If you are not familiar with gestational diabetes, let us enlighten you; this type of diabetes occurs in a pregnant woman. Often, pregnant women do not take insulin to control their diabetes. So, they need a proper diet to lower the blood sugar level. If you are struggling with Gestational diabetes, then you are in the right place.
Gestational diabetes diet includes some routine nutrient intake and some foods to avoid. It maintains how you deal with your diabetes to make sure of your unborn child’s well being. Usually, a proper gestational diet includes plenty of vegetable intake, protein intake, vitamins, and liquid consumption with maintained carbohydrates and fat consumption.
We are going to share the perfect diet for you so that you don’t miss out on anything. Our given diet will be full of necessary nutrients and some foods that you will surely like. Let’s get started!
Gestational Diabetes Diet: Based On Essential Food Nutrients
So, now we are going to share this diet depending on different essential food nutrients so that you don’t miss out on anything and also, you can choose food according to your taste.
1. Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates are essential food nutrients that you need to have in your foods. But carbohydrates act as enemies for gestational diabetes if you do not intake this nutrient wisely. That’s why a little mismatch in quantity can do a lot of harm for both you and your baby.
There are usually two types of carbohydrates, simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are more harmful to gestational diabetes, whereas you can consume the right amount of complex carbohydrates without any problem.
Simple carbohydrates are likely to increase blood sugar levels all of a sudden, which can bring dangers. But complex carbohydrates do not do that because they are enriched with high-fiber.
So, with gestational diabetes, carbohydrate-based food that you should avoid are:
- Potatoes
- French-fries
- White rice,
- Candy,
- Soda,
- Sweets
Carbohydrate based foods that you can have:
- Grains
- Beans
- Starchy vegetables
- Cereal (whole grain)
- Pasta (half a cup)
- Rice (half a cup)
- Whole-grain slices of bread and crackers
- Barley or oats
Intake amount: your daily carb intake should be 30-45 grams for your meals and 15-30 grams for snacks.
2. Protein:
Though protein does not have much impact on your sugar level, yet it’s better to intake the necessary amounts. Sometimes, the right amount of protein can help you to break down your blood sugar. But overconsuming protein can lead you to dangers and increased blood sugar levels as well.
In the case of protein, if you consume plant-based protein, it can help to control your diabetes in many ways. And if you want animal-based protein, then fish and salmon will be a good choice for you. Especially, sea-fishes are the best for your diabetes, which are some best sources for protein intake.
Protein-based foods that you can have:
- Meat
- Fish
- Dry beans
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Poultry
- Peanut butter
Intake amount: your daily protein intake should be 9 ounces from your foods.
3. Fat:
Fat is another nutrient that you should limit while taking with gestational diabetes. It can make your blood sugar level high if you consume a limitless amount. If you intake a limited amount, then it can help in lowering the sugar level.
Fat based foods that you should avoid:
- Butter
- Margarine
- Salad dressing
- Cooking oil
- Desserts
- Hamburger
- Cheese
- Bacon
- Butter
As fat-based foods are essential for your baby’s brain growth, you should not completely cut off the fat. Let’s know what kind of fat-based foods you should consume with gestational diabetes.
Fat-based foods that you can have:
- Canola oil
- Olive oil
- Peanut oil
- Safflower oil
- Nuts
- Avocados
- Olives
4. Recommendation on dairy products:
You do not need to cut off your dairy consumption completely. You can limit the intake. Let’s know which dairy foods you should totally avoid with gestational diabetes:
- High-fat milk
- Chocolates
- Dairy made sweets
Dairy foods that you can have:
- Low-fat milk
- Natural cheese
- Yogurt without sugar
- Anything that comes without artificial sweetener.
Dairy products can actually help you in your healthy diet. So, do not cut off dairy products. Instead, make a routine and eat in a limited amount.
Expert opinions
- Diabetes can make you hungry more often. But if you do not follow a limited diet, it can be harmful. So, you can cover your hunger with fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables will make you full without raising up the sugar level.
- You don’t need to completely avoid starch. Though it later converts to the form of glucose, you can consume one cup of starch per day.
- You should be careful with your calcium intake. Calcium is necessary for your baby’s bones and brain. So, try to drink one cup of low-fat milk every day.
- Though you may think that fruit is an excellent natural solution to your hunger, as we stated above, but be careful about this too. Fruits contain natural ingredients that can increase the sugar level. So, even if the fruit is a good option, be cautious while consuming an increased amount.
- You don’t need to avoid breakfast. In fact, to maintain your well-being, you have to eat breakfast with enough nutrients. In this case, fill your breakfast with fruits, cereal, juice, and eggs.
- Though during pregnancy, it’s usual to feel tempted by chips, chocolates, candies, and cookies, yet you need to completely avoid these foods. For controlling the sugar level, do not consume any junk food.
Closing words
We have made sure to help you with a proper Gestational diabetes diet. Follow all the food consumption wisely, and you can control your diabetes in a satisfactory manner. Also, try to avoid the foods that we have mentioned to avoid because otherwise, these foods can do a lot of harm to you and your unborn child.
If you can maintain this diet according to your regular lifestyle, hopefully, there will be no health issues. But in case if you have any underlying health issues, do not follow the diet without your doctor’s opinion. Good luck!
