An Overview Of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition that crops up in several women during pregnancy. The American Diabetes Association notes that about 10% of women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes every year. Some women develop the gestational condition during their first pregnancy, while others are not diagnosed until their second or third pregnancy.

If untreated, gestational diabetes can affect pregnancies and cause complications in otherwise healthy babies. However, while it is perfectly normal for a woman with a gestational diabetes diagnosis to be scared, plenty of resources are available to make the condition manageable.

Gestational diabetes is inherently linked to high blood glucose and develops in pregnant women whose blood glucose level is too high for too long. Thus, learning how to lower your blood sugar is vital to healthy pregnancies free of complications.

Meal planning to regulate your diet is one of the best ways to lower your blood sugar and keep it within a healthy range. For this, it is recommended to visit a registered dietician to help develop your meal plan. After that, there are tons of meal ideas and recipes that can help lower your glucose levels

Eating And Gestational Diabetes Management

Pregnancy brings about a lot of changes in the body, one of which is an increase in insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the body, and, oce the insulin can no longer meet the body’s needs (as a result of insulin resistance), the blood glucose level rises.

Eating regularly is a good way to manage fluctuations in your sugar levels w,hile eating healthy is a good way to prevent your blood sugar from going too high. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that a pregnant woman never miss meal times and take snacks throughout the day.

In most cases, meals that include fiber-rich carbohydrates like whole grain, tortilla chips, and cereal can help to keep your sugar levels stable. However, as different bodies respond to other things, consulting with a registered dietician is important so you can find out what to put on the restricted diet and what not to

Planning A Meal With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

During pregnancy, it’s never a good idea to skip a meal. However, taking in too many carbs can lead to an increase in your blood glucose. However, having an idea of your carb tolerance (i.e., how much carb is too much for you) can help when planning your meals. There are also a couple of other things to consider:

• Carbohydrates

In the body, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose (i.e., sugar) and thus significantly impact your body’s sugar level. However, carbohydrates are an important component in your meals for a balanced diet. And so, while they shouldn’t make up your whole diet (or even most of it), they should not be eliminated.

High fiber carbohydrates like beans, nuts, whole wheat bread, and whole wheat pasta can help slow down the rate at which your sugar level rises. Conversely, refined grains such as white bread and white rice are high in starch and cause a rise in blood glucose.

• Proteins

As long as they don’t have too many carbs, proteins help controls glucose levels and are generally safe to eat. It is recommended that a moderate amount of lean protein like white meat, poultry and eggs be taken with every plate

• Fats And Diaries

As a general rule of thumb, your intake of fats and diaries should be limited. That isn’t to say all fats and diaries are off limits, just those with a high amount of carbs. You can choose healthier fat options like olive oil, peanut oil, etc.,d go with low-fat or gluten-free options when taking dairy products.

• Fruits And Vegetable

Fruits largely serve as excellent snack options during the day for the added nutrients they provide. With that in mind, some fruits and vegetables are healthier than others to avoid overeating or taking in too Buchmann’s. For example, whole fruits like bananas or apples have more fiber, so they should be taken over juices.

Gestational Diabetes Recipes To Lower Blood Sugar

It is necessary for people with diabetes to have a carefully structured meal plan aimed at regulating their diet and lowering their blood glucose. Fortunately, the resources available online make it easier to create a plan tailored to you. With that in mind, here are a couple of delicious gestational diabetes-friendly recipes that you can try out:

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs and cheese with non-starchy vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes
Coarsely chopped curly kale with avocado, blueberries, toasted almonds, goat cheese, and shelled edamame.
Eggs with fried tomatoes and topped with feta cheese wrapped in whole grain tortilla.
Oats soaked overnight taken with no added sugar, almond milk, and nuts
Shredded wheat or porridge mixed with chopped nuts

Lunch

Sautéed chicken served with brown rice (or cooked farro with sliced cucumbers and carrots) and roasted cauliflower
Lettuce wrap burgers served with a side of sweet potato fries and some added greens.
Chicken salad served with avocado halves and crackers.
Baked potatoes (sweet potatoes; half a piece) with tuna mayonnaise, some cheese, and a salad
Greek salad with olives, cheese, and seeded bread.

Dinner

Seared steak with herbs (e.g., thyme, fresh rosemary, and fresh sage) and chopped escarole
Whole grain with a side salad made with olive oil and vinegar
Sliced brussels sprouts with stripped fennel bulb, a tablespoon of olive oil, halibut fillet, some vegetables, and cooked quinoa
Chopped cobb salad served with chicken
Beef stew served with sweet potato and beans

Snack Ideas To Try

Skipping meals can lead to your body’s sugar dropping lower than what is healthy. To prevent this, taking healthy snacks throughout the day can be a great way to regulate your glucose level and keep it within acceptable ranges. They are also a great source of nutrition which counts the baby’s growth.

Here are a couple of delicious snacks that can help regulate your sugar levels between meal times: