What Should You Eat If You Have Gestational Diabetes – Contents: Dr. Nikita Toshi BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Reviews), Dr. Ritu Budania MBBS, MD (Pharmaceutical) Head, Medical Affairs and Dt. Ami Shah PG Clinical Nutrition (Heart and Diabetes), Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator
Pregnancy is a period of much joy in a woman’s life. But as the body adapts to support and feed the baby, it is important to monitor the health of the mother and the unborn child to prevent complications during pregnancy. And if the mother gets diabetes, it may affect the child’s health. Sometimes there is a lot of unwanted advice from friends and family which makes the mother nervous. So, instead of listening to the naysayers, let’s learn more about gestational diabetes.
What Should You Eat If You Have Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a condition associated with pregnancy. Although gestational diabetes has the potential to adversely affect both the mother and her unborn child, research shows that following a healthy diet for gestational diabetes can help the mother manage the condition.
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But before exploring a complete diet for gestational diabetes, let’s first dive into some related questions. Questions like what is gestational diabetes, some symptoms of gestational diabetes, risk factors and causes of gestational diabetes and then how to treat gestational diabetes with a healthy diet.
Gestational diabetes mellitus, also known as gestational diabetes, is a condition in which women develop diabetes or high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. One of the three types of diabetes, gestational diabetes can occur regardless of whether or not a pregnant woman had diabetes before becoming pregnant.
However, it usually occurs in people who have never had diabetes before. Gestational diabetes during pregnancy also does not mean that you will still have high sugar levels after giving birth. For most women, it disappears soon after giving birth. But unfortunately, if you suffer from gestational diabetes, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes in the future.
Gestational diabetes usually occurs at the end of the second trimester, especially between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Usually, at the end of the second trimester, it is common for your diabetes specialist to perform a gestational diabetes test as a precaution. If left untreated or undiagnosed, gestational diabetes increases the risk of your baby developing diabetes in the future. So it is better if we treat it on time so that we can reduce the risk and complications of gestational diabetes during pregnancy and delivery. In this case, a diet recommended by a nutritionist for gestational diabetes is very helpful in controlling the mother’s blood sugar level and protecting the baby.
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In this chapter we look at some of the complications of gestational diabetes and how they affect the baby. Complications can be harmful to the developing baby and that is why timely diagnosis is important for the impact during pregnancy. Both the pregnant mother and her baby can experience complications with gestational diabetes. Here are some ways gestational diabetes can affect your baby:
Higher than normal birth weight – High blood sugar levels during pregnancy can cause the baby to be larger than normal. This is one of the complications of diabetes during pregnancy that can lead to birth injuries or emergency C-section delivery, as the baby will have little or no chance of passing through the birth canal.
Premature birth – This is closely related to high birth weight, which occurs before the due date due to the large size of the baby.
Respiratory distress – A serious complication of gestational diabetes, shortly after birth the baby may experience respiratory distress syndrome – a serious condition that blocks breathing.
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Low blood sugar – Although gestational diabetes is associated with high blood sugar, some babies may experience the opposite after birth. Very low blood sugar levels can cause frequent seizures in babies. However, monitored feeding sessions and periodic intravenous administration of glucose solution can be used to treat hypoglycemia during labor.
Obesity in the future – Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
Stillbirth – Untreated and unmonitored gestational diabetes during pregnancy can eventually lead to the death of the baby before or after birth.
We have already seen how gestational diabetes in pregnant women threatens the baby, but it also affects the expectant mother. Let’s look at some of the complications of gestational diabetes that can harm the mother:
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High blood pressure – Mothers with gestational diabetes are at risk of developing high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that usually develops around the 20-week mark or even after delivery. If left untreated, it can cause high blood pressure, headaches, blurred vision, protein in the urine, fluid retention, and organ damage that can be life-threatening for both mother and baby. This causes developmental problems as children grow up. Although the cause of pre-eclampsia is not certain, it is usually related to problems with the placenta.
C-Section Delivery – Although not a complication of gestational diabetes, mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes are more likely to have a C-section delivery than a normal vaginal delivery due to increased birth weight and increased baby size.
Diabetes later in life – A history of gestational diabetes may predispose a mother to develop the condition again in another pregnancy. There is also a risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Unfortunately, the exact cause of gestational diabetes is still unknown. However, the female endocrine system is believed to play a role in causation. But as we know, gestational diabetes is not caused by lack of insulin, but due to the production of some other hormones during pregnancy which reduce the activity of insulin in the body. During pregnancy, as the beginning of conception, the body begins to produce a large amount of special pregnancy hormones that help the development of our baby.
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So what is the role of insulin in our body? Its function is to direct blood glucose into the cells and convert it into energy. It is normal to develop a slight insulin resistance during pregnancy as blood glucose is passed on to the baby. On the other hand, increased insulin resistance causes blood glucose levels to rise dramatically, which can lead to gestational diabetes.
Most pregnant women do not experience any unusual symptoms or signs of gestational diabetes. Therefore, we often do not allow the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Gynecologists usually perform a test for gestational diabetes at the end of the second trimester, which provides information about the presence or absence of the condition.
On the other hand, some pregnant women may complain of mild symptoms similar to other types of diabetes. Some common symptoms of gestational diabetes include:
Although all pregnant women are usually screened for gestational diabetes regardless of symptoms, when you notice the above symptoms at or before 12-16 weeks, it is very important to consult a diabetes specialist for an accurate diagnosis. Yes, every pregnant woman gets tired. After all, carrying a child is not a man’s job! But to be on the safe side, it is better to get a test from your doctor.
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If gestational diabetes is confirmed, your obstetrician will recommend medication, diabetes treatment supplements, light exercise and/or a strict diet depending on your case to help lower your blood sugar levels, in addition to frequent tests.
Everyone has their own version of what you should eat during pregnancy. So it is better not to pay attention to them and do what is best for you. See a nutritionist and learn about your dietary needs. If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a nutritionist can help you manage your sugar levels.
The best diet for gestational diabetes is balanced and includes the recommended carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to maintain optimal blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels often spike when too much refined sugar is consumed or if carbohydrate-rich foods are not spaced out throughout the day. A nutritionist or nutritionist will help you understand the gestational diabetes diet you need based on your blood sugar readings. They will be able to tell you the amount of carbohydrates you should be eating each day.
Whole grains – In your diet plan for gestational diabetes, include foods rich in whole grains such as oats, millet, barley, quinoa and corn. They are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index. They support healthy bowel movements and reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the long term.
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Vegetables and Legumes – Including vegetables like beans, peas, lentils, corn, spinach, lettuce in your diet for gestational diabetes has been shown to regulate blood sugar levels while providing you and your baby with essential nutrients. .
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