Are you pregnant, have diabetes and don’t know how to take care of your diet? Here are the keys to a diet for gestational diabetes.

pregnancy. In the case of suffering from diabetes, it is even more important, as it will help you control your blood sugar level. In this post we will talk about some keys to maintain a healthy diet for gestational diabetes.  

What should I keep in mind?

dier for gestacional diabetes - dieta para diabetes gestacional

The diet for gestational diabetes, type 1 diabetes, or type 2 diabetes. Needs to be based on a balanced diet that will help her control her blood sugar levels until the end of her pregnancy. Here are some tips you can follow:

  1. Eat everything, but don’t overdo it. This will help you control your blood sugar and keep it more stable. Check with your doctor to see which foods are forbidden during pregnancy and avoid them.
  2. Eat a healthy breakfast. Sugar is craziest in the morning, so limit carbohydrates and add more protein. Here you can see several ideas of breakfasts to control sugar. 
  3. Include fiber. Fiber is absorbed more slowly than simple carbohydrates and this helps keep blood sugar from rising too quickly after eating. These foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, cereals and legumes. 
  4. Avoid simple sugars. Sweets may be a weakness, but you can’t eat them every day as they can raise your blood sugar. You can indulge once in a while, but don’t overindulge. 
  5. Exercise. Exercise is a must for maintaining a balanced diet and keeping sugar levels under control. 
  6. Control your glucose. Keep your glucose under control at all times to avoid complications. With Cori, you can easily measure your blood sugar before and after each meal to keep your diet for gestational diabetes.  

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People with diabetes are especially vulnerable to the dangers of colds and the flu, but there are things you can do to control your symptoms and avoid getting sick in the first place. You may maintain your health even when you’re feeling under the weather by constantly monitoring your blood sugar levels, staying hydrated, getting enough of rest, and adhering to your diabetes management plan. Additionally, you may lower your risk of getting sick and safeguard yourself from any problems by maintaining proper cleanliness, being vaccinated, and generally maintaining good health. Make sure to discuss any worries you may have with your healthcare team for advice and support if you have diabetes and are worried about managing colds and the flu.

How can I check my blood sugar?

dier for gestacional diabetes - dieta para diabetes gestacional

Although right now it seems huge to measure your glucose, the truth is that it’s really simple and all you have to do is follow a few steps. At first you can do it with the help of your partner if you don’t feel ready. Keep in mind that these blood glucose controls should be performed at least 4 times a day.

  • On an empty stomach, just when you just got up. This is called the basal glucose.
  • After 1 hour of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, etc. In this way you can control how that food intake has made you feel and rectify your glucose if necessary.

But to the point, how is glucose measured?

In the event that you use a capillar glucometer, you must follow this series of steps:

  • Wash your hands carefully.
  • Bring a lancet, alcohol, a test strip and the glucometer.
  • Rub your hands and fingers against each other to activate the blood supply and make it easier.
  • Turn on the glucometer and insert the test strip. Some glucometers already turn on as soon as you insert the test strip.
  • Clean the finger you’re going to use to measure your glucose with the alcohol and let the alcohol evaporate.
  • Carefully prick the finger with the lancet
  • Gently squeeze the finger you pricked until a drop of blood forms.
  • By the drop of blood carefully on the test strip
  • Wait calmly for the meter to give the result.
  • Jot down glucose data in Cori, adding notes about any factors that may have affected your glucose. Like food, exercise, stress or if you’ve a headache.

In the event that you use a continuous glucose meter, it’s even simpler. After following all the steps of the manufacturer, you only have to leave it in the area where you’ve placed it and make specific measurements with your mobile. No more punctures than the initial placement. In addition, this way you can have glucose data every 5 minutes on your phone like with Dexcom!

The target values that you must meet to be in range will be less than 95mg/dl fasting and less than 140mg/dl one hour after eating. If after the food control and the readaptation of your routine you are not usually within these ranges, your nutritionist or control doctor will readapt your diet and give you nutritional and lifestyle advice to enter the appropriate range.

Daily menu ideas in a diet for gestational diabetes

dier for gestacional diabetes - dieta para diabetes gestacional

To make it easier for you, we have prepared a standard menu that can help you organize meals for a week. In this way it will be easier for you to start controlling your diet for gestational diabetes.

Breakfast

  • 1 piece of fruit, your favorite. 
  • 1 glass of skimmed milk, with unsweetened cocoa or decaffeinated coffee. If you don’t like milk, you can substitute it with 2 skimmed yogurts. 
  • A handful of whole grain cereals or a slice of whole wheat bread, with some protein (turkey breast or scrambled egg).   

Snack

  • One slice of whole wheat bread with protein (turkey or tuna)
  • A piece of fruit

Lunch

For meal preparation, the plate method is a very good option, as it allows you to eat everything and in the right quantity:

  • ½ plate of vegetables
  • ¼ plate of protein, which can be meat, fish or eggs
  • ¼ plate of carbohydrates, for example: pasta, rice, potato, etc. 

You can add a piece of whole wheat bread and a piece of fruit for dessert.

Snack 

  • 1 glass of skimmed milk or 1 skimmed yogurt
  • 2 whole-grain crackers or nuts (unsalted)

Dinner

As with lunch, you can use the plate method but with a smaller amount. You can also add a piece of whole wheat bread and a low-fat yogurt for dessert. 

Recipes for reference

  • Vegetable stew with potatoes and chicken breast
  • Zucchini cream and French omelette
  • Ratatouille with tomato, egg and couscous
  • Baked salmon with wild asparagus and onion


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