Last updated on January 3, 2022
Content By: Dr. Nikita Toshi BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Review), Dr. Ritu Budania MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs & Dt. Ami Shah PG Clinical Nutrition (Cardiac & Diabetes), Registered Dietitian and Diabetic Educator
Last updated on January 3, 2022
Pregnancy is a period of so much joy in a woman’s life. But as the body adapts to help grow and nurture a baby, monitoring the mother’s health as well as the unborn baby becomes important to avoid any complications during pregnancy. And if the mother develops diabetes, there are chances it can affect the baby’s health. There might be a lot of unnecessary advice from friends and family, which will only make the mother-to-be nervous. So, instead of listening to the naysayers, let’s learn a little bit more about gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a condition that is associated with pregnancy. While gestational diabetes has the ability to negatively affect the mother and her unborn baby, studies have shown that following a healthy diet for gestational diabetes can greatly help the mother take control of the condition.
But before we explore a detailed diet for gestational diabetes, let’s first dive deeper into some questions associated with it. Questions like what is gestational diabetes, some gestational diabetes symptoms, risk factors and cause of gestational diabetes and later how to treat gestational diabetes with a healthy diet.
Pregnancy is a period of so much joy in a woman’s life. But as the body adapts to help grow and nurture a baby, monitoring the mother’s health as well as the unborn baby becomes important to avoid any complications during pregnancy. And if the mother develops diabetes, there are chances it can affect the baby’s health. There might be a lot of unnecessary advice from friends and family, which will only make the mother-to-be nervous. So, instead of listening to the naysayers, let’s learn a little bit more about gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a condition that is associated with pregnancy. While gestational diabetes has the ability to negatively affect the mother and her unborn baby, studies have shown that following a healthy diet for gestational diabetes can greatly help the mother take control of the condition.
But before we explore a detailed diet for gestational diabetes, let’s first dive deeper into some questions associated with it. Questions like what is gestational diabetes, some gestational diabetes symptoms, risk factors and cause of gestational diabetes and later how to treat gestational diabetes with a healthy diet.
Written by:
BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Review)
Reviewed by:
MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs
Reviewed by
PG Clinical Nutrition (Cardiac & Diabetes), Registered Dietitian and Diabetic Educator
Gestational diabetes mellitus, also known as pregnancy diabetes, is a condition where a woman develops diabetes or high blood sugar levels during her pregnancy. One of the three types of diabetes, gestational diabetes may occur irrespective of whether the pregnant mother was diabetic before the pregnancy or not.
However, it usually occurs in those who have never had diabetes before. Gestational diabetes during pregnancy also does not mean you will still have high sugar levels after your delivery. For many women, it goes away soon after delivery. But unfortunately, if diagnosed with gestational diabetes the chances of you developing type 2 diabetes are higher in the future.
When does gestational diabetes occur during pregnancy?
Gestational diabetes commonly occurs during the end of the second trimester, specifically between the 24th and the 28th weeks of pregnancy. Generally, at the end of the second trimester, it is common for your diabetologist to do a gestational diabetes test as a precaution. If left untreated or undiagnosed, gestational diabetes can increase the risk of your child developing diabetes in the future. So it is better if we treat it on time so that we can minimise the risk and complications with gestational diabetes during the course of pregnancy and delivery. In these cases, a dietitian-prescribed diet for gestational diabetes can greatly help in controlling the mother’s blood sugar levels and keep the baby safe.
How does gestational diabetes affect the baby?
In this chapter, we will look at some complications of gestational diabetes and how it affects the baby. The complications can hurt the growing baby and that is why a timely diagnosis is important to help control its effects over the course of the pregnancy. The expecting mother, as well as her baby, can both experience complications with gestational diabetes. Here are some ways pregnancy diabetes can affect your baby:
Higher than normal birth weight – High blood sugar levels during pregnancy can lead to their babies growing bigger than normal. This is one kind of complication with pregnancy diabetes that can lead to birth injuries or an emergency C-section delivery as the baby will be less likely or unable to smoothly pass through the birth canal.
