Contents:
- Medical Video: Gestational Diabetes: Managing Risk During and After Pregnancy Video - Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- The ideal diet for pregnant women who have gestational diabetes, like what?
- This type of carbohydrate is good for pregnant women with diabetes
- How many carbohydrates should you consume?
- What about protein?
- What is the consumption of fat needed?
- Other things that need attention
Medical Video: Gestational Diabetes: Managing Risk During and After Pregnancy Video - Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Gestational diabetes is the condition of the emergence of diabetes during pregnancy, even though before pregnancy you have no history of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a complication of pregnancy which is fairly common. Gestational diabetes usually begins to develop around the 24th week of pregnancy. Diabetes during pregnancy can affect the health of the mother and fetus. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it is important for you to manage a healthy diet.
The ideal diet for pregnant women who have gestational diabetes, like what?
Just like other diabetes, the amount of carbohydrate intake can increase blood sugar levels (glucose). This glucose will be used by the body as the main energy source.
To prevent an increase in blood sugar when experiencing gestational diabetes, you can do the following:
- Eat small portions, but often (rather than 3 times a day, large portions, it's better to eat 6 times throughout the day in small portions) to maintain weight stability during pregnancy.
- Spread meal times. It is better to have a small meal with 3 times the main schedule and eat 3 snacks than in a day only eat 3 times in large portions
- Don't delay eating time, eat regularly.
- Reduce foods containing carbohydrates such as bread, milk, fruit, sweets, and soft drinks.
This type of carbohydrate is good for pregnant women with diabetes
Choose complex carbohydrates to meet your daily needs such as whole wheat bread, potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal pasta, oatmeal, corn quinoa, fresh fruit, yogurt, and others. These carbohydrate sources are carbohydrates which are also rich in other substances such as vitamins, minerals, and energy needed by the mother and fetus.Eat regularly throughout the day. But the portion must be calculated so as not to overdo it.
Food sources of complex carbohydrates have a low glycemic index value. A study reported that pregnant women with gestational diabetes who ate low glycemic index foods tended to rely less frequently on injecting insulin to balance their blood sugar levels. The reason is, foods with a low glycemic index will make you full longer, so cravings for snacking on sweets are even more controlled.
How about sugar? Sugar can still be consumed by pregnant women who have gestational diabetes. However, only half a teaspoon of sugar for each big meal schedule.
How many carbohydrates should you consume?
Each person's carbohydrate needs are basically different, according to age, level of physical activity, blood sugar levels, body weight, and health condition. Therefore, you should discuss it with your obstetrician or ask for a referral to a nutritionist to design a healthy diet and the amount of carbohydrates you need.
The big picture is roughly like this: breakfast 15-30 gr carbohydrates, morning snacks 15-30 grams carbohydrates, lunch 45-60 grams of carbohydrates, afternoon snacks 15-30 grams of carbohydrates, and dinner 45-60 grams of carbohydrates.
For estimates, 15 grams of carbohydrates are equivalent to:
- a piece of fresh bread
- 1/2 pound rice (+/- 50 grams)
- ½ cut medium size potatoes
- 1 medium apple
- 1 small banana
- 2 kiwifruit
- ½ medium-sized mango slices
- a glass of cow's milk (± 250 ml)
Try not to consume too much carbohydrate at the beginning of the day, because blood sugar tends to rise in the morning.
What about protein?
Protein is needed for baby's growth and mother's body needs. A good source of protein is low fat meat, lean chicken meat and skin, fish, eggs, nuts. These foods are safe because they do not directly affect blood sugar.
What is the consumption of fat needed?
Fat intake does not directly affect the mother's blood sugar. However, eating lots of fat can increase body weight. Excess weight during pregnancywill complicate the birth process and also make controlling blood sugar levels more difficult.
Limit the amount of fat consumed, especially saturated fat (butter, fatty meat), and replace it with small amounts of unsaturated fat. Examples of food sources of unsaturated fats are olive oil, sunflower oil, avocado. Choose lean meat and low-fat dairy products.
Other things that need attention
In addition, don't forget to avoid drinking liquor and limit consumption of caffeine, both from coffee, tea, and energy drinks. Expand eating fiber during pregnancy to prevent constipation and stabilize blood sugar surges from other food intake. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts such as peas are good sources of fiber for the body.
