What To Eat With Gestational Diabetes?

What To Eat With Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that starts during pregnancy. Eating a balanced, healthy diet can help you manage gestational diabetes. The diet recommendations that follow are for women with gestational diabetes who do NOT take insulin.

Plenty of whole fruits and vegetablesModerate amounts of lean proteins and healthy fatsModerate amounts of whole grains, such as bread, cereal, pasta, and rice, plus starchy vegetables, such as corn and peasFewer foods that have a lot of sugar, such as soft drinks, fruit juices, and pastries

You should eat three small- to moderate-sized meals and one or more snacks each day. Do not skip meals and snacks. Keep the amount and types of food (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) about the same from day to day. This can help you keep your blood sugar stable. CARBOHYDRATES

Less than half the calories you eat should come from carbohydrates.Most carbohydrates are found in starchy or sugary foods. They include bread, rice, pasta, cereal, potatoes, peas, corn, fruit, fruit juice, milk, yogurt, cookies, candy, soda, and other sweets.High-fiber, whole-grain carbohydrates are healthy choices. These types of carbohydrates are called complex carbohydrates.Try to avoid eating simple carbohydrates, such as potatoes, french-fries, white rice, candy, soda, and other sweets. This is because they cause your blood sugar to rise quickly after you eat such foods.Vegetables are good for your health and your blood sugar. Enjoy lots of them.Carbohydrates in food are measured in grams. You can learn to count the amount of carbohydrates in the foods that you eat.

GRAINS, BEANS, AND STARCHY VEGETABLES Eat 6 or more servings a day. One serving equals:

1 slice bread1 ounce (28 grams) ready-to-eat cereal1/2 cup (105 grams) cooked rice or pasta1 English muffin

Choose foods loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy carbohydrates. They include:

Whole-grain breads and crackersWhole grain cerealsWhole grains, such as barley or oatsBeansBrown or wild riceWhole-wheat pastaStarchy vegetables, such as corn and peas

Use whole-wheat or other whole-grain flours in cooking and baking. Eat more low-fat breads, such as tortillas, English muffins, and pita bread. VEGETABLES Eat 3 to 5 servings a day. One serving equals:

1 cup (340 grams) leafy, green vegetables1 cup (340 grams) cooked or chopped raw leafy vegetables3/4 cup (255 grams) vegetable juice1/2 cup (170 grams) of chopped vegetables, cooked or raw

Healthy vegetable choices include:

Fresh or frozen vegetables without added sauces, fats, or saltDark green and deep yellow vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, carrots, and peppers

FRUITS Eat 2 to 4 servings a day. One serving equals:

1 medium whole fruit (such as a banana, apple, or orange)1/2 cup (170 grams) chopped, frozen, cooked, or canned fruit3/4 cup (180 milliliters) fruit juice

Healthy fruit choices include:

Whole fruits rather than juices. They have more fiber.Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines.Fruit juices without added sugar.Fresh fruits and juices. They are more nutritious than frozen or canned varieties.

MILK AND DAIRY Eat 4 servings of low-fat or nonfat dairy products a day. One serving equals:

1 cup (240 milliliters) milk or yogurt1 1/2 oz (42 grams) natural cheese2 oz (56 grams) processed cheese

Healthy dairy choices include:

Low-fat or nonfat milk or yogurt. Avoid yogurt with added sugar or artificial sweeteners.Dairy products are a great source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus.

PROTEIN (MEAT, FISH, DRY BEANS, EGGS, AND NUTS) Eat 2 to 3 servings a day. One serving equals:

2 to 3 oz (55 to 84 grams) cooked meat, poultry, or fish1/2 cup (170 grams) cooked beans1 egg2 tablespoons (30 grams) peanut butter

Healthy protein choices include:

Fish and poultry. Remove the skin from chicken and turkey.Lean cuts of beef, veal, pork, or wild game.Trim all visible fat from meat. Bake, roast, broil, grill, or boil instead of frying. Foods from this group are excellent sources of B vitamins, protein, iron, and zinc.

SWEETS

Sweets are high in fat and sugar, so limit how often you eat them. Keep portion sizes small.Even sugar-free sweets may not be the best choice. This is because they may not be free of carbohydrates or calories.Ask for extra spoons or forks and split your dessert with others.

FATS In general, you should limit your intake of fatty foods.

Go easy on butter, margarine, salad dressing, cooking oil, and desserts.Avoid fats high in saturated fat such as hamburger, cheese, bacon, and butter.Don’t cut fats and oils from your diet entirely. They provide energy for growth and are essential for baby’s brain development.Choose healthy oils, such as canola oil, olive oil, peanut oil, and safflower oil. Include nuts, avocados, and olives.

OTHER LIFESTYLE CHANGES Your provider may also suggest a safe exercise plan. Walking is usually the easiest type of exercise, but swimming or other low-impact exercises can work just as well. Exercise can help you keep your blood sugar in control. YOUR HEALTH CARE TEAM IS THERE TO HELP YOU In the beginning, meal planning may be overwhelming.