Premature birth – This is closely linked to a higher birth weight where the woman would be forced to deliver earlier than the due date due to the baby’s large size.
Breathing difficulties – A serious complication of gestational diabetes where the babies shortly after birth may experience respiratory distress syndrome – a critical condition that hinders breathing.
Low blood sugar levels – Although gestational diabetes is linked to high blood sugar levels, some babies may experience the opposite just after birth. Extremely low blood sugar levels may lead to babies having frequent seizures. However, monitored feeding sessions and providing glucose solutions intravenously from time to time can be used to treat low sugar levels during birth.
Obesity in the future – Babies born to gestational diabetic mothers are more likely to develop obesity and also type 2 diabetes later in their life.
Stillbirth – Untreated and unmonitored gestational diabetes during pregnancy can ultimately result in the death of the baby either before or soon after birth.
How does gestational diabetes affect the mother?
While we have seen how gestational diabetes in pregnant women poses risks to the baby, it can also affect the expecting mother. Let us look at some complications of gestational diabetes that can harm the mother:
High blood pressure – Gestational diabetic mothers are at risk of developing high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that usually develops during the 20th-week mark or even after delivery. If untreated, it may cause high blood pressure, headache, blurring of vision, protein in the urine, fluid retention and organ damage that can threaten the lives of both the mother and the baby. This might cause growth problems in the child as it grows. Although the causes of pre-eclampsia are not conclusive, it is usually tied to problems with the placenta.
Delivery via C Section – While not really a complication of gestational diabetes, due to the increased birth weight and size of the baby, mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes are more likely to have a C-section delivery as opposed to a normal vaginal delivery.
Diabetes later in life – A history of gestational diabetes can cause the mother to develop the condition again during another pregnancy. There is also the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
What causes gestational diabetes?
Unfortunately, the exact cause of gestational diabetes is not yet known. However, a woman’s endocrine system is thought to play a role in the cause. But from what we know, the cause of gestational diabetes is not due to the lack of insulin but rather due to the production of several other hormones during pregnancy that reduces the effectiveness of insulin in the body. During pregnancy, as early as conception, the body starts to produce large amounts of specific pregnancy hormones that help with the baby’s development.
So what is the role of insulin in our body? Its job is to direct blood glucose to the cells where it is then converted into energy. During pregnancy is it normal to develop slight insulin resistance as glucose in the blood also gets passed on to the baby. Increased insulin resistance, on the other hand, can cause blood glucose levels to unusually rise causing gestational diabetes.
What are the symptoms and signs of gestational diabetes?
Many pregnant women do not experience any unusual symptoms or signs of gestational diabetes. This is why we often let gestational diabetes go undetected. Gynaecologists usually perform a gestational diabetes test at the end of the second trimester which gives them information about the presence or absence of the condition.
On the other hand, some pregnant women may complain of mild symptoms that closely resemble other forms of diabetes. Some common signs of gestational diabetes include:
Increased thirst
Fatigue
Dryness in mouth
Excessive urination
While all pregnant women are generally tested for gestational diabetes irrespective of the presence of symptoms, the moment you notice any of the above symptoms during or before weeks 12-16, it is vital that you consult a diabetologist for an accurate diagnosis. Yes, every pregnant woman feels tired. After all, carrying a child is no man’s job! But just to be on the safe side, it is better to get a check-up from your doctor.
If gestational diabetes is confirmed then your gynaecologist apart from frequent check-ups will recommend medication, diabetic care supplements, light exercise and/or a strict diet depending on your case to help bring down your blood sugar levels.
Experiencing gestational diabetes symptoms?
Book a diabetes care test on PharmEasy
to confirm your diagnosis today!
Everyone has their version of what you should eat when you are pregnant. So it’s better to not pay attention to them and do what’s best for you. Visit a nutritionist and learn about your dietary requirements. And if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a nutritionist can help you keep your sugar levels in check.
The best diet for gestational diabetes is one that is balanced and includes appropriate carbohydrates, proteins and fats recommended maintaining optimum blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels often tend to spike when too much processed sugar is consumed or if carbohydrate-rich foods are not properly spaced out throughout the day. A dietician or a nutritionist will help you understand the gestational diabetes diet you require based on your blood sugar level readings. They will be able to tell you exactly the amount of carbohydrates you would need to eat every day.
