Gestational diabetes is a condition unique to pregnant women. Those pesky hormones make it tough for your body to produce and use insulin, which could be dangerous for you and for your baby, especially with today’s high-sugar diets. Some of the complications of Gestational Diabetes include a high birth weight, a premature birth and an increased risk of developing type II diabetes later in life.
In fact, gestational diabetes develops into type II diabetes for 70 to 80 percent of women! And it could increase the chances of your baby developing diabetes too.
So how do you combat gestational diabetes? The key to prevention, of course, is diet and exercise. Here are four preventative measures you can take:
Eat three meals a day.
Oftentimes, the nausea and food aversions pregnant women suffer from make it difficult to maintain a normal eating schedule. However, even a small meal of protein and non-starchy vegetables will prevent a drop in your blood sugar.
Include protein in your diet.
Incorporate foods that are rich in protein. These include foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and beans. Also include non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, kale and cauliflower.
The ideal snacks should consist of protein as well. For example, opt for celery with hummus, carrot sticks with nut butter or plain Greek yogurt with fresh fruit.
Avoid refined grains.
Avoid refined grains such as bread, pasta and white flour tortillas. Consuming white flour and refined sugar results in blood sugar spikes and an increase in cravings.
Bring on the healthy fats.
Remember, not all fat is bad! Consume healthy fats with every meal. These foods include nuts and seeds, olive oil and avocados.
Want to feel your best and deliver a healthy baby? Learn more about Nutritionist Jill Borba’s Pregnancy Nutrition Counseling. This package allows you to start motherhood out right by learning foundational information on healthy eating during pregnancy.
