A Gestational
Diabetes Diet Plan Reduces Your Childs Risk of
Diabetes
If you
suffer from gestational diabetes while you are pregnant, a
dangerously high level of sugar may pass from your blood to
your baby. This can significantly
increase your baby’s risk of developing diabetes later in life.
Paying attention to diabetes nutrition and following a healthy
gestational diabetes diet can limit this risk by controlling
your blood sugar level and preventing too much sugar being
passed to your developing child.
Another reason to control the amount of sugar
your baby receives in the womb is to prevent them growing
overly large. This can cause pregnancy
complications and difficulties with
delivery. Controlling your blood sugar
through a gestational diabetes diet plan can reduce the
likelihood of you having a caesarean section or
experiencing birth complications.
What is
gestational diabetes ?
Some
women develop gestational diabetes
whilst they are pregnant because their bodies are unable to
produce enough insulin to meet the needs of their growing
baby. As with vitamins and minerals, a
mother’s body will always cater for the baby’s insulin needs
first, leaving her with too little insulin to control her own
blood sugar level. Pregnancy hormones can make the problem
worse by limiting the mother’s ability to produce insulin.
Gestational diabetes is not permanent, and will usually
correct itself once the baby is born. It does, however,
increase the mother’s chances of developing type 2 diabetes
later in life. Following a good gestational
diabetes diet plan is crucial for the wellbeing of both mother
and baby, and will reduce the risk of the mother developing
permanent diabetes.
Ask a professional
to help you with your gestational diabetes
diet
There is no one gestational diabetes diet plan
that will work for all women, so it is important that you
consult a specialist to get the right diet for
you. Nutritionist Bridget Swinney
says:
“I strongly recommend you see a
registered dietician who can create a diet particularly
suited for you, based on your weight, height, physical
activity, and the needs of your growing baby, as well as
your level of glucose
intolerance.”
A
dietician will also take into account the foods that you like
and dislike. Following a strict diet plan
during pregnancy, when cravings, morning sickness and hunger
pangs can easily take control, is never
easy. Creating a flexible diet plan based on
foods you enjoy will make controlling your blood sugar much
easier. You can even include specialist
treats such as diabetic chocolates for days when the cravings
cannot be ignored.
Here are some ways
to ensure your baby does not get too much
sugar
- Most pregnancy books will recommend fruit
juice and flavoured teas, but these should be limited
in your gestational diabetes diet plan.
They
release sugar into the bloodstream very quickly, and
can increase your blood sugar level
dramatically.
- Developing babies need a good source of
calcium, but if you have gestational diabetes you
should limit your milk intake to two glasses per
day. Milk contains a lot of
lactose, a simple sugar that will rapidly increase
your blood sugar. Try low fat
cheeses and calcium enriched cereals
instead.
- Eat
small meals and snacks during the day rather three big
meals that will suddenly raise your blood sugar
levels. Towards the end of your
pregnancy you may find eating smaller meals more
comfortable
anyway.
- Your blood sugar levels can be very
irregular in the morning, so even if you have morning
sickness you should not be tempted to skip
breakfast.
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diabetes diet
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