Gestational Diet in Pregnancy
Maintaining a proper diet is paramount during the pregnancy period. A nutritious and balanced diet imparts energy and nutrients to the mother and ensures adequate nourishment for the fetus.
Negligence in the diet during pregnancy can cause multiple issues. For instance, if an expectant mother’s diet contains an excess of sugar, then she might develop gestational diabetes.
In this condition, her body becomes resistant to insulin, causing a high blood glucose level. Gestational diabetes can harm the developing fetus and even cause complications during childbirth. To avoid this, one should know the best foods for diabetes control.
Read on to find a detailed diet that one should follow to manage diabetes during pregnancy.
What is the diet to follow to manage diabetes during pregnancy?
Here is the detailed diet plan that one can follow to manage diabetes during pregnancy:
- Eat regular meals every day, along with snacks
Pregnant women’s nutritional needs increase during pregnancy. Ensuring to eat balanced meals regularly with snacks in between helps prevent the rise of blood sugar levels after meals. This list of foods for diabetic people includes whole grains, lean proteins, and non-starchy vegetables such as celery, eggplant, and cucumber.
Furthermore, one should avoid convenience foods like sugary snacks and soft drinks. Instead, try eating healthy snacks, such as fruits and salads, when hungry.
- Consume the appropriate amount of food
While eating regularly is considered healthy, people must know their limits. Consuming a substantial amount of food in a single meal must be avoided.
Focus on eating more nutrient-dense food and watch the portion sizes. One can also manage their calories by checking the nutrition label of the food packet.
Furthermore, people should ensure that food is adjusted to suit their caloric needs. The first and second trimesters of pregnancy don’t require extra calorie intake. But in the third trimester, expectant mothers will require more calories for their baby’s accelerated growth.
- Take a whole lot of fibre
Fibre-rich foods have little or no influence on the blood sugar level; consuming such foods can help to prevent the rise of sugar levels after a meal.
Fibre foods can also help prevent a major occurrence in pregnant women – constipation. The hormones released during pregnancy tend to slow down digestion and lead to digestive problems. With the help of fibre-rich foods, one can increase their bowel movements and reduce constipation.
- Regulate the milk intake
Milk, a source of nutrients like calcium and vitamins, is crucial for developing the baby’s bones and teeth.
However, milk contains carbohydrates in lactose, which can increase the sugar level after eating food. If someone has gestational diabetes, they should monitor their milk intake and keep it one cup at a time.
- Enjoy a reasonable serving of fruits
Fruits are highly nourishing and rich in natural sugar. However, it is important to consume them in moderation. A small piece of fruit, or half a cup of sliced fruit, is a reasonable serving.
When choosing fruits, knowing their glycemic index values is better. The glycemic index shows how quickly a particular food can influence blood sugar levels.
During pregnancy, it is advised to opt for fruits for diabetic patients with a low glycemic index. This includes strawberries and apples. On the other hand, one should avoid high-glycemic-index fruits such as watermelon and pineapple, as they can increase blood sugar levels after eating.
- Eat foods with low sugar content for breakfast
Pregnancy hormones are commonly higher in the morning, and this can cause blood sugar levels to rise even without eating. Thus, it is advised to know about foods to avoid diabetes and keep sugar levels under control.
For breakfast, one should avoid foods like cereals, milk, and high-glycemic fruits; instead, opt for healthier alternatives. The best foods for diabetes control in the morning include protein and complex carbohydrates such as Greek yoghurt and whole grains.
- Avoid sugary and fruity drinks
Fruit drinks are made from several pieces of fruit and are readily absorbed into the body system due to their liquid form, rapidly increasing blood sugar levels.
Hence, avoiding fruity drinks and beverages like soda and sweetened iced drinks would be best. Alcohol also possesses a high blood sugar content, which can tremendously increase the blood sugar level.
The diet plays a pivotal role in controlling gestational diabetes and maintaining optimal blood glucose levels. With a proper diet and close monitoring of sugar levels, one can avoid the ill effects of this complicated disease.
Gestational diabetes symptoms include severe thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, and dim vision. If you are facing these symptoms, consult a doctor and book a glucose fasting test with Dr Lal PathLabs to get yourself tested today!
FAQs
1. What should I eat if I have diabetes during pregnancy?
A nutritious pregnancy diet should derive roughly 50% of calories from wholesome carbs like fruits, veggies, whole grains, milk, and yoghurt, balanced with proteins, fats, and fibre for stable blood sugar.
2. How can I reduce diabetes during pregnancy?
Managing gestational diabetes during pregnancy involves a healthy diet, regular exercise, and medication.
