Gestational Diabetes & Pregnancy Nutrition
Carbohy
drates have gotten a bad reputation when it comes to diabetes (including gestational diabetes), obesity, and weight management. In a gestational diabetes carb counting diet, there are ways to enjoy eating carbs and still have a healthy pregnancy, which is the ultimate goal.
The basic theory of a gestational diabetes carb counting diet is that you’re counting …
How is gestational diabetes diagnosed? And what exactly does it mean? Let’s start with some basics. Gestational diabetes definition: glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. …
In most cases, after you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you start testing your blood sugar 4 times a day. You might have noticed that your fasting blood sugar and the 1-2 hr postprandial after breakfast are the hardest numbers to control. It’s not your imagination. And it’s not your fault either. Your hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day and night. …
Summer picnics & barbecues with gestational diabetes don’t have to be a challenge. With a little planning, you can go to these events more relaxed knowing what and how much you can eat.
The most common diet for gestational diabetes is a carb counting diet. Knowing which foods contain carbs and how much you can eat will help you feel more confident about picking out what to eat. Depending on how your individual body processes carbs, lunch or dinner would typically include 3-4 carb servings (45-60 grams of carbohydrates). If blood sugar levels remain in the desired range, you can try increasing it to 4-5 carb servings (60-75 grams of carbohydrates). Use your blood sugar monitoring results as a guide….
Whether you’re trying to eat less animal protein for health reasons or you’re having trouble finding beef, pork, and chicken in grocery stores due to the COVID-19 out-of-stock issues, you might be wondering about alternative options for vegetarian and vegan sources of protein. Let’s start with some definitions….
Pregnancy diabetes symptoms are something that you should be aware of. But here’s the thing…most of the time, there are no symptoms. That’s why all women are tested somewhere between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. Pregnancy diabetes symptoms can include any or all of the following symptoms: excessive thirst, frequent urination, frequent infections (yeast, bladder, or skin), sugar in the urine, blurred vision, nausea, and fatigue. As if being pregnant didn’t make you fatigued enough. …
A gestational diabetes diagnosis is the last thing a mom-to-be wants to hear. A question I get asked all the time is whether or not it’s possible to prevent gestational diabetes. While there’s nothing you can do that will 100% prevent it, there are things you can do to reduce your risk….
What’s going on in the world today is completely unprecedented. There is so much unknown right now, and it’s very unsettling. However, when you have gestational diabetes, it’s important to plan out your meals ahead of time as much as possible. With all the stockpiling and panic going on, it can be hard to get ingredients for your favorite meals or to even pick-up from your favorite restaurants. I’ve come up with some gestational diabetes meals that you can create using pantry staples you probably already have at home….
With the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases growing, it’s important to take steps NOW to prepare for a 14-day self-quarantine or out-of-stock issues at your regular grocery store. It’s even more important when you have gestational diabetes. This isn’t like hunkering down and preparing for a major blizzard where you might lose power. It’s probably safe to assume that you’ll have power and access to all appliances. Use this gestational diabetes Coronavirus stockpile guide to help you prepare for a Coronavirus quarantine….
In addition to meals, snacks are an important part of any meal plan, including gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes snacks should include multiple macronutrients, specifically both carbs and protein. Eating carbs by themselves tends to increase blood sugar. The quality of the carbohydrate (complex vs. simple) makes a big difference too. Protein helps to reduce the blood sugar response, so it doesn’t spike as high. Fats are okay to add as well. Just make sure you are choosing the healthy fats, such as monounsaturated fats and omega-3s. And while I’m calling these gestational diabetes snacks, they’re really just healthy snacks that can enjoyed by anyone!…
Amber is a Registered Dietitian with a focus on pregnancy nutrition and gestational diabetes.
