6 Diet Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy with Diabetes
Pregnancy diabetes, best known as gestational diabetes, is becoming a very common pregnancy related ailments. Along with the irritating conditions like morning sickness, fatigue, backache and growing belly, pregnancy diabetes indeed comes as a double whammy. But if you control it with a healthy diet and moderate exercise, as advised by the doctor, you can avoid gestational diabetes. Check out 6 diet tips for a healthy pregnancy with diabetes.
1. Reduce your sugar intake
This tip goes without saying, isn’t it? Just like other types of diabetes, pregnancy diabetes also demands control on the type of sugary food you eat. Sugary foods list does not just include cakes, candies, pastries and ice creams, instead you should also know the amount of sugars in fruits and foods like bread and potatoes. Apples, oranges, sweet corn and peanut butter are safer options.
2. Watch your carbohydrate intake
Carbohydrate consumption is to be limited by those who have gestational diabetes. You need to know that once carbs get digested, it quickly becomes glucose which hikes the blood sugar levels even before insulin is produced to fight it. Hence it is better to have carb-rich foods that have enough fiber in them, such as wholegrain bread, raspberries, avocado, apples, blackberries and the likes. It would be good to include proteins in your breakfast instead of carbs, because in the morning, insulin resistance is on the higher side.
3. Include fats and proteins in your diet
Gestational diabetes diet should include about 15-30% of protein. Your gynecologist can guide you better on the amount depending on your sugar levels. Legumes, eggs, beans, tofu and nuts are excellent protein sources. As far as fats are concerned, the mono-saturated and polyunsaturated fats in olive oil, plant oils and fish are highly recommended.
