What Is a Gestational Diabetes Diet?
A gestational diabetes diet is intended to keep your blood glucose within a target range. If you have gestational diabetes, you will talk with a dietitian or a diabetes educator who will design a diet plan to help you choose foods that are healthy for you and your baby. The plan will provide guidelines on:
* Which foods to eat
* When to eat
* How much to eat.
Choices, amounts, and timing are all important in keeping your blood glucose levels in your target range.
This article is intended to provide an overview of the diet for gestational diabetes; it is not meant to replace the interaction with your healthcare provider.
The Importance of a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet for gestational diabetes is one that includes a balance of foods from all the food groups, giving you the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy.
For women with gestational diabetes, such a diet also helps to keep blood sugar levels in the healthy target range.
Because eating a healthy diet is such an important part of a treatment plan for gestational diabetes, women should not try to create their own diets. To promote health throughout your pregnancy, it is essential that you work with your healthcare provider to create a plan for your healthy gestational diabetes diet. It is also important that you follow the plan once it has been designed.
The Food Pyramid
The Diabetes Food Pyramid is a general guide of what and how much to eat each day as part of your diabetes diet. It applies to people with diabetes, including gestational diabetes.
It is similar to the Food Pyramid you see on many food packages. The pyramid is divided into six groups. You should eat more foods from the largest group at the base of the pyramid and less from the smaller groups at the top of the pyramid.
The number of servings needed every day is not the same for everyone, so for a gestational diabetes diet, a range of servings is provided to ensure you get the foods you need for good health.
The food groups and suggested servings per day as part of the diet for gestational diabetes include:
* Grains, beans, and starchy vegetables: (good source of fiber and B vitamins) 6 or more servings/day.
* Fruits: (contain vitamins C, A, potassium, folate, and fiber) 3 to 4 servings a day.
* Vegetables: (provide vitamins A, C, folate, and fiber) 3 to 5 servings a day.
* Milk: (source of calcium, protein, vitamins A and D) 4 to 5 servings a day.
* Meats and others: (good source of iron, zinc, B vitamins, and protein) 2 to 3 servings a day.
* Fats, sweets, and alcohol: The foods at the tip of the pyramid should be eaten in small amounts. Fats and oils should be limited because they are high in calories. Sweets are high in sugar and should only be eaten once in a while.
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