Gestational Diabetes Diet, Some Considerations
Jul 3rd, 2010 by sandalwood
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that affects a small percentage of pregnant women during their pregnancy, the actual numbers are uncertain with reports varying between three percent and eight percent, but its incidence is increasing, similar to all forms of diabetes.
With a special consideration of the diabetes condition, it is essential to follow good diabetic nutritional principles during pregnancy through a balanced dietary plan that caters to the needs of the mother and of the growing child, especially with the purpose of avoiding the harmful accumulation of sugars in the blood, the main characteristic of diabetes.
In the pregnant patient’s health care team, a registered dietitian should be available to create a gestational diabetes diet and meal that is plan tailored to the personal food preferences of the mother-to-be and that meets her calorie requirements based on her physical makeup, level of daily physical activity, and the needs of the growing baby. And continued consultation with the supervising doctor will enable modifications to be made if they should be required as the weeks go by.
With the appropriate care and attention and by following the guidelines established, a successful pregnancy will be realized and the gestational diabetes will end when the baby arrives.
A healthy gestational diabetes diet will provide the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to maintain mother and baby but with special attention to the carbohydrate content, since carbohydrates are the nutrient category that most affects the sugar levels in the bloodstream.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are very important nutrients for mother and baby and in order to minimize the spikes that can occur after eating them it is wise to spread the carbohydrate foods over 3 or 4 meals interspersed with snacks in between, a strategy adopted by many diabetics who suffer from other types of diabetes. It is partly a matter of establishing a routine and becoming accustomed and satisfied with it.
Carbohydrates can be simple or complex, a reference to their chemical structure. They are in fact, mainly molecules of sugar linked to form chains that are broken down to single molecules of glucose during the body’s digestive process after they have been eaten. The simple carbohydrates are to be avoided as much as possible because they deliver glucose into the bloodstream rather quickly causing the levels to become elevated above a desirable and healthy range. Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down to glucose and are therefore the preferred type of carbohydrate to consume.
A typical gestational diabetes diet will also regulate the other primary nutrients, the proteins and fats and will ensure the inclusion of the calcium and iron containing foods to meet the body’s increased demands for those substances during pregnancy.
The advice of the dietitian will probably be to avoid eating many of the sweet dessert type foods we sometimes enjoy, foods such as cookies and cakes, ice cream and apple pie. But for all diabetics those foods are normally banned except as rare treats, however, once weaned off sweet foods, to avoid them is no longer a sacrifice.
Fats
Essential as they are for good health, fats should be limited in order not to cause a gain in weight, and with the emphasis in choosing the healthier polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats while avoiding transfats, and saturated fats as much as possible.
Polyunsaturated fats are found in vegetable oils such sunflower, safflower, and soybean, the type of fats that remain liquid at room temperature. Monounsaturated fats are considered ideal, they are found in olive oil, canola oil, and in nuts such as hazel nuts, brazil nuts, and almonds among others.
Protein
Suitable protein foods include fish, lean meat and skinless poultry, eggs, and low fat cheeses, milk, yogurt, and legumes, all very good protein sources that do contain some carbohydrate, but not normally sufficient to be of concern, but good to be aware of.
Other nutritious foods include fresh fruits and vegetables (with some exceptions, potatoes for instance), which can be eaten in fairly generous amounts, two cups of vegetables per day is often recommended, but the dietitian who establishes the special meal plan would make specific suggestions and recommendations.
Beverages
A usual recommendation is to drink 8 glasses, about 64 ounces, of liquids per day. Water, of course, is the major liquid to drink. There are conflicting opinions about caffeinated drinks such as teas and coffees, most experts say to all right to drink them in moderation but no more than two caffeinated beverages a day. Avoid soft drinks, pops, colas and the like that are sweetened heavily with sugar. Sweeteners such as Aspartame as in Nutrasweet and Equal or the Sucralose in Splenda are usually considered as acceptable, but again, the dietitian has the last word on such matters.
A good diet and daily exercise in moderation, if approved by the doctor, should lead to a happy outcome for mother and newborn.
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