Gestational diabetes, is a type of diabetes that only occurs during a women's pregnancy. Unlike other forms of diabetes, glucose metabolism is only affected during pregnancy and usually returns to normal soon after delivery. Gestational diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels, which can result in complications to your baby and yourself. There can be excess growth of your baby, which can become wedged in the birth canal; premature birth, which can cause your baby to have respiratory problems; and increased risk of the baby getting type 2 diabetes later in life. Also, your baby may experience hypoglycemia -- low blood sugar -- after birth because he is used to producing high amounts of insulin, which causes glucose to rush into the muscles and tissues and leave the bloodstream. This happens as a result of your own high levels of insulin during the pregnancy due to the gestational diabetes. Poorly managed blood glucose levels in the mother can result in pre-eclampsia and increases your risk of future diabetes as well. However, you can manage your glucose levels by following a diabetic diet and taking good care of yourself.
Breakfast Menu
For breakfast, have a slice of whole-grain bread with two egg whites and one slice of fat-free cheese, and as a beverage you can have a cup of skim milk. If you are lactose intolerant or prefer an alternative, substitute 1 cup of soymilk. If you want, you can also have 1 cup of decaffeinated tea or coffee as well. You should also have a mid-morning snack. As a snack, you can have 2/3 of a cup of cottage cheese with six whole-wheat saltine crackers.
Lunch Menu
For lunch, have 2 to 4 ounces of baked or olive oil pan-fried chicken breast with ½ cup to 1 cup of brown rice. Additionally, you can have a 1 cup of salad without croutons or 1/2 cup of cooked green vegetables. To drink, have either water or 1 cup of skim milk or light soymilk. For dessert, you can have ½ cup of fruit. Again, if you feel hungry between lunch and dinner you should have a mid-afternoon snack. As a snack you can have 2 tablespoons of almonds and ½ banana.
Dinner Menu
For dinner, have 3 to 4 ounces of fish like salmon, tuna or mahi-mahi. Remember to only eat fish once a week in order to limit your mercury intake levels. Have a baked potato with 1 tbsp. of butter, and ½ cup of cooked green vegetables. Again, as a beverage, have 1 cup of skim milk or light soymilk, or water. For dessert, you can enjoy half a medium-sized chocolate chip cookie or a small piece of flourless chocolate cake, or ½ cup of fresh fruit.
Other Snack Ideas
There are many other things you can have as snacks. You can choose one of the following: 6 ounces of a light or low-fat yogurt; 1 orange; 3 graham crackers; 1 slice of whole wheat bread with peanut butter or almond butter; 3 crackers with 1 ounce of cheese and ½ small apple; ½ cup of cottage cheese with ½ cup of strawberries cut in half; ¾ cup of a fiber-rich cereal like whole-grain Cheerios; or 15 baby carrots with 2 tablespoons of a light ranch dressing.
