Gestational Diabetes Diet

Gestational diabetes is one type of diabetes that is quite interesting. You see, only pregnant women are afflicted with this particular type of diabetes. And in America alone, roughly 4% of the population of pregnant women develops this type of diabetes. It is not really completely understood as to why a few select women develop gestational diabetes. Neither is it understood why the condition seems to normally disappear as soon as the child is born. One theory proposed is that the stress that comes with pregnancy might be the primary cause behind the condition. Whatever the cause may be, it is still of much import to follow a strict gestational diabetes diet. All the more if the mother has already been diagnosed with pre-diabetes as well.

There are so many risks and complications that can develop as a result of gestational diabetes being left untreated. Fetal defects, death even, can develop over time. The condition can be attributed to hyperglycemia, or the existence of high glucose levels in the mother’s blood. This is the main cause of the condition. Should this occur, the fetus would actually produce higher levels of insulin, in an attempt to handle the excess sugar present in the blood. These high sugar levels will still make their way to the fetus via the placenta, which is why the fetus will produce higher and higher levels of insulin accordingly.

However, when this happens, this can also result to the onset of macrosomia. The body and the head size of the fetus would then become significantly larger than normal. Aside from that, respiratory problems can also develop. Other complications, such as hypocalcemia, jaundice, hypokalemia, or hypoglycemia can also occur.

More than anything, the expecting mother should consult her obstetrician or a licensed nutritionist or dietician so that the appropriate gestational diabetes diet can be developed. Certain dietary modifications have to be implemented so that the blood sugar levels of the mother can then be controlled. Now, this diet is highly individualized and is based on the expecting mother’s height and weight. The diet plan itself should be formulated in such a way that the nutrition requirements and desired weight gain would indeed be met for a normal pregnancy to occur. During the first trimester, the desired weight gain should be roughly 2 to 4 pounds. An additional pound should then be gained for every week of both the second and the third trimesters. Mothers suffering from gestational diabetes should increase their consumption of protein by 10 grams a day. This can be easily done by consuming two glasses of milk a day. An ounce or two ounces of meat can do the trick as well.

Whatever gestational diabetes diet the obstetrician formulates, complete adherence should be implemented. This way, further complications can be avoided.