subject: Planning an Effective Gestational Diabetes Diet Menu [print this page] Planning an Effective Gestational Diabetes Diet Menu
When a pregnant women experiences elevation of her blood sugar levels during the course of her pregnancy, she may have developed gestational diabetes. Although in some aspects, gestational diabetes is similar to diabetes per se, it is generally not considered life-threatening. It is also noticed that this diabetic condition, which is common among pregnant women, is lost after pregnancy. Nevertheless, steps in order to prevent the condition from worsening must be taken. One way is by limiting your carbohydrate intake during pregnancy. This is one characteristic of a gestational diabetes diet menu. Such menu, if properly prepared and planned, will not only keep the mother's blood sugar at normal and controllable levels, but will also keep the baby away from harm that may be caused by the condition. If the mother carefully follows the plan as designed, it will keep herself and the baby both healthy throughout the pregnancy and may also make the process of delivery easier or more bearable.
The gestational diabetes diet menu recommends that the expectant mother eat nutritional and natural foods. These include whole grains, pulses, and legumes. Also, the body must always remain properly and sufficiently hydrated. For this, the mother must drink a minimum of eight full glasses of water everyday. Processed foods which are rich in fat and sugar, as well as any form of junk food are definitely not in the menu. The same goes for fried and fatty foods. Increased consumption of vegetables and fruits is highly advised.
Other than meal planning, the mother's weight must also be monitored. Weight gain should be prevented, which is why regular exercise is recommended during pregnancy. This will prevent the rise in sugar level and will help avoid worsening of the diabetic condition. The exercises do not have to be strenuous. These may include walking and performing light duties. The gestational diabetes diet menu does not tolerate smoking and intake of alcohol. This is because these activities endanger the health and safety of the baby, which goes against the main objective of the gestational diabetes diet menu, which is to help ensure the safe delivery of a healthy baby.
