Gestational Diabetes Diet

Gestational diabetes typically starts whenever a woman becomes pregnant thanks to high blood sugar. The best way to manage this type of an issue is to take on a healthy and balanced diet. If you are a woman who suffers from gestational diabetes and do not take insulin, consider making note of the following recommendations that you should take.

Recommendations

Always eat a variety of healthy foods in order to maintain a balanced diet. Additionally, take the time to read all food labels whenever you shop, which will help you to make the best choices regarding what to purchase. If you are either on a special type of diet or a vegetarian, consult with your doctor to ensure that you are truly getting a balanced diet.

Here is a list of the foods that you should generally be eating:

• Whole fruits and vegetables
• Healthy fats and lean proteins in moderate amounts
• Whole grains in moderate amounts (cereal, rice, bread, pasta, etc.)
• Fewer sugary foods (pastries, soft drinks, fruit juices, etc.)

You should also eat approximately three meals that are small to moderately-sized every day, as well as one or more different snacks. No matter what you choose to eat for these, they should never be skipped, and the types of foods that you eat should be kept the same from day to day in order to help stabilize your blood sugar.

Carbohydrates

Generally, around less than half of all of the calories that you eat should always come from carbohydrates. Most of these can be found in items such as junk foods and foods filled with starch; however, healthier carbohydrate choices can most commonly be found in foods containing whole grains and high fiber. Furthermore, vegetables are also great for not just your blood sugar, but also your overall health in general.

Carbohydrates are typically measured in grams. As time goes on, you can teach yourself how to accurately count exactly how many carbohydrates are in the different foods that you eat.

Beans, Grains, and Starchy Vegetables

Typically, you will want to eat six or more servings of these kinds of foods every day. One single serving will equal the following:

• One slice of bread
• One ounce of “ready to eat” cereal
• One-half of a cup of cooked rice/pasta
• One English muffin

It’s also important to select foods to eat that contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy carbohydrates. These kinds of foods include the following:

• Breads/crackers that contain whole grains
• Cereals that contain whole grains
• Beans
• Brown/wild rice
• Whole wheat pasta
• Starchy vegetables (peas, corn, etc.)

Additionally, you should also use whole wheat and whole grain flour whenever you bake anything. You should also eat more low-fat bread items, including pitas and English muffins.

Vegetables

Three to five servings of these should be eaten every day. One single serving equals the following:

• One cup of green, leafy vegetables
• One cup of raw leafy vegetables that have been either chopped or cooked
• Three-fourths of a cup of vegetable juice
• One-half of a cup of chopped vegetables that have been cooked or are raw

There are also plenty of healthy vegetable choices to choose from as well, which include the following:

• Frozen or fresh vegetables that contain no added salt, sauce, or fat
• Deep yellow or dark green vegetables

Fruits

Consider eating two to four servings of these foods every day. One serving is equivalent to the following:

• One whole medium fruit (banana, apple, orange, etc.)
• One-half of a cup of fruit that is either chopped, canned, cooked, or frozen
• Three-fourths of a cup of fruit juice

Some of the more healthier fruit items include the following:

• Whole fruits instead of fruit juices
• Citrus fruits
• Fruit juices with no extra added sugar
• Fresh fruits and fruit juices

Milk/Dairy

Whether you choose low-fat or nonfat, you should eat a total of four servings of these foods every day. One servings equals the following:

• One cup of milk or yogurt
• One and a half ounces of natural cheese
• Two ounces of processed cheese

Some of the more healthier dairy choices include the following:

• Low-fat/nonfat milk/yogurt

Protein

Two to three servings of these types of foods should be eaten per day. This includes the following in one single serving:

• Two to three ounces of poultry, fish, or feet that has been cooked
• One-half of a cup of cooked beans
• One egg
• Two tablespoons of peanut butter

Some of the more healthier options include the following:

• Fish/poultry
• Chicken/turkey with no skin
• Lean cuts of pork, beef, etc.
• Meat with no fat

Sweets

These particular foods should be heavily limited due to the fact that they are extremely high in both fat and sugar. If you do choose to eat them, your portion sizes should be kept small. Alternatively, sugar-free options are typically the best way to go.

Fats

Foods that contain high amounts of fat should be limited as well, such as margarine, butter, salad dressing, etc. This also counts for foods containing saturated fats, such as hamburger, bacon, and cheese. However, this doesn’t mean that fats should be completely cut out of your diet, especially since they provide energy for growing and are are essential to help develop a baby’s brain.

Alternatively, consider choosing healthier oils, such as peanut, olive, canola, etc.

More Lifestyle Changes

Your doctor may recommend further lifestyle changes, such as a new exercise plan. Generally, the easiest type of exercise is walking; however, other lower-impact exercises that can work just as well include actions such as swimming. Furthermore, you may also be given the recommendation to take blood sugar control supplements, which, as the name suggests, will help to keep your blood sugar under control.