Gestational Diabetes

How to Deal with Gestational Diabetes during Pregnancy
Here are the top 6 ways to deal with gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

1. Monitor Blood Sugar Level Regularly
   In order to reduce the risk of complications from gestational diabetes, it is important to keep a close eye
   on your blood sugar level.
   You’ll need a diabetes kit that includes needles to prick your finger, test strips and a little machine called
   a meter that reads your blood sugar.
   After pricking your finger, squeeze a drop of the blood onto a test strip and insert it into the meter.
   Within a few seconds, the machine will display your sugar level. Check with your health insurance
   company to see if it will pay some or all of the cost of the kit.
   Check your blood sugar level first thing in the morning to get your fasting rate and then two hours after
   eating your first meal. Also, check your blood sugar level an hour after you eat each subsequent meal to
   make sure your blood sugar stays in a healthy range.
   Your fasting blood sugar level should be less than 95 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), while your two-
   hour postprandial blood sugar goal should be less than 120 mg/dL. Your one-hour postprandial blood
   sugar goal should be less than 130 mg/dL.
   If your sugar level is high, consult your doctor immediately.
2. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
   It’s very important to eat a healthy breakfast. Skipping breakfast is a big NO for pregnant women.
   Not eating anything for several hours can make it difficult to control your blood sugar level in the
   morning because of fluctuations in hormone levels.
   On the other hand, eating a good breakfast can help regulate your blood sugar levels throughout the
   morning. A low glycemic index breakfast that consists of starch plus protein is a good option.
   Porridge, oatmeal, eggs, whole-grain cereals and low-fat yogurt are good choices. Another good option
   is to drink a glass of spinach juice daily for breakfast.
   Refined cereals, white bread, fruits and even milk should be avoided in the morning meal.
3. Eat the Right Carbohydrates
   Carbohydrates are an important part of any kind of diabetes diet, including GDM. Carbohydrates provide
   the fuel for your body and for your growing baby.
   But before including carbohydrate-rich foods in your diet, it is important to remember that not all
   carbohydrates are beneficial.
   Complex carbohydrates break down to more valuable forms of sugar, which are harder to digest. These
   carbohydrates have less impact on the insulin fluctuations in the body. Hence, when suffering from
   gestational diabetes, eat more complex carbohydrates to help manage your blood sugar levels.
   Complex carbohydrates are found in foods like peas, legumes, beans, oats, quinoa, okra, carrots and
   whole grains.
   At the same time, avoid simple carbohydrates found in white bread and empty carbohydrates found in
   junk food completely during the pregnancy period.
   Make sure to spread out your carbohydrate intake over your meals and snacks throughout the day.
4. Eat High-Fiber Foods
   To keep your blood sugar level normal, it is important to increase your fiber intake. Fiber stimulates the
   activity of insulin receptors and inhibits the release of excess insulin into the bloodstream, thus helping
   to balance the blood sugar level.
   Fiber-rich foods also tend to have a low glycemic index.
   In fact, fiber should be a part of your regular diet anyways, due to its key digestive and cardiovascular
   benefits for your health.
   A 2006 study published in Diabetes Care suggested that a woman’s prepregnancy diet might be
   associated with her GDM risk. In particular, a diet with low fiber and high glycemic load was associated
   with an increased risk.
   Eat foods high in fiber and low in fat and calories. Such foods include fresh low glycemic index fruit and
   vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, and dried peas, beans and pulses.
5. Do Some Exercise
   Regardless of whether you have gestational diabetes, regular exercise during pregnancy is important.
   Along with preventing a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy weight gain during pregnancy, it helps
   improve glucose metabolism and reduces insulin resistance.
   As an added benefit, exercise can help relieve some common discomforts of pregnancy, including back
   pain, muscle cramps, swelling, constipation and trouble sleeping. It will also prepare you mentally and
   physically for the birth of your baby.
   Walking is the best exercise when you are pregnant, but make sure never to exert yourself. Incorporate
   more walking into your day by walking to the local shops instead of driving, walking in an open garden
   or park, and moving around while using the phone.
   Note: Before starting or continuing any form of physical activity during pregnancy, always consult with
   your obstetrician or midwife.
6. Opt for a Sugar-Free Diet
   No matter how much you have a craving for something sweet, you must be strong enough to survive the
   last few months of your pregnancy without sugary foods.
   Avoid all kinds of sugary products, including sweets, desserts, ice cream, cookies, candies, baked
   products and sweet fruits like mangoes or bananas. Additionally, avoid all regular sodas and sugar-
   sweetened beverages like packaged fruit juices. These items often contain large amounts of sugr and
   calories but offer very little in terms of nutrition.
   Following a no-sugar diet will significantly help you manage your blood sugar levels.
   However, to satisfy your cravings, you can use artificial sweeteners instead of added sugars. Aspartame
   and sucralose are artificial sweeteners that have been approved as safe to eat during pregnancy.
   However, avoid sugar alcohols like sorbitol and xylitol.