Some healthy carbohydrate foods for gestational diabetes that you can include in your diet are:
Whole grains – In your diet plan for gestational diabetes, include foods rich in whole grain cereals like oats, millet, barley, quinoa and sorghum. They are high in fibre and have a low glycemic index. They support healthy bowel movements and help reduce your risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the long run.
Leafy vegetables and legumes – Including vegetables like beans, peas, lentils, corn, spinach, lettuce, etc in your diet chart for gestational diabetes have shown to regulate blood sugar levels while providing essential nutrition to you and your baby need for healthy development.
Brown rice – A great substitute for white rice, brown rice has a slightly lower glycemic index and retains more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than white rice. Include brown rice in moderate amounts for lunch or dinner as part of your diet.
Fruits that are low in sugar – Some fruits like lemon, orange, guava, green apple can help boost your recommended vitamin C intake while also satisfying your sweet tooth in a healthy way
Women who are pregnant are recommended to eat at least 2 to 3 portions of protein-rich foods every day. Some excellent sources of protein that you can include in your vegetarian diet plan for gestational diabetes include:
Dal Sprouts – These can include mung dal sprouts, white channa sprouts all of which apart from protein, are also rich in fibre.
Paneer (or cottage cheese) – Paneer is known to aid in weight loss as well as promote bone health and is recommended for the treatment of diabetes.
Lentils – Not just low in calories but also rich in folate and iron, lentils are an excellent protein-rich food to include in your diet and are known to greatly support heart health.
Yoghurt – Yoghurt and curds contain good bacteria that are essential for optimum gut health. They function to improve digestion and are a recommended source of protein for diabetics.
Soya chunks – Soy contains compounds known as isoflavones that help in lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Eggs – Eggs are a great low-carb food that can be included in a non-vegetarian diet plan for gestational diabetes. While the egg white boasts higher protein content the yolk contains healthy fats that do not affect blood sugar levels. They in fact have a very low glycemic index and are an ideal food option for diabetics.
Poultry – Chicken is another recommended option for patients with gestational diabetes. Being high in protein and low in fat, if made in a healthy way is a great addition to the diet chart for gestational diabetes.
Fish – Fish and seafood, in general, is high in protein and low in fat. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids that can help promote brain health during pregnancy.
Nuts like almonds, walnuts or peanuts – Nuts provide essential proteins and fats that help boost heart health. They are great snacks for gestational diabetes patients as they are low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats, protein and fibre.
Seeds like pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds and sesame seeds – Seeds also are great snacks for gestational diabetes patients and are high in healthy fats. You can either consume them raw or roast them (without oil) for more crunch.
Olive Oil – High in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, olive oil if used in limited amounts is shown to have many health benefits including reducing chronic inflammation that is associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Avocado – Another great fruit that is high in healthy fats and all the essential vitamins needed for optimum health. A low-carb food with a low glycemic index, it has been known to make people feel fuller longer without the unhealthy calories.
In conclusion, the gestational diabetes meal plan should include a balance of slow metabolizing carbohydrates, rich protein sources and healthy fats that will not only help keep your blood sugar in check but also your weight. If you still feel hungry during the day choose to indulge in some snacks for gestational diabetes such as seasonal fruit, roasted seeds, mixed nuts, boiled chickpeas or even a glass of lime juice or buttermilk. However, these snacks for gestational diabetes must also be consumed in limited amounts. Portion control is key for optimum health. An ideal diet for gestational diabetes is eating small meals but 6 – 7 times a day in regular 2 – 3 hours intervals. This will help improve metabolism function that will, in turn, normalize blood glucose levels and ensure you and your baby are getting the adequate nutrition needed for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Treat gestational diabetes with the right medicines.
Order on PharmEasy now get it home delivered instantly!
During pregnancy, you are bound to have some cravings. Some may be normal, others may be quite unusual. But if you are dealing with gestational diabetes, you have to be careful with what you put in your body.
