Women who are diabetic either before their pregnancy, or who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, must be mindful of how the food they eat affects their blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels fluctuate, they can spell trouble for the developing baby. To keep levels under control for the duration of pregnancy, women must follow a diabetic meal plan tailored for their needs.
Why a Meal Plan is Important
A woman who develops gestational diabetes must learn a new way to eat in order to keep her blood sugar levels from getting too high, which can cause problems for the developing baby. However, even women who were diabetic before pregnancy require some changes to be made to their eating plan, as their nutritional needs change and will continue to do so as the baby grows. Some women may require insulin during their pregnancy; however, others can maintain healthy ranges of blood sugar by simply monitoring what they eat. Every pregnant woman's dietary needs are different, and while there are general guidelines for a diabetic pregnancy diet, it is best to have a plan tailored to suit your personal needs.
Carbohydrate Counting
The American Dietetic Association recommends pregnant women with diabetes eat around 10 to 12 carbohydrate choices daily. A carbohydrate choice is the equivalent of 15 g of carbohydrates. It recommends calculating choices per serving using the product's nutritional information, if not already known. Around half of carbohydrate choices should come from fruits and vegetables and the rest a mix of whole grains and low-fat dairy products. These carbohydrate choices should be distributed throughout the day, between meals and snacks.
Proteins
Pregnant women need more protein than the average woman, and those with diabetes are no exception. However, protein choices may need to be balanced with carbohydrates in order to ensure each meal or snack has a healthy mix. While protein may be found in foods with carbohydrates, such as dairy products or cereals, some non-carbohydrate proteins are also important for the diabetic pregnancy diet. The American Dietetic Association recommends 4 to 6 oz. of proteins daily, such as fish, meat substitutes, poultry or lean meats.
Healthy Snacking
For pregnant women with diabetes, three square meals a day may cause blood sugar to fluctuate. Adding healthy snacks between meals can help keep blood sugar from dropping. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends pregnant women maintain a blood sugar level between 80 and 110 between meals and 155 after meals. However, because low blood sugar can be dangerous for both the mom to be and her unborn baby, it recommends keeping levels above 65, even during long stretches without food, such as overnight.
Foods to Avoid
Pregnant women with diabetes should keep foods high in saturated and trans fats to a minimum, as well as monitor their intake of sodium and refined sugar. Healthy eating is important for pregnant women to avoid excessive weight gain, which may increase the risk for complications. When preparing meals at home, choose olive oil over butter, and pass on the salt.
