• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Diabetes Pregnancy Diet

December 10, 2010 by ds_51230 Leave a Comment

Babies receive nutrition from the foods that the mother eats, so all women should choose healthy foods when pregnant. Women who have diabetes, however, should take extra care. You have to maintain a healthy weight gain so that your baby is born healthy. Do this by carefully planning your diet to include nutritious foods.

Why It’s Important

Women who have diabetes are more likely to give birth to babies with birth defects, according to the American Diabetes Association, particularly if the mother does not make an effort to get her blood sugar levels under control. The organization also reports that babies born to mothers with diabetes generally weigh more — which can mean a more difficult birth for baby and mother — and may have hypoglycemia and jaundice once born. Following a healthy diet can reduce the risks.

Diabetes vs. Gestational Diabetes

Women with diabetes are able to have a healthy pregnancy. Some non-diabetic women develop gestational diabetes, which is diabetes that only lasts during pregnancy. Both types of women should follow a similar diet plan, but women with gestational diabetes may find it more difficult, since careful diet planning may be new to them.

Foods to Eat

You do not literally need to eat for two. In the first trimester, it’s best to make no changes to the amount of calories that you’re eating. Later on, you only need an additional 200 or 300 calories per day. Revolution Health recommends getting 40 to 50 percent of your calories from carbohydrate-based foods, choosing foods that are whole grains more often than those with refined grains. You can also eat fresh, frozen or cooked fruits and vegetables, dairy products and protein, like meat or beans.

Foods to Avoid

You should avoid refined carbohydrates, junk foods and fruit juices. If your blood sugar levels increase after eating traditionally healthy foods, your doctor may recommend excluding fruits and dairy products from your diet as well, as these might cause your blood sugar to spike.

Seeking Professional Help

If you need help planning a pregnancy diet for diabetes, talk to a professional nutritionist who has experience with planning diets for both pregnant women and those with diabetes. Even a few initial meetings can help put you on the right track when you’re feeling lost.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_51230

Maggie McCormick is a freelance writer that specializes in SEO content. She lived in Japan for three years teaching preschool to young children and currently lives in Honolulu with her family. Her work has appeared on eHow, and she received a BA in women's studies from Wellesley College.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know

The other day one of my teenage daughters told me she was … [Read More...] about 10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

stop a new piercing from itching

How to Stop a New Piercing From Itching

How Early to Take a Pregnancy Test

How Early to Take a Pregnancy Test

How to Detect a Miscarriage

Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

The Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

Symptoms of Pregnancy If HCG Injection Is Taken

What Happens When You Mix Lemon Juice With Baking Soda?

What Happens When You Mix Lemon Juice With Baking Soda?

diabetes in infants

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Infants

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.