Preventing Gestational Diabetes through Healthy Eating

Written by Jan Black    Sunday, 18 January 2009

When food enters our body, it is broken down into glucose, which provides our body's much-needed energy. A hormone called insulin helps our body convert glucose into energy and when our body does not have enough insulin, the level of "unconverted" glucose in our blood rises. This rise in our body's glucose level, when left unchecked, could develop into diabetes. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing diabetes because of the hormonal changes their bodies go through during pregnancy. Certain hormones in the placenta increase in number and this increase interferes with insulin's ability to use glucose for energy. This interference is called insulin resistance; and as the placenta becomes larger in the course of the pregnancy, insulin resistance also increases, thus increasing the possibility of the woman suffering from gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes could cause problems both for the woman and her baby, as it could cause the baby to produce too much insulin -- the body's way of compensating for insulin resistance -- and gain too much weight. It could also put the mother at a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes later on. It is therefore highly important to guard against gestational diabetes to avoid these added complications. One of the most powerful tools to guard against gestational diabetes is a healthy diet. Gestational diabetes diet usually involves controlling the amount of carbohydrate intake, since carbohydrates is the food group that has the greatest impact on blood glucose levels. Following are other tips for those wishing to go on a healthier gestational diabetes diet. - Do not skip meals and eat two or three small snacks at regular intervals every day. - Eat fewer carbohydrates during breakfast because insulin resistance is at its peak in the morning. - Take in a consistent amount of carbohydrates for each meal and snack. - Choose food products that are high in fiber and eat food with less sugar and fat content. - Drink at least eight cups of liquids every day and make sure your diet contains enough vitamins and minerals. These are just general guidelines to aid you in charting your own gestational diabetes diet. Food is a very important tool that you can use to control your blood sugar level, especially during pregnancy. It may be wise to consult a registered dietician who can help you develop you personal action plan in fighting gestational diabetes.

Last Updated ( Friday, 29 May 2009 )