But it will get easier as you gain more knowledge about foods and their effects on your blood sugar.
If you’re having problems with meal planning, talk with your health care team.
They are there to help you.
Gestational diabetes diet ACOG Practice Bulletin No.190: Gestational diabetes mellitus.
Obstet Gynecol,2018;131(2):e49-e64.

What can I eat for breakfast with gestational diabetes?

Breakfast cereals AKA ‘GD kryptonite’! – The majority of dietitians and hospital dietary info. will suggest a suitable gestational diabetes breakfast as one of the following; Weetabix, Bran flakes, All Bran, Shreddies, Shredded Wheat, Granola, No added sugar Muesli, or porridge oats with semi-skimmed, or skimmed milk.

How do I eat enough with gestational diabetes?

Steps to get started –

Begin Counting Carbohydrates. To manage your blood sugar you will learn a technique called “carbohydrate (“carb”) counting”. This system helps you balance your meals and snacks throughout the day. Begin by reading the Nutrition Facts labels for “Total Carbohydrates”. Your target for will likely be 30-45 grams for meals and 15-30 grams for snacks. Details about Carbohydrate Counting.
Eat smaller amounts of carbohydrates at each meal. Rather than eating a large amount of carbohydrate at a single meal, spread out your carbohydrates throughout the day. Eating carbohydrates directly affects your blood sugar level, so eating a smaller amount of carbohydrate at regular intervals through the day will help keep your blood sugar from rising too high after a meal
Eat small, frequent meals and snacks. Eat about every 2 to 3 hours. Because you are eating fewer carbohydrates at your meals, you will needs to eat more frequently in order to meet your daily nutritional needs. Plan at least 3 meals and 3 snacks a day.
Include protein at meals and snacks. You protein needs increase during your last trimester. Protein may help even out your blood glucose. It may also help you feel more satisfied throughout the day.
Eat a very small breakfast, with a similar mid-morning snack about 2 hours later. Blood glucose levels tends to be higher in the morning. To offset this, your meal plan will probably include fewer carbs at breakfast than at lunch or dinner.
Have a nighttime snack. It is good to eat a snack before you go to sleep to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level overnight. Some examples of healthy snacks include: a Greek yogurt, an apple with peanut butter or whole grain crackers with cheese.Choose high-fiber foods. Good sources include whole-grain breads and cereals, fresh and frozen vegetables, and beans. Fruits can also a good source of fiber — most plans include fruit in afternoon or evening meals and snacks.
Watch out for sugar and concentrated sweets.
- Do not drink fruit juice. Plan to get your fruit servings later in the day (not at breakfast). Although fruits are a healthy source of carbohydrate, their carbs are easily absorbed and tend to raise blood glucose levels quickly.
- Avoid regular soft drinks, fruit juice and fruit drinks. High-carbohydrate drinks like these raise your blood glucose quickly.
- Limit desserts such as ice cream, pies, cakes, and cookies. These foods often have large amounts of added sugar, honey, or other sweeteners.
- Read labels carefully and check them for total carbohydrates per serving.
Be careful about fat
- Consume lean protein foods, such as poultry and fish. Avoid high fat meats, lunch meat, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs.
- Remove all visible fat by removing the skin of poultry and trimming fat from meat.
- Bake, broil, steam, boil, or grill foods.
- Avoid frying. If you do fry foods, use nonstick pans, vegetable oil spray, or small amounts (1 to 2 teaspoons) of oil.
- Use skim or low-fat (1%) milk and dairy products.
- Limit or avoid adding extra fat, such as butter, margarine, sour cream, mayonnaise, avocados, cream, cream cheese, salad dressing, or nuts.
- Limit convenience foods. These are often higher in carbohydrate, fat, and sodium.
- Avoid instant noodles, canned soup, instant potatoes, frozen meals, and packaged foods.

Is it OK to eat bananas with gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that starts during pregnancy. Eating a balanced, healthy diet can help you manage gestational diabetes. The diet recommendations that follow are for women with gestational diabetes who do NOT take insulin.

GRAINS, BEANS, AND STARCHY VEGETABLES Eat 6 or more servings a day. One serving equals:

1 slice bread1 ounce (28 grams) ready-to-eat cereal1/2 cup (105 grams) cooked rice or pasta1 English muffin

Choose foods loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy carbohydrates. They include:

Whole-grain breads and crackersWhole grain cerealsWhole grains, such as barley or oatsBeansBrown or wild riceWhole-wheat pastaStarchy vegetables, such as corn and peas

1 cup (340 grams) leafy, green vegetables1 cup (340 grams) cooked or chopped raw leafy vegetables3/4 cup (255 grams) vegetable juice1/2 cup (170 grams) of chopped vegetables, cooked or raw

Healthy vegetable choices include:

Fresh or frozen vegetables without added sauces, fats, or saltDark green and deep yellow vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, carrots, and peppers

FRUITS Eat 2 to 4 servings a day. One serving equals:

1 medium whole fruit (such as a banana, apple, or orange)1/2 cup (170 grams) chopped, frozen, cooked, or canned fruit3/4 cup (180 milliliters) fruit juice

Healthy fruit choices include:

MILK AND DAIRY Eat 4 servings of low-fat or nonfat dairy products a day. One serving equals:

1 cup (240 milliliters) milk or yogurt1 1/2 oz (42 grams) natural cheese2 oz (56 grams) processed cheese

Healthy dairy choices include:

Low-fat or nonfat milk or yogurt. Avoid yogurt with added sugar or artificial sweeteners.Dairy products are a great source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus.

