Gestational Diabetes Diet Plan
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Gestational diabetes usually develops about midway through a pregnancy, at about 20 to 24 weeks, and is caused by the changes in hormones in your body during pregnancy. In addition to supplying your baby with nutrients and water from your circulation, the placenta produces a number of hormones vital to the pregnancy. Some of these have a blocking effect on insulin.
A gestational diabetes diet requires dietary modifications that the mother may not be used to but to control this form of diabetes it is essential. This is accomplished through individually developed dietary prescriptions based on metabolic nutrition and lifestyle requirements. Basic changes include reduced intake of simple sugars such as white table sugar and syrups.
The diet plan should meet the desired weight gain and nutrition requirements needed for a normal pregnancy. For the first trimester weight gain should be in the 2 to 4 pound range and then an additional pound every week for the second and third trimesters. During the second trimester it is recommended that caloric intake be adjusted upwards approximately 100 to 300 kcal/day above that of the first trimester. Protein intake also needs to be increased during pregnancy to 10 grams per day either by drinking two glasses of milk or 1 to 2 ounces of meat. 400 ug/day of folic acid should also be included in the gestational diet to help avoid congenital and neural tube defects.
Eat three meals per day, and from one to three snacks per day. This will help to keep your blood sugar level at an acceptable rate. A gestational diabetes diet plan will always include a snack before bedtime. This snack will ensure that your blood sugar levels stay within the acceptable range over night. Also, sometimes a gestational diabetes diet will include snacks in the morning, or throughout the day. Eat at the same times each day if at all possible. This will allow your body to settle into a schedule, and become used to the appropriate amount of calories that your body takes in. Your gestational diabetes diet should also tell you to avoid foods with added sugars such as corn syrup, honey, and molasses.
An overall gestational diabetes diet plan takes into account the physical, psychosocial, and educational requirements. For the woman with this form of diabetes reliance on her health care providers to help manage her condition is vitally important. Her registered dietician has the primary responsibility for developing and teaching her the individualized dietary plan that will work best for her.
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Dr John Anne is a herbal specialist with years of experience in Alternative health care and herbal medicines. This website aims to provide natural home remedies and make a platform where everyone can rate home remedies and share with others. Hope you enjoy this website and put your comments and feedbacks.