Gestational diabetes, as we have covered in the earlier chapters, is a condition that has the potential to harm the expecting mother and her unborn child. Since diet plays an important role in the management of gestational diabetes, it is vital that the mother and her baby receive the right nutrition that comes from a balanced diet rich in complex carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats. However, there are some food groups a patient with gestational diabetes must closely limit or completely exclude from her diet for her safety as well as her baby’s. Let’s explore in more detail some Indian foods to avoid with gestational diabetes:
Soft drinks although tasty and refreshing on a hot summer’s day are high in sugar and artificial flavours. As much as possible, soft drinks and any other sugary drinks should be eliminated from a gestational diabetes diet. Substitute soft drinks with other natural refreshing drinks like coconut water, lime juice (without sugar) or spiced buttermilk. These will not only ensure your sugar levels are in check but will also aid in digestion.
Alcohol, in any case, should be completely avoided during pregnancy. Even a glass of wine with the lowest alcohol content has the potential to cause birth defects and congenital disabilities in unborn babies and so should be avoided at all costs.
Icecream, cakes, pastries, chocolates, jamuns, rasgullas, make for the tastiest of desserts, however, should be consumed in strict limitation or even eliminated (if possible) from your gestational diabetes diet chart. For the obvious reason, sweets contain high amounts of added sugar and can worsen the effects of gestational diabetes. If you do feel like going after some dessert after dinner, try drinking a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea. They are rich in antioxidants, contain zero calories yet have a sweet aftertaste that can help satisfy your sweet cravings.
Processed foods like artificially sweetened breakfast cereals, packaged fruit juices, sauces, salad dressings, flavoured yoghurt, processed deli meats, are a strict no-no in a diet for gestational diabetes due to their high sugar and fat content. Apart from the sugar, they also have been known to have little to no nutritional content. As much as possible, try to incorporate natural foods like fresh juices, home set curds, unflavoured oats, etc in your gestational diabetes meal plan. Natural foods will help provide you with the nutrition you need as well as maintain your energy levels throughout the day.
Another group of foods to avoid with gestational diabetes is fried foods. These include potato chips, french fries, bajjis, pakodas, murukkus, samosas, vadas and basically any food that has been deep-fried. Oil and butter are high in saturated fats and have the ability to increase bad cholesterol or LDL levels in the blood.
Foods like white rice, pasta, white bread, naans, potatoes and high sugar fruits like custard apple, pineapples, dry fruits and overly ripe bananas contain a high glycemic index which means they can quickly raise your blood sugar levels upon consumption. If it cannot be avoided completely it is important that these foods are consumed in moderation to prevent sudden and unnecessary blood sugar spikes. In your Indian gestational diabetes diet chart, try substituting white rice with brown rice or quinoa, try avoiding pasta and substitute white bread with whole-grain or multigrain bread. While these substitutions are healthier, it is still advised to choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead while consuming these carbohydrates in moderation every day.
If you are unsure of what you must eat and foods to avoid with gestational diabetes reach out to a qualified doctor or dietitian who would be able to help you with designing a menu for a gestational diabetes diet suited to your condition. Alternatively, choose to plan your meals in a way that includes a daily balance of complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats while limiting desserts and other processed foods as much as possible.
In the end, a gestational diabetes healthy diet keeps your blood glucose levels in check while also providing the maximum nutrition and energy from naturally occurring food sources. Now let’s look at a sample 7-day Indian gestational diabetes meal plan for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
Looking to keep your blood sugar in constant check?
Explore PharmEasy’s range of glucometers and get it
home delivered at your own convenience!
While it may seem that if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, your binging days are over, it’s not quite so. To be honest, there is no strict menu for a gestational diabetes diet. It is important that the meals you choose every day are balanced well in complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats. Everyone may have a different diet that they are used to so the goal here will be to find the best foods for gestational diabetes in their preferred cuisine. For example, some excellent protein sources in a gestational diabetes food chart for vegetarians include paneer, soya chunks, boiled chickpea salad (sundal) and curd. On the other hand, protein in a non-vegetarian gestational diabetes diet menu may include grilled chicken, grilled fish, egg and other lean meats.
