Gestational Diabetes Diet For The Pregnant Woman

Gestational Diabetes Diet For The Pregnant Woman

Gestational diabetes mellitus refers to diabetes that is first recognized or diagnosed at any stage during pregnancy. Three to twelve percent of all pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes between week 24 and 28 of their pregnancies. The usual symptoms of gestational diabetes are extreme thirst, hunger, fatigue, but many pregnant women are not able to notice these symptoms. However, gestational diabetes usually goes away on its own after delivery, in most cases.

Doctors are known to treat their patients with a carefully controlled gestational diabetes diet, in order to maintain the pregnant woman's blood sugar level within the normal range for pregnancy. To achieve this, your dietitian or diabetes educator will teach you about healthy eating and the appropriate food that your should consume. Your gestational diabetes diet plan will probably include the following:

• Limit your intake of foods that are high in cholesterol, such as egg yolks. Consume no more than 300 mg of cholesterol a day.
• Consume no less than 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day; whole fruits and vegetables are more nutritious and less calorie-dense than juices and dried fruit.
• Avoid foods that are high in fats; no more than 10 percent of your total daily calorie intake should come from saturated fat. Try to buy prepared foods with less than 1 gram of saturated fat per serving.
• Boost your fiber intake by eating whole grains, dried beans, fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid taking too much salt and try to buy reduced-sodium items when possible. Look out for prepared foods with less than 140 mg of sodium per serving or 5 percent of the "daily value" for sodium on the food label.
• Reduce the intake of alcoholic beverages to a minimum. Soda and fruit drinks, which usually contain high content of sugar, should be avoided as well.

The goal of your gestational diabetes meal plan is to keep your blood sugar level as close as possible after and between meals. To keep control of your blood sugar levels, you will have to learn how to be consistent in the type, amount and timing of the meals you eat throughout the day. You will definitely to practice due diligence by closely following your diabetes pregnancy diet plan!