The Healthiest Treatment of Gestational Diabetes
Hearing the word diabetes while you are pregnant can be scary, but treatment of gestational diabetes can make a big difference in your own health and the health of your growing baby. Gestational diabetes is a common condition which affects women during pregnancy. It usually resolves itself upon the birth of the baby. This condition involves a body’s resistance to insulin, and it typically occurs again in subsequent pregnancies as well. There also seems to be a link between gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Those who have this condition during pregnancy tend to be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Appropriate Treatment
The best treatment of gestational diabetes is a proper diet and regular exercise. Insulin injections should be avoided if possible, as you make every attempt to eat ther right foods and portions of food you can control your gestational diabetes using a meal plan. For those with gestational diabetes what to eat can be confusing. Your diet should contain moderate amounts of protein and fat. Carbohydrates should come in the form of fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, cereals, and pastas. You will need to limit your consumption of sugars such as soda, juice, and dessert foods.
Remember not to adapt the mentality of eating for two. You only need an additional 300-500 calories every day while pregnant.
Sample Meal Plan
Your practitioner will help you to construct a gestational diabetes meal plan customized to your personal situation to aid in the treatment of gestational diabetes. The following plan is a general guideline for daily eating habits if you have gestational diabetes.
- Eat a small breakfast, low in carbohydrates. Pregnancy hormones that raise blood sugar are highest in the morning, so breakfast should be small. A good example would be a piece of toast with an egg and a glass of milk.
- Consume 2 more small meals, as smaller meals cause lower blood sugar. Meals should include non-starchy vegetables and low-fat proteins, such as fish, chicken, and lean meat.
- Include 2-3 healthy snacks per day. Good examples of snacks are nuts for protein and low-fat yogurt for calcium.
- Avoid concentrated sources of sugar, such as sodas and fruit juices. Instead, drink plenty of low-fat or skim milk.
With proper disciplined eating habits, most gestational diabetes can be kept under control to avoid any ill effects to you or your new baby. Proper nutrition is more important than ever when you are growing a new life inside of you. Take your treatment of gestational diabetes seriously, and eat well to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.
As your pregnancy continues, when you are working hard to maintain your blood sugars amid the cravings and weight gain, you can look at our gestational diabetes meal plans that are designed to bring you 7 new dinner meals, grocery lists, nutritionals and recipes every week to keep your taste buds appeased. The meals are made for families, so you don't have to eat special foods.