Here is a sample 7-day Indian gestational diabetes diet chart for vegetarians:
| SAMPLE INDIAN VEGETARIAN DIET CHART FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES – 7 DAY MEAL PLAN | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
| Early Morning (6am-7am) | – 1 cup black tea, green tea – 1/2 cup Sundal (boiled chickpeas) |
– 1 cup cinnamon tea without milk – handful of roasted cucumber/ watermelon/ sesame seeds |
– 1 cup black tea, green tea – 2 piece rusks |
– 1 cup cinnamon tea without milk – 6 almonds (soaked previous night) |
– 1 cup black tea, green tea – 2 low-sugar digestive biscuits |
– 1 cup cinnamon tea without milk – 1/2 cup Sundal (boiled chickpeas) |
– 1 cup black tea, green tea – 2 piece rusks/digestive biscuits |
| Breakfast (8am-9am) | – 2 slices toast (whole grain bread) – 1 cup fresh paneer (cottage cheese) with green chutney |
– 2 ragi (millet) idlis with onion and tomato chutney – 1 glass buttermilk |
– 1 bowl vegetable oats upma | – 2 besan/mung dal chillas (gram flour pancakes) with chopped spinach and grated carrot – 1 small cup curd |
– 1 cup dalia/quinoa khichdi – 1 small bowl sambar |
– 2 slices toast with peanut butter | – 2 rava idlis with peanut chutney/tomato chutney/onion chutney |
| Mid Morning Snack (11-11:30am) | – 1 green apple – 1 glass buttermilk |
– 1 Banana – 1 glass lime juice |
– 1 Apple – 1 glass coconut water |
– 1 Guava – 1 lime juice |
– 1 small cup mixed fruit salad – 1 buttermilk |
– 1 pomegranate – 1 glass coconut water |
– 1 fresh seasonal fruit of your choice – 1 glass lime juice |
| Lunch (1-2pm) | – 2 millet rotis – 1 bowl dal with methi (fenugreek) leaves – ¼ cup carrot and spinach/lettuce salad – ¼ cup tomato raita – 1 bowl of okra (stir fried) |
– 2 millet appams – 1 cup sambhar with mixed veg – ¼ cup cucumber and onion salad -¼ cup mint raita |
– 2 millet rotis – 1 cup fresh leafy vegetables subzi – 1 cup paneer gravy |
– 1 small cup brown rice pulao with steamed carrots, beans, peas and onions – 1 cup dal tadka – ½ cup cucumber and tomato salad |
– 2 mix veg paratha (carrot, cabbage, etc.) – ¼ cup tomato, onion and cucumber raita |
– 1 small cup brown rice/quinoa – 1 bowl mix vegetable curry – ¼ cup mint yoghurt – ¼ cup carrot and cucumber salad |
– 2 millet rotis – 1 bowl carrot and beans stir fry – ¼ cup tomato, onion and cucumber raita |
| Evening Snack (4-6pm) | – 1 glass of lime juice without sugar – Upma with handful of roasted peanuts |
– 1 small cup upma with rasam | – 1 small glass mix fruit juice – 2 multigrain crackers |
– 1 glass buttermilk – 2 methi khakras |
– 1 glass of coconut water – handful of mixed nuts |
– 1 small cup sprouts salad – 1 cup corn soup |
– 1 small glass buttermilk – ½ cup sundal |
| Dinner (8-9pm) | – 2 rotis – 1 cup dal with mixed vegetables – ½ cup of soya chunks in gravy |
– 2 rotis – 1 bowl cabbage subzi – 1 cup seasonal veg curry – ¼ cup radish salad |
– 1 small cup peas pulao – 1 cup dal with mixed vegetables |
– 2 multigrain rotis – 1 bowl palak paneer with mix vegetables |
– 1 small cup brown rice – 1 bowl mushroom gravy |
– 2 multigrain rotis – 1 bowl dal – ¼ cup tomato, cucumber and carrot salad |
– 1 small cup mushroom, corn and peas pulao – 1 bowl mix veg curry with paneer |
| Before Bedtime | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk |
This is what a 7-day Indian non-vegetarian gestational diabetes healthy diet plan would look like:
| SAMPLE INDIAN NON-VEGETARIAN DIET CHART FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES – 7 DAY MEAL PLAN | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
