Gestational Diabetes affects around 4% of pregnant women, usually affecting women late in their pregnancy. Although, it has been known to strike earlier in women who have already once been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. There is no absolute known reason of why some women suffer from Gestational Diabetes. (American Diabetes Association)
I have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes for both of my pregnancies and these are a few tips that I have found help me make it through.
I was able to control my Gestational Diabetes with a specialized meal plan that involved counting my carbohydrates and limiting them per meal. When you first learn that you have Gestational Diabetes and will have to control your diet so extensively. It can be overwhelming especially since you are pregnant and may be craving everything you should not have.
Reduce and Replace
Try to take in less sugars. I know this seems like common sense but try to replace small things in your diet. For example, replace sugar with Splenda or other artificial sweetener. I often craved cheesecake covered in raspberry sauce but I knew that having that would increase my sugar levels so I replaced it with sugar free Jell-O Brand – Cheesecake Pudding with a cup of caffeine free raspberry tea sweetened with Splenda. Although it was not the same thing, this replacement satisfied my craving without raising my sugar levels as much as the cheesecake would have. I also craved chocolate so to help curve that one I would either have sugar free Jell-O Brand – Chocolate Pudding or chocolate milk made with sugar free Nesquik both made with fat free milk. Be creative and you should be able to come up with a healthier choice than what your craving is.
Free Foods
Know your “free foods” and embrace them! Most vegetables (excluding starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn) are free foods so you can eat them guilt free. So slice up a cucumber dip it in a fat free dressing, or my personal favorite top it with some lemon pepper seasoning and enjoy. Fat free cream cheese is also considered a freebie, try filling celery stalks with it for a snack.
Drink Friendly Fluids
Don’t Skimp on the Water. Drinking water is important when you’re pregnant anyway. It can help relieve cramping caused by dehydration and is good for both you and baby. It’s great for women with Gestational Diabetes as drinking water can help flush sugars out of your system. Not only that, you don’t want to waste you allowance of carbohydrates by drinking them so choose carb free drinks like water. Need something more? Stick to diet drinks (even fruit juice can raise blood sugar). I drink Diet Rite brand soda because it has zero carbs, sugars, sodium, and caffeine and comes in an assortment of flavors.
Most importantly, always follow the advice of your doctor and adhere to the diet specifications they set for you. When it gets you down just remember why you’re doing all of this in the first place, so that you and your baby will be healthy and that is something to be proud of, you can do it!
American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). What is Gestational Diabetes? Retrieved January 12, 2011, from American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/gestational/what-is- gestational-diabetes.html
