Diabetes Information and Treatment Guide

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.

(more…)