| Early Morning (6am-7am) | – 1 cup black tea, green tea – 1/2 cup Sundal (boiled chickpeas) |
– 1 cup cinnamon tea without milk – handful mixed nuts |
– 1 cup black tea, green tea – 2 piece rusks |
– 1 cup cinnamon tea without milk – 6 almonds (soaked previous night) |
– 1 cup black tea, green tea – 2 low-sugar digestive biscuits |
– 1 cup cinnamon tea without milk – 1/2 cup Sundal (boiled chickpeas) |
– 1 cup black tea, green tea – 2 piece rusks/digestive biscuits |
| Breakfast (8am-9am) | – 2 slices toast (whole grain bread) – 1 Egg bhurji with sauteed tomato and onion |
– 2 egg omelette with grilled tomato and leafy veg | – 1 bowl oats/muesli with banana and a handful of mixed nuts | – 2 besan/mung dal chillas (gram flour pancakes) with chopped spinach and grated carrot – 1 small cup curd |
– 1 cup khichdi with sambar | – 2 slices toast (whole grain bread) – 1 Egg bhurji with sauteed tomato and onion |
– 2 rava egg dosas with peanut chutney/tomato chutney/onion chutney |
| Mid Morning Snack (11-11:30am) | – 1 green apple – 1 glass buttermilk |
– 1 Banana – 1 glass lime juice |
– 1 Apple – 1 glass coconut water |
– 1 Guava – 1 lime juice |
– 1 small cup mixed fruit salad – 1 buttermilk |
– 1 pomegranate – 1 glass coconut water |
– 1 fresh seasonal fruit of your choice – 1 glass lime juice |
| Lunch (1-2pm) | – 2 millet rotis – 1 bowl chicken curry – ¼ cup carrot and spinach/lettuce salad – ¼ cup tomato and cucumber raita |
– 2 millet appams – 1 cup fish gravy – ¼ cup cucumber and onion salad -¼ cup mint raita |
– 2 millet rotis – 1 cup fresh leafy vegetables salad – 1 bowl chicken + mix veg curry – ¼ cup tomato raita |
– 1 small cup brown rice pulao with steamed carrots, beans, peas and onions – 1 cup dal tadka – ½ cup cucumber and tomato salad |
– 1 cup chicken with freshly steamed vegetables (cauliflower, carrot, beans) | – 1 small cup brown rice/quinoa – 1 bowl fish curry curry – ¼ cup mint yoghurt – ¼ cup carrot and cucumber salad |
– 2 millet rotis – 1 bowl carrot and beans stir fry – ¼ cup tomato, onion and cucumber raita |
| Evening Snack (4-6pm) | – 1 glass of lime juice without sugar – 1 cup steamed corn |
– 1 small cup chicken soup | – 1 small glass mix fruit juice – 2 multigrain crackers |
– 1 glass buttermilk – 2 methi khakras |
– 1 glass of coconut water – handful of mixed nuts |
– 1 small cup sprouts and corn salad | – 1 small glass buttermilk – ½ cup sundal |
| Dinner (8-9pm) | – 2 rotis – 1 cup dal with mixed vegetables – ½ cup paneer gravy |
– 2 rotis – 1 bowl cabbage subzi – 1 cup seasonal veg curry – ¼ cup radish salad |
– 1 small cup peas pulao – 1 cup dal with mixed vegetables – 2 small fish fillets |
– 2 multigrain rotis – 1 bowl chicken curry with mix vegetables |
– 1 small cup brown rice – 1 bowl egg and mushroom gravy |
– 2 multigrain rotis – 1 bowl dal – ¼ cup tomato, cucumber and carrot salad |
– 1 small cup chicken rice – 1 bowl mix veg curry |
| Before Bedtime | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk | – 1 small glass of low fat milk |
A menu for a gestational diabetes diet as shown above can include a variety of foods in every nutrient category. The key here is to make sure to eat something every 2 – 3 hours and also exercise portion control during every meal. For more gestational diabetes menu ideas you can reach out to your healthcare professional or consult a dietitian who would be able to guide you based on your symptoms or condition.
