If you have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, you will likely be given a diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes, or high blood glucose, that occurs only during pregnancy. You will often be able to control your blood sugar through healthy diet and exercise. Your physician should be involved in your dietary plan as each woman, particularly those with gestational diabetes, has different nutritional needs during pregnancy.
Background
According to the National Institutes of Health, gestational diabetes occurs in about 5 percent of all pregnancies. Normally, your body digests carbohydrates in your food and breaks them down into glucose, which is your body's primary energy source. Your pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin that helps move the glucose out of the bloodstream and into your cells where it can be used for fuel. If your body does not make enough insulin or your cells cannot use insulin appropriately, the glucose remains high in your bloodstream.
Carbohydrate Counting
As stated by the NIH, carbohydrate counting is one of the meal plans most frequently used for gestational diabetes. Examples of foods high in carbohydrates include bread, cereal, rice, pasta, starchy vegetables and dairy products. Carbohydrate counting means that you calculate the grams of carbohydrates in each meal and snack with the intent of staying within a certain range. The amount you can eat with each meal will be specific to you and determined by your physician or dietitian. Whole grain products such as whole wheat bread and oatmeal are complex carbohydrates and take longer to break down into glucose. For this reason, they are better choices if you have gestational diabetes.
Increased Fiber
Increasing dietary fiber in your diet is often recommended because fiber slows digestion and can help to control your blood sugar in this way. Examples of high fiber foods include fruits, vegetables, beans, peas and whole grain products. Fiber also helps to decrease constipation, which can be a problem during pregnancy.
Portion Size
Small meals eaten more frequently throughout the day can help to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Three small meals with two to four snacks daily is often recommended as is consuming small amounts of carbohydrates at each meal. This prevents your body from being exposed to a large amount of glucose at one time and prevents spikes in your blood sugar. You will need to check your blood sugar frequently to ensure that it is not too high or too low.
Benefits
Keeping your blood sugar under control during pregnancy enables you to maintain appropriate weight gain and nutrition. If your blood sugar is not well controlled, complications such as large body size, low blood sugar and respiratory problems can develop in your baby at birth. Uncontrolled gestational diabetes increases your risk of pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, a condition in which your blood pressure increases dangerously, and needing a cesarean delivery.
Considerations
In some cases, a healthy diet and physical exercise may not be enough to keep your blood glucose under control. In this situation your physician will likely prescribe insulin to help your body move glucose into your cells. Additionally, you and your baby will undergo extra monitoring to ensure that you are not developing complications associated with gestational diabetes.
