High blood sugar can be harmful to you and your baby. Gestational diabetes occurs when you are pregnant and you have chronic elevated blood glucose. Blood glucose can elevate when your production of insulin is not sufficient. Weight gain and hormonal changes due to pregnancy can cause this. To control your blood glucose, you need to plan your meals, choosing foods that won't elevate your blood glucose significantly.
Meal Plan Characteristics
When planning your meals, consider the amount of carbohydrates as well as their effect on your blood sugar. You should eat three small meals everyday, with two snacks in between. Try to limit your intake of carbohydrates to 15 g per meal and most of your carbohydrates should contain fiber. Limit your intake of candy and sugar. Aim to keep your blood glucose in a safe range by learning how food will affect your glucose.
Breakfast
For breakfast, try to plan a meal that can keep you satisfied until lunch. Try eating one-half of a toasted whole wheat English muffin topped with peanut butter. The fiber in the muffin and the protein in the peanut butter slows your digestion, which can keep you satisfied; it also allows for a moderate increase in blood glucose over a substantial amount of time, which can help you avoid a spike in blood sugar. Serve it with a side of low fat, sugar free yogurt, for a good boost of calcium.
Lunch
For lunch, a big salad can provide some much needed essential vitamins and minerals with a small amount of carbohydrates. Eat a healthy green salad including low carb vegetables like spinach and broccoli. Top your salad with some grilled chicken for added protein. Choose a low fat salad dressing like a vinaigrette.
Dinner
The American Diabetes Association recommends eating fish for at least two meals per week. For a healthy fish meal, bake a flaky white fish with some of your favorite herbs and spices. Top a healthy whole-grain source of carbohydrates like brown rice with your fish. Eat with a side of non-starchy vegetables like steamed carrots.
References
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Gestational Diabetes; April 2006
- Mendosa.com; The Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load; David Mendosa; August 22, 2002
- American Diabetes Association; Making Healthy Food Choices; 2011
- "Cecil Essentials of Medicine"; Thomas Andreoli, M.D. Charles Carpenter, M.D., Robert Griggs, M.D., Joseph Loscalzo, M.D., eds.; 2004
