Background

• When you eat and drink, the food and beverage are broken down into their most basic parts and converted into glucose, a form of energy the body can use. In order to use the glucose, the body produces a substance called insulin. In gestational diabetes, however, the body doesn't produce enough insulin to utilize the available glucose, allowing the glucose level in the blood to rise. When this happens, development of the baby is hampered and the pregnant woman's health is jeopardized.
  
  During pregnancy, or gestation, normal hormonal changes suppress the insulin-producing factories in the bodies of some women, keeping them from being able to convert glucose to energy while these hormones are present.
  
  

Guidelines

• The high glucose level in the blood can be controlled by diet and medication in order to protect the mother and developing baby. Dietary considerations include modifying the diet to control the kind and amount of carbohydrates consumed during pregnancy. Science research has proven a direct link between the consumption of carbohydrates and the level of glucose in the blood. This is because these foods are high in sugar and starch and are easily broken down into glucose, which will flood the system with extraneous energy it can't break down. Women experiencing gestational diabetes are cautioned to choose complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, green vegetables and beans, and to refrain from eating highly processed foods and sugary foods to avoid spikes in the level of blood glucose. It also is recommended that carbohydrates be consumed along with protein and fat in order to slow the break-down process and stabilize the blood sugar level.
  
  Dietary guidelines for healthy eating for women who have gestational diabetes are:
  ·Eat small meals and several snacks at regular times every day. Do not skip meals or snacks. This stabilizes the blood sugar level and reduces glucose spikes.
  ·Eat fewer carbohydrates at breakfast than at other meals. Insulin resistance is at its peak the first thing in the morning. Breakfast should be comprised of proteins and fats with small amounts of complex carbs.
  ·If you experience morning sickness, eat a few saltine crackers or dry cereal, but not too many so you can avoid a blood sugar spike.
  ·Choose foods high in fiber, such as whole grain breads, cereals, pasta and rice, fruits and vegetables, because these foods are both harder for the body to break down, which is good for diabetics, and also help with occasional constipation.
  ·Drink copious amounts of water throughout the day. This helps hydrate the body, which is necessary for pregnant women, and also helps the body flush out extra glucose.
  
  

Approved Foods

• Foods that are on the approved list for women who have gestational diabetes include calcium-rich dairy foods; vegetables (including lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, cucumber and tomato but not including high-glycemic index vegetables such as corn and peas); low-glycemic index fruits such as apples, cantaloupe, and apricots; and whole grