Gestational diabetes is quite different from other types of diabetes in the sense that it only happens when a woman is pregnant. The symptoms don’t normally show, plus they tend to disappear once your baby is born. In this type of diabetes, the hormones that are normally produced to help with the baby’s growth begin to interfere with your insulin production. Some women can still produce that extra bit of insulin to maintain their glucose levels, but those with gestational diabetes cannot.
That being said, is there any way for you to manage your gestational diabetes? Here are a few tips and tricks that you should try out.
Choose your fruits wisely
Fruits are often considered as healthier snacks as opposed to the chips and chocolates that you’ve been eating in between meals, but you need to keep in mind that they are packed with sugar. You may contest that fruits contain natural sugar, but it is still considered as sugar, which can cause your blood sugar levels to spike. Fortunately, there are some types of fruits that will be good for you such as berries and mixing them with some cream and yoghurt. Nuts can be used as a substitute for fruits because they are high in healthy fats but low in carbs.
Have more protein
In order to balance your blood sugar levels, it would be a good idea to consume protein with carbohydrates or have carbohydrates that contain protein too. If you are pregnant, and have gestational diabetes, eating lean, and protein-rich foods can help regulate your blood sugar levels. Some examples include eggs, beans, and seeds.
Fat in moderation is good for you
Eating fats in moderation is actually good for you when you are pregnant. The goal here is to create a healthy balance in your meals. Eating good and healthy fats will not cause your blood sugar to go up and will even help you enjoy a few carbs now and then too. Since your body will need to break down the sugar and fat, the sugar gets broken down in a slow manner which helps keep your blood sugar levels steady.
Skip starchy foods
Starchy foods should not be present in your diet as they are usually high in carbohydrate content which we all know can have an impact on your blood sugar levels. This means that there are some foods that you will have to avoid such as white bread, white potatoes, and white pasta just to name a few.
Vegetables are good for you
Another tip that you should consider when it comes to your gestational diabetes is to have more vegetables in your diet. This may sound hard to do, but you can make it part of your diet and that is by replacing your potatoes with squashes and sweet potatoes, even using carrot strips as well as courgette mixed with a small amount of pasta too.
Go for low glycemic index foods
If you have a gestational diabetes, going for low glycemic foods is highly recommended. GI foods such as non-starchy vegetables, chickpeas, lentils, and beans just to name a few. What’s important with adding a low glycemic index is that it can help slow down the amount of sugar being released into your system.
Having a gestational diabetes can be tough, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t manage it. The tips mentioned here are just a few steps that you can take to make your diet more enjoyable and without risking the baby growing inside of you.