In addition for best results, supplement your pregnancy gestational diabetes diet with:
Water – High blood glucose levels can cause dehydration from time to time. Moreover, drinking water at regular intervals can help remove excess glucose in the blood through urine. Therefore, as part of your gestational diabetes diet plan, consider drinking 2 – 2.5 L of water every day.
Exercise – Supplement your diet with light exercises. Walking, yoga or stretching help promote metabolism and digestion and also aid in weight loss. Exercise is also shown to release stress and aid in heart health. While proven beneficial during pregnancy overall, it is still advised to consult your gynaecologist before taking up any form of exercise.
Sleep – Ensure you are getting 7.5 to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep every night. Research has shown a strong link between lack of sleep and an increase in blood sugar levels for gestational diabetes patients.
Regular check-ups – The key to managing gestational diabetes is to regularly monitor your blood sugar levels. In addition to following your diet for gestational diabetes, make sure that you don’t miss your scheduled visits to the doctor to get a check-up. Regular check-ups can help avoid complications of pregnancy with diabetes in the long run. If you have a glucometer at home, maybe check your blood sugar once a week and track your progress in a diary. This will also help your doctor identify accurate treatment plans based on your readings.
Supplement your diet for gestational diabetes with
the right medicines.
Order now on PharmEasy today!
Gestational diabetes is becoming a common condition during pregnancy many Indian women face. Gestational diabetes is manageable through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise and medicines in certain cases. Íf you aren’t convinced with our assurances, why don’t you hear from some mothers who have shared the same journey that you are on now. In this special chapter, we will explore some tips and tricks for healthy eating from real mothers during their gestational diabetes journey.
When I was pregnant many people told me - “Now that you’re pregnant it's time you get to eat anything you want!” or “Now you can eat for two!”. Little did I know later that those words of wisdom were far from the actual truth. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 25 weeks and my first reaction was guilt - “I can’t believe I did this to my baby”. My doctor then put me on a daily pregnancy routine and a diet that I can now say really helped me throughout my third trimester! In the end, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy with no pregnancy complications whatsoever. My blood sugar levels eventually normalized soon after the birth of my son. It was only then that I came to know the importance that diet and exercise plays in pregnancy. - Rucha
Here were some gestational diabetes diet guidelines that helped Rucha manage the condition:
“Timing, eating and testing were key to me managing gestational diabetes”, says Rucha. She recommends testing right when you wake up, 1 hour after breakfast (after the last bite), 1 hour after lunch and 1 hour after dinner. “These testing periods are crucial”, she continues. “It tells you how efficiently your hormones are regulating metabolism and the absorption of glucose.”
At 26 weeks I felt like I received the worst news of my life. My family has no history of diabetes and so couldn't believe it when I received my gestational diabetes diagnosis. My doctor told me to closely pay attention to my diet. My diet was very high in carbs and so she recommended I include more protein sources in my diet for gestational diabetes. I slowly started correcting my diet and after 38 weeks, I gave birth to the most beautiful and healthy baby girl. My doctor feared I may need an emergency C-section but my Abigail was born perfectly healthy via normal vaginal delivery! - Sharon
Sharon’s doctor recommended she balance her carb-heavy diet with protein sources. Here are some dietary tips she swears by from her journey with gestational diabetes.
Diet and exercise really helped me defeat gestational diabetes. To be honest, it was very hard at first to follow a strict diet plan for gestational diabetes that my doctor has prescribed but I started to see the benefits later on. There was a time early on when I was following my diet but not noticing a change or a drop in my blood sugar levels. I later discovered that stress and anxiety equally directly impacted those readings. Now as part of my nightly routine, I either walk for 30 mins on my treadmill while listening to my favourite music or I do 20 mins of yoga and 10 mins of meditation. Doing exercise before bedtime not only helped me bring down my stress and anxiety levels but also helped me sleep undisturbed through the night. - Raina
Here are some words of advice that Raina recommends to expectant mothers on their gestational diabetes journey:
Diagnosed with gestational diabetes?
