The term gestational means “during pregnancy”. Thus diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. Globally, around 5 to 7 percent of women are affected by this disease, annually.
If you have gestational diabetes, your insulin and glucose levels are out of balance. This means, either your cells can’t use insulin the way they should or your body isn’t making enough insulin. This condition may cause complications during delivery. Moreover, there’s a higher risk of your baby developing type2 diabetes later in life.
The symptoms of gestational diabetes include:
• Frequent urination
• Frequent bladder infections
• Being unusually thirsty
• Tiredness, blurred vision, nausea, etc
Based on what foods you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat – the blood sugar level in the body changes throughout the day. However, by following a healthy pregnancy diet plan you can keep your blood sugar level in the normal range – within the desired target.
A Healthy Diet for Gestational Diabetes
includes the following food items:
• Grains: Whole wheat, oats, quinoa, millets, amaranth to name a few
• Fruits: Fresh fruits like orange, avocado, berries, apple, pear, etc are a great option.
• Vegetables: All types of vegetables like spinach, cabbage, beetroots, carrot, asparagus, broccoli, green vegetables, etc.
• Protein: poultry, fish, eggs, beans, legumes, nuts, and tofu
• Dairy: Low-fat or toned milk, and yogurt
• Fats: Healthy fats such as canola oil, peanut oil, soya bean oil and olive oil. Other food sources of healthy fats include dry fruits, nuts, and seeds.
• Water: If you want to maintain a healthy diet during pregnancy, make sure you stay hydrated throughout the nine months. It will flush out the toxins from the body.
Other fluids that help in maintaining hydration are: coconut water, fresh lime water, soups, herbal infusions, etc
Foods to Avoid
• Blood sugar levels increase when you eat sugary foods. So stay away from sugary foods like cake, desserts, cookies, candy, sweet pastry, soda, ice cream, etc.
• Eliminate junk food and highly processed food items from your diet during pregnancy
• Avoid fried food items. Instead go for baking, steaming, and grilling options.
Things to Remember:
➢ Do not skip breakfast
➢ Eat smaller meals more frequently. It will keep your blood sugar levels stable
➢ Monitor your blood sugar levels after meals
➢ Exercise and meditate regularly
➢ Finally, ensure you talk to your health care provider about any concerns you have about labor or delivery.
Most women with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies because they follow the treatment plan of their doctors and dieticians.
The pregnancy nutrition plan mentioned in this section is simple and easy to understand. However, if you are in doubt or require a customized diet plan – get in touch with Kanupriya Khanna. One of the best nutritionist and dietician in Delhi –Kanupriya will recommend you the best nutrition for a healthy pregnancy.