Things to Eat to Stop Being Diabetic While Pregnant

Hormonal changes and weight gain during pregnancy can sometimes result in gestational diabetes. During pregnancy your body has a difficult time keeping up with insulin needs and your blood glucose levels increase. Without treatment you run the risk of having a premature birth and additional complications. After the baby is born, your blood glucose levels should return to normal. There are many things you can do to reduce your risk or stop your gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

What to Avoid

• Control or eliminate your diabetes with a special diet. Avoid anything that has high fructose, sucrose, sugar, corn syrup or white refined flour. Carbs have the highest starch and sugar content, which has the greatest impact on blood glucose levels because starch and sugar are broken down into glucose during digestion.

  Eat foods that are lower in carbohydrates in the morning because this is when insulin resistance is at its greatest. Eat food containing carbohydrates with a fat and a protein at each meal.

  Limit or eliminate nutrient-lacking foods from your diet. Candy, cakes, potato chips and white bread are not helpful for your gestational diabetes or your baby's growth. Avoid caffeine and alcoholic beverages, which not only contribute to your diabetes but also could put your baby's health at risk.

What to Eat

• Fill your plate with nutrient-dense foods that are high in fiber and low in fat. Eat six to 11 servings of whole wheat bread and grains each day. Choose two to four nutrient-rich servings of fruits and vegetables and two to three servings of meat or poultry.

  Include 1,200mg or four servings of dairy in your diet everyday. Choose skim milk, cheese or low-fat yogurt for your sources.

  Eat three daily servings of iron rich food which include beans, nuts, leafy green vegetables, lentils and meat. Vitamin C-rich foods are important to reduce gestational diabetes. Select at least one serving a day from a variety of fruit, as well as Brussels sprouts, tomatoes and green peppers.

  Folic acid and vitamin A are also important. One serving of each should satisfy your daily requirements. Good folic acid selections include green leafy vegetables and fortified cereal products. Vitamin A is in foods such as carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and legumes.

Physical Activity

• Exercise is important for pregnancy health but is especially important if you have gestational diabetes. Exercise helps to regulate insulin levels and may allow you keep your levels within normal range without having to take additional insulin.

  Moderate activity also helps to curb your appetite and to keep your weight gain to a manageable level.

  Exercise at least four or five times per week to obtain blood-sugar lowering effects. Check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. Avoid exercises where you might fall. Swimming, walking and biking are good exercises to try, especially if you were exercising before pregnancy.

  Drink small sips of water throughout your workout and remember to eat small snacks throughout the day to keep insulin levels stable. If you experience pain, dizziness, shortness of breath or faintness while exercising, stop and call your doctor immediately. Be aware of the possibility of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar because both insulin and exercise lower blood sugar levels.