PROTEIN (MEAT, FISH, DRY BEANS, EGGS, AND NUTS) Eat 2 to 3 servings a day. One serving equals:

2 to 3 oz (55 to 84 grams) cooked meat, poultry, or fish1/2 cup (170 grams) cooked beans1 egg2 tablespoons (30 grams) peanut butter

Healthy protein choices include:

SWEETS

FATS In general, you should limit your intake of fatty foods.

But it will get easier as you gain more knowledge about foods and their effects on your blood sugar.
If you’re having problems with meal planning, talk with your health care team.
They are there to help you.
Gestational diabetes diet ACOG Practice Bulletin No.190: Gestational diabetes mellitus.
Obstet Gynecol,2018;131(2):e49-e64.

Blickstein I, Perlman S, Hazan Y, Shinwell ES.
Pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus.
In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, Walsh MC, eds.
Fanaroff and Martin’s Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine,11th ed.
Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 18.
Landon MB, Catalano PM, Gabbe SG.
Diabetes mellitus complicating pregnancy.

Can I eat every hour with gestational diabetes?

For your meals and snacks: Eat every 2 to 3 hours. That means 6 to 7 times each day, including 3 meals and 3 to 4 snacks. Don’t go more than 8 to 10 hours without eating overnight.

Can I eat chocolate if I have gestational diabetes?

Gestational Diabetes and Chocolate – Many crave chocolate when not pregnant, let alone when pregnant! Those with gestational diabetes suffer all the same cravings that those without GDM do – but they are limited in what they can choose to indulge those cravings.

In general, those with gestational diabetes are instructed to eat complex carbohydrates (carbs that take a longer time to digest) over simple ones – and they are often told to avoid sweets, candy, desserts, sweet baked goods, and – yes – chocolate! Dark chocolate is not only lower in sugar than milk (and white) chocolate, but also better for you,

Sugar-free chocolate is a good alternative whether you like dark or milk chocolate. The important thing is to read labels to determine with what chocolate is sweetened (all chocolate bars and treats, even dark ones, are sweetened). Glucose, sucrose, fructose, lactose, and other ingredients ending in ose are sugars and should be avoided when living with gestational diabetes.

Even natural sweeteners, like honey, agave, and other fruit juices need to be avoided, as do dried fruits within the chocolate bar or treat (raisins, dates, mangoes, bananas, etc., even cranberries should be avoided) because the sugar content of dried fruit is very high and enters the bloodstream very quickly.

Sugar alcohols (usually ending in tol ) are safer to eat because they are digested differently and usually have very little impact on blood sugar levels but most sugar alcohols (mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol, etc., may have nasty effects on your digestive system, causing bloating, gas, diarrhea, and even nausea.

What should I eat the morning of my gestational diabetes test?

How To Prepare – 1 hour test –

Eat a meal low in carbohydrates before this test. Example of foods to eat for breakfast would be eggs, cheese, bacon and or sausage. Avoid breads, cereals and fruit juices. Example of foods for lunch would be lettuce/salad with any kind of meat. Green beans, broccoli and any leafy vegetable. Avoid fried foods, no bread, soft drinks with sugar or sweet tea.1 1/2 – 2 hours after eating, drink the entire 59 gram glucola drink.Be at the office 30 minutes after finishing the cola. This is to insure that you are at the clinic on time for your blood work which will be drawn 1 hour after drinking the cola.When you check in at the fron desk, be sure and tell the receptionist what time you finished drinking the cola.

What time should I eat breakfast with gestational diabetes?

Eat every 2 to 3 hours. That means 6 to 7 times each day, including 3 meals and 3 to 4 snacks. Don’t go more than 8 to 10 hours without eating overnight. Have a snack shortly before bedtime and eat breakfast soon after waking up.

What is considered a good breakfast for diabetics?

High fiber options: –

Oatmeal and other whole grain breads or cereals.
Fruit, especially berries, apples, pears, avocado.
Seeds like chia, flax, or hemp seeds. Adding 1-2 tablespoons to a smoothie, cereal, or yogurt is an easy way to boost fiber in your breakfast
Beans. While less popular in American, baked beans on toast is part of traditional English breakfast. Or, try adding black beans or pinto beans to a breakfast burrito or a breakfast hash.

Related: Meal Prep: Breakfast on the Go