A small percentage of pregnant women, between about three percent and eight percent, develop a condition known as gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, often starting around the twenty sixth week, but it can be earlier. It is a temporary form of diabetes that normally ends with the birth of the new baby.
Although a temporary form, gestational diabetes must be taken seriously and properly treated, probably with the implementation of a custom gestational diabetes diet devised by a dietitian and perhaps an addition of some physical exercise to the daily routine.
Like all forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes is characterized by the existence of higher than normal levels of glucose in the bloodstream. The source of the glucose is the foods eaten each day and primarily from the foods with significant carbohydrate content.
An appropriate gestational diabetes diet will provide all the essential nutrients, the proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals for the continuing good health of mother and baby but will pay special attention to the carbohydrate foods that cause the greatest affect in raising blood sugar levels.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are essential sources of energy needed by the cells of the body. Carbohydrates are composed of molecules of sugars, starches, and fiber, joined together in a chainlike structure. They can be described as “simple” or “complex”, depending on the number of and type of sugar molecules that make up the chain. After being eaten, the body’s digestive system converts and breaks down the carbohydrate chains to individual glucose molecules that are then passed into the bloodstream.
For the person with diabetes, the simple carbohydrates are the biggest problem because their sugars enter the bloodstream quickly compared with those of the complex carbohydrates. The diabetic condition involves an impairment in the body’s system to easily process and absorb the sugars and that results in the higher blood sugar levels that must be avoided or minimized as much as possible because they can lead to more serious health conditions if not controlled.
Because of the foregoing, it is likely that the gestational diabetes diet will eliminate the simple carbohydrate foods, the sweet tasting products that are high in sugars, such as cookies, table sugar, honey, candy, pies, pastries, and cake.
As well as allowing a more gradual entry of glucose into the bloodstream there is an additional nutritional advantage in depending more on complex carbohydrates in the diet because they usually provide additional vitamins, minerals, and fiber, beneficial for good health.
The choice of good carbohydrates for the diet will include such foods as fresh fruits and most vegetables (but probably not potatoes and possible a few others), legumes, beans, nuts and seeds, whole grain breads and cereals.
A balanced diet will also provide an appropriate ratio of proteins and fats in relation to the carbohydrates.
Proteins
Foods in this nutrient category, with some exceptions due to personal preferences, are: lean meats, fish, chicken without the skin, low fat cheeses and milk, eggs, yogurt. The carbohydrate content of these protein foods is minimal.
Fats
Essential for good health, fats should be mainly unsaturated fats with fewer saturated and transfats. Good fats are found in olive oil, canola and other vegetable oils and in many nuts such as hazel nuts, almonds, walnuts and Brazil nuts. The omega-3 fatty acids are also found in cold water fish such as salmon, preferably of the wild variety in preference to farmed fish.
Beverages
Eight glasses of liquid daily is a common recommendation with water as the main source.
Avoid sugary pops and soft drinks. Caffeinated drinks such as tea and
coffee may be approved by the dietitian but probably limited to two per
day. There are non caffeinated forms of those popular drinks.
Usually, sweeteners such as Nutrasweet and Equal that use aspartame are acceptable and also Splenda find favor with dietitians.
The general guidelines are to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grain cereals and breads, while avoiding processed, refined, and fried foods and saturated fats as much as possible. Choose low fat dairy foods and lean meats and skinless poultry. Eat enough but don’t eat too much. And if the doctor approves, exercise, even moderate exercise can be beneficial, during pregnancy and long after.
In conclusion
The doctor and the supporting healthcare team, including the dietitian are the authorities and will monitor and manage the pregnancy and any accompanying gestational diabetes.