If your doctor has diagnosed you with gestational diabetes, you may be worried and have a lot of questions. It could be a disturbing factor in your pregnancy. You are not alone if you have so many questions regarding gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes can thankfully be managed using a good diet and doing exercise. These factors alone can cure your problem of gestational diabetes. It does not mean that you cannot have a healthy pregnancy. You can still be pregnant and healthy.
Coming to define gestational diabetes refers to diabetes that can occur only during pregnancy. It means you cannot have this issue until you are pregnant. It can be described as a high level of blood sugar that starts developing when you are recognized as pregnant.
During the pregnancy, the way of your body use insulin alters. It is a hormone that works to allow your cells to use glucose or sugar and absorb it to get energy. Naturally, you will become more resistant to this hormone if you are pregnant.
It helps to provide more amount of glucose to your baby. The process can go wrong in some people. Your body can stop responding to or producing enough amount of glucose in some cases. Moreover, too much sugar can accumulate in your blood that can cause gestational diabetes.
There are some foods that can help you to manage gestational diabetes. Here, we have prepared the list of that food recommended by healthcare professionals that you can use to control gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Basic Healthy Eating
Try to eat protein after every meal and include vegetables and fruits in your diet. Inhibit all the processed foods and focus on the size of portions in order to avoid eating. You must have to maintain a balanced and healthy diet if you have gestational diabetes.
It will help you to manage its symptoms without even medications. Enough amount of protein should be present in your diet. It should also include fats and carbohydrates. Do not consume too many carbohydrates because they can lead to spikes in blood sugar.
If you crave some carby goodness, you have to make sure that it is good. Your doctor will work with a registered dietitian to plan nutrition for you if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. A dietitian will help you to plan meals and eat healthy foods.
These foods will actually be healthy for you and your baby. You should contact a dietitian to plan your diet after concerning with your doctor if you are pregnant and do not have gestational diabetes even.
Nutrients
Try to consume meals that have proteins, fibers, and healthy fats. Add a lot of fresh foods to your diet. It can be hard for some women to resist french fry cravings sometimes. Keep your aim to be healthy high to fight such cravings. It will help you to be satisfied.
Meals And Snacks
Snacks are important for keeping the level of blood sugar stable. If you want to consume meals and snacks during gestational diabetes, here are some healthy choices for you.
- Frozen Or Fresh Vegetables: You can steam the veggies, roast them or use them raw. Pair raw veggies with certain proteins sources like cheese or hummus to get a satisfying snack.
- Veggie Omelets: You can make them with egg whites. Whole eggs are considered an excellent source of so many nutrients. You can get most of the protein from egg whites.
- Steel-Cut Oatmeal: Topp steel-cut oatmeal with unsweetened coconut, berries, and pumpkin seed. Enjoy it and share it with your friends if any of your friends are pregnant too.
- Fresh Fruits: Pair fresh fruits with nut butter or handful o nuts.
- Chicken Breasts: You can eat the skin, don’t worry.
- Potato Toast: Mash an avocado and top it on a sweet potato toast.
You can make any of your favorite omelet or dish from veggies if it is healthy and contains fewer amount of carbohydrates. Do you have a question about eating fruits? Yes, you can eat them even with gestational diabetes.
You can choose berries to eat because they contain less amount of sugar and high fiber. Get ready to stock so many fruits that contain less sugar and eat them when you crave them. You can freeze these fruits for an additional crunch.