Ideal Gestational Diabetes Diet

If your doctor has diagnosed you with gestational diabetes, paying attention to your diet is very important during this critical phase in your life. Managing diabetes while pregnant is not easy, and you need to follow a few dietary rules.

While you take your diabetes medication prescribed by a physician, you should also pay attention to the foods you eat. Your goal is to keep a steady glucose level throughout your body. Therefore, stay away from simple carbohydrates like sugar and white flour. Have regular meals with enough carbohydrates to keep your glucose levels stable. Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are the best foods to eat to get enough healthy carbs.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Pure water without any sugar is best for the developing baby and your own body. Coffee that contains caffeine is not good for someone with gestational diabetes. You may want to drink extra milk to get your calcium. If you don’t like milk, leafy green vegetables or supplements will supply you with enough of the vitamin.

If you need sugar in your food, use an artificial sweetener like agave nectar or stevia. These are natural alternatives that shouldn’t raise your glucose levels. Diabetes management while pregnant is something that you cannot brush off, because it can negatively affect your baby and raise your risk for Type 2 diabetes in the future.

Will I have Gestational Diabetes Post Pregnancy?

The day you learn you are pregnant is the most magical day. Suddenly there is new life. You want to do everything you can to ensure your developing baby gets all his nutritional needs right from the beginning.

So, you do everything right: you eat the right foods, take your supplements, keep all doctor visits, exercise regularly, and keep your stress levels low. This is why it is even harder to hear that you have developed gestational diabetes during your pregnancy. Don’t feel daunted by this news. Many women, who develop this condition, do not continue to have diabetes mellitus after the baby is born. However, it is very important that during your pregnancy you continue to keep stress levels low, exercise and take your supplements. Your diet will probably need to change.

Keeping blood sugars low is a matter of being mindful about what foods you are eating. Foods high in fat and carbohydrates should no longer be consumed. Fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates with a high-fiber content can be consumed as they digest slowly and keep blood sugars at a consistent level. These include whole wheat breads, pasta and rice. Your diet should be high in protein including lean meats, fish, eggs, beans and peanut butter. Obviously foods high in sugar, such as desserts, pastries or soft drinks should be avoided at all times.

Skipping a meal is never a good idea since as a pregnant woman, you need lots of energy and your baby needs the nutrition. You also run the risk of lowering your blood sugar too much. You should plan on eating three meals per day with two snacks in between to help keep blood sugars under control. A pregnant women typically needs to consume about 300 more calories than she did when she was not pregnant. These calories need to include calcium, iron and plenty of vitamins and minerals.

It might be a good idea to consult a nutritionist on what foods are the best to maintain your blood sugar levels. Keep your doctor visits to have your blood glucose levels tested and to continue on the right path for the healthy development of your baby.

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