Gestational Diabetes Diet

What is a gestational diabetes diet?

A gestational diabetes diet is an eating plan to help control blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. If you develop gestational diabetes, you will need to control your blood sugar levels by controlling the amount of carbohydrate you eat. Too much carbohydrate at one time can cause your blood sugar to rise to a very high level. A gestational diabetes diet can help you balance carbohydrates with other nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy and baby. Blood sugar levels return to normal for most women after they give birth.

Why are diet changes important in gestational diabetes?

A healthy diet is important for your baby's health and for you to gain the right amount of weight during your pregnancy. High blood sugar levels throughout your pregnancy can cause you to have a large baby, and can lead to other medical problems.

Which meal plan is right for me?

The amount of calories, carbohydrate, and other nutrients that you need depends on several factors. Some of these factors include your weight before pregnancy, your current weight gain, your current physical activity level, and your blood glucose level. A dietitian will tell you the amount of calories, carbohydrate, and other nutrients you need each day. To eat the right amount of carbohydrate, you can use one of several meal planning methods. Some meal planning methods are carbohydrate counting and diabetes exchanges. Your dietitian will help you find a meal plan that works best for you.

What are some general diet guidelines I should follow?

• Spread carbohydrates throughout the day by eating 3 small to medium-sized meals plus 2 to 4 snacks. You may need to eat a snack in the evening to avoid low blood sugar during the night. Eat the same amount of carbohydrate during meals and snacks from day to day to help keep your blood sugar level under control.
  
  
• Carbohydrate at breakfast may cause your blood sugar level to rise very quickly. It may be helpful to eat fewer servings of carbohydrate at breakfast than at other meals. You can add protein such as eggs, beef, turkey, or chicken to your breakfast to satisfy your hunger.
  
  
• Your dietitian may suggest that you limit sweets in order to limit the amount of carbohydrate in your diet. Sweets such as regular soft drinks, sweetened drinks, desserts, and candy are high in carbohydrate and low in nutrients. It may be easier for you to follow your meal plan by avoiding sweets.
  
  
• Carbohydrate is a very important part of your diet. Do not skip meals or avoid eating carbohydrate to try and control your blood sugar levels. Skipping meals and avoiding carbohydrates can cause your blood sugar levels to fall too low.
  
  
• It may take time to get the right balance between diet and blood sugar levels. Keep regular appointments with your dietitian and caregiver so they can help you control your blood sugar levels.

Which foods contain carbohydrate?

Below is a list of some of the foods that contain carbohydrate. There are many other foods that contain carbohydrate. Ask your dietitian for more information about the amount of carbohydrate found in other foods.

Breads:

Each serving of food listed below contains about 15 grams (g) of carbohydrate .

• One-ounce slice of bread
  
  
• One ounce of a bagel (equal to about one-fourth of a bagel from a bagel shop or bakery)
  
  
• One 4-inch pancake (about one-fourth of an inch thick)
  
  
• One 6-inch flour or corn tortilla

Cereals and grains:

Serving sizes of ready-to-eat cereals vary. Look at the serving size and the total carbohydrate amount listed on the food label. Each serving of food listed below contains about 15 g of carbohydrate .

• Three-fourths of a cup of unsweetened, ready-to-eat cereal or one-fourth cup of low-fat granola
  
  
• One-half cup of cooked cereal or oatmeal
  
  
• One-third cup of pasta or rice

Starchy vegetables:

Each serving of food listed below contains about 15 g of carbohydrate .

• One-half cup of corn, green peas, sweet potatoes, or mashed potatoes
  
  
• One-fourth of a large baked potato
  
  
• One cup of winter squash (acorn, pumpkin)

Beans, peas, and lentils:

Each serving of food listed below contains about 15 g of carbohydrate .

• One-half cup of beans and peas (garbanzo, pinto, kidney, white, split, black-eyed)
  
  
• Two-third cup of lima beans
  
  
• One-half cup of lentils

Crackers and snacks:

Each serving of food listed below contains about 15 g of carbohydrate .

• Three graham cracker squares or 8 animal crackers
  
  
• Six saltine-type crackers
  
  
• Three cups of popcorn
  
  
• Three-fourths of an ounce of pretzels

Fruit:

Each serving of food listed below contains about 15 g of carbohydrate .

• One small (4 ounce) piece of fresh fruit. Weigh fresh fruit at the grocery store. Large pieces of fruit usually weigh more than 4 ounces and count as more than one serving.
  
  
• One-half cup of canned or fresh fruit
  
  
• One-half cup (4 ounces) of unsweetened fruit juice
  
  
• One-fourth cup of dried fruit

Sweets:

Each serving of food listed below contains about 15 g of carbohydrate .

• One 2-inch square of an unfrosted brownie
  
  
• Two small cookies
  
  
• One-half cup of sugar-free, fat-free ice cream

Milk and yogurt:

Foods from the milk and yogurt group contain about 12 g of carbohydrate per serving.

• One cup of milk
  
  
• Three-fourths of a cup of plain, nonfat yogurt
  
  
• One cup of fat-free, flavored yogurt sweetened with artificial sweetener

Non-starchy vegetables:

Each serving contains about 5 grams of carbohydrate .

• One-half cup of cooked vegetables or one cup of raw vegetables. Some of these vegetables include beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, mushrooms, tomatoes, and zucchini.
  
  
• One-half cup of vegetable juice

What other guidelines should I follow?

• Check your blood sugar levels: Check your blood sugar levels at least 3 times each day. Ask your caregiver how and when to test your blood sugar levels. Ask if you need to write down your blood sugar level each time you check it. You may need to bring this information to follow-up visits.
  
  
• Get regular exercise: Regular exercise can also help to keep your blood sugar levels under control. It also helps keep your heart healthy and may help to decrease discomfort during later pregnancy. Talk to your caregiver about the type and amount of physical activity that is best for you.
  
  
• Include fiber in your diet: Choose foods that are good sources of fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads and cereals. Cereals that contain 5 or more grams of fiber per serving are good sources of fiber. Legumes such as garbanzo, pinto beans, kidney beans, and lentils are also good sources.
  
  
• Limit fat in your diet: Ask your dietitian or caregiver how much fat you should eat each day. Choose foods low in fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. Examples include low-fat protein foods such as poultry (turkey or chicken) without the skin, fish, lean cuts of meat, and beans. Low-fat dairy foods, such as one percent low-fat or fat-free milk and low-fat yogurt are also good choices.

Contact your caregiver if:

• You have questions about your diet or are having trouble following your diet.
  
  
• Your blood sugar levels are high, even though you have made changes to your diet.
  
  
• You have low blood sugar levels during certain times of the day.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.