Explore our range of diabetic care products to help
you along your journey.
Can I eat curry with gestational diabetes?
While curry is an acceptable side in a gestational diabetes meal plan, however, it depends on how it is made. Many Indian curries contain sugar or coconut or peanut or cashews and so curries made at home need to be modified to exclude sugar and include more fresh vegetables or protein sources like paneer or soya chunks for vegetarians and egg, fish and chicken for non-vegetarians. In a diet plan for gestational diabetes, 1 small bowl of curry can be eaten during lunch or dinner with 2 millet rotis or 1 small cup of vegetable pulao.
What Indian food should diabetics avoid?
Some Indian foods that are a strict no-no for diabetics include soft drinks, processed foods like sugary cereals, flavoured yoghurts and maida, rice made pasta; fried foods and snacks such as potato chips, french fries, samosas, pakodas, etc; sweets and desserts like cakes, pastries, ice cream, pies, Indian sweets; and lastly alcohol of any kind. Foods that are naturally high in sugar and starch such as white rice, potatoes, white bread, naans and fruit juice, etc should also be avoided as much as possible.
What is a good meal plan for gestational diabetes?
A good meal plan for gestational diabetes is one that is balanced with complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats. For gestational diabetics, is it recommended to eat small meals 6 – 7 times a day. This helps in regulating metabolism function and also avoiding the unnecessary fluctuation of blood sugar levels.
Which is the best food for diabetic patients in India?
Best Indian foods for diabetic patients are those that are low in sugar and have a low glycemic index. These include fresh fruits, green vegetables, lentils, oats, brown rice, quinoa, chickpeas, kidney beans, whole grains, millet, almonds and those that raise blood sugar levels only gradually. Staying hydrated and drinking about 2.2 – 5 litres of water daily will also help the body flush out excess glucose in the blood through urine. You can also include in your diet beverages like black/green teas, lime juice, buttermilk and coconut water. They help in stimulating metabolism and promoting digestion throughout the day.
What should I eat for breakfast if I have gestational diabetes?
Good breakfast options in a diet plan for gestational diabetes include oats, whole-grain toast with eggs, 2 millet idlis with fresh chutney, vegetable oats upma and quinoa khichdi. These foods are low in sugar and also have a low glycemic index which means they will not only help keep your blood sugar levels under control but make you feel fuller and energized for longer. For more gestational diabetes diet menu ideas for breakfast, you can even reach out to your health professional or dietitian who will be able to prescribe an accurate meal plan for you according to the intensity of your condition.
What are the warning signs of gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes during pregnancy usually occurs during the end of the second trimester specifically between the 24th and 28th weeks. Many women do not experience any symptoms of gestational diabetes in particular and that is why it is important to not let it go undiagnosed. If gestational diabetes is severe, women may experience similar symptoms of diabetes such as excessive thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, dryness in the mouth and blurred vision. If you happen to experience any of these symptoms at the end of your second trimester, is it best to seek medical help at the earliest to rule out a gestational diabetes diagnosis.
Can I drink milk with gestational diabetes?
Yes, milk is an allowed food item in a diet for gestational diabetes. However, it still needs to be consumed in moderation. While every individual’s body is different, it is important to monitor your blood sugar to see the impact milk has on your blood sugar. For some people, a warm glass of low-fat milk before bedtime has been seen to help them sleep better. So experiment and see what works for you.
What is a good bedtime snack for gestational diabetes?
A glass of warm low-fat milk before bedtime is recommended for gestational diabetics. In many cases, a glass of warm milk has helped women sleep better while keeping their blood glucose levels in check. Other bedtime snacks for gestational diabetes you can have are carrot sticks, cucumber slices, dry roasted chickpeas or a hard-boiled egg.
Leave a Comment