Following a Gestational Diabetes Diet: Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid
Gestational diabetes is very rare but does happen. It is one of the three types of diabetes, and the biggest problem with gestational diabetes is that often there are no symptoms experienced and so many times the person is not even aware that they have developed the disease at all.
Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women, and in this type of diabetes is typically diagnosed through blood tests between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. The usual way to test whether or not the woman has developed gestational diabetes is by measuring their blood sugar levels, then having them drink a beverage that is high in sugar, and then measuring their blood sugar levels once again.
In gestational diabetes, in most cases the woman's blood sugar levels will return to normal after delivery. There are cases however in which the woman faces a higher lifelong risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes Diet
When it comes to the treatment of gestational diabetes, there is a certain gestational diabetes diet that you should follow in order to ensure your best health and make sure that your condition does not worsen. Although you can make your own variations to this gestational diabetes diet, there is a basic gestational diabetes diet that you can follow.
One of the most important things to remember is to choose foods that are high in fiber. This will help to control your blood sugar and also make sure that you have regular bowel movements. This means that you need to be eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course drinking plenty of water, at least six to eight glasses a day.
You also need to avoid all sugary and spicy foods as these may aggravate your condition. The best idea is to speak to your doctor as they will be able to work together with you here and help you create the best personalized gestational diabetes diet plan possible.
You will also want to incorporate a decent amount of exercise to complete this diet plan, and serving sizes should also be taken into consideration with your meals. It is best to eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than the typical larger, three meals a day. This way you will not make yourself too full or feel sluggish during the day. By following these rules you will be able to relieve the symptoms associated with your condition as much as possible.
