Diabetic food in pregnancy

Diabetes in Pregnancy - Diet Planning May 12, 2023 – 04:09 am

Meal planning is important when you are pregnant with diabetes, whether with gestational diabetes or pre-existing type 2 diabetes. Women with diabetes are often asked to obtain tighter control of blood sugar levels in pregnancy. There are extra diet challenges and considerations when you have diabetes in pregnancy.

Pre-Planning

Ideally, you should have your blood sugar levels within good control three to six months prior to pregnancy. Good planning means following a diet and exercise plan, getting your blood sugar levels in good control, and receiving management and diet education from your doctor, dietician and/or diabetes educator. Have your doctor assess your medication regimen and make changes for pregnancy as needed. Some of your medications may not be safe for pregnancy

If you are already pregnant, work with your healthcare team as soon as possible to learn how to meet your dietary needs and get control of your blood glucose levels. Even changes during pregnancy help to greatly lower risk.

Remember your situation is unique and will require a tailored plan that may take some trial-and-error and tweaking throughout pregnancy.

Maintaining good control will help to lower risks for birth defects and provide an empowered and prepared start to a pregnancy with diabetes.

Challenges

A bigger appetite and need for extra nutrients. You may need more protein, iron, calcium, folic acid and vitamins.
Morning sickness. If you are being treated with insulin, it is important to eat all your meals and snacks to help avoid hypoglycemia.
Insulin resistance. As your pregnancy progresses, glucose levels may become harder to control.
Overweight or underweight. If you fall into one of these categories, your diet plan should reflect your weight gain needs.

What You Need to Know

Here are some topics to discuss with your healthcare team when planning your diet for diabetes in pregnancy:

Prenatal vitamins
Total daily calories, carbohydrates, protein, and fat
Total calories, carbohydrates, protein and fat per meal and snack
Best food choices for your situation
What foods to avoid
Blood sugar level goals
Weight gain goals
How to deal with illness, travel, high or low blood sugar levels, and the challenges listed above

Source: diabetes.about.com

2008-08-05 06:59:11 by NavelLint

My friend was diagnosed early on in pregnancy

They suspect she had it prior to becoming pregnant but hadn't been to a doctor until then.
I'm assuming since your cousin is already diabetic she knows what kind she is. In my friends case they sent her to a nutritionist to determine if it was from the foods she was eating or from her body. It turned out to be her body and they immediately put her on insulin. With it being her body they told her to still watch what she eat but she doesn't have to be nearly as strict as if it was just a food issue.
I know my friend sees her regular OB as well as a nutritionist (usually meets over the phone) and an endocrinologist

2010-06-01 12:43:10 by daznconfusd

It takes getting "used" to but once the hormones

Kick in, all you really think about is the health of LO. Whatever it takes to get through this pregnancy, you'll do it.
Trust me, I hate pricking myself 7x/day, some of the food I have to eat, the constant eating, my entire life on a clock but at the end of the day, as long as my LO comes out healty, it will all be worth it. What diabetic issues? LOL!

2007-09-10 14:44:18 by socalkitty

@ 140 I was totally shocked - no risk factors

Here other than being over 25. I'm really healthy, super athletic and I ate very well through the last pregnancy - even kept a food log.
I hated the testing so much (it made me feel ill, but I'm not a sweets person) that when I tested borderline I just adopted the GD diet, saw a nutritionist and started monitoring my blood. that was the compromise I struck with my OB rather than take the 3hr.
all worked out well - Simon was born on his EDD (only 5% of babies do this) and although I felt I handled the labor well, we ended up in c-section d/t failure to progress and 24hr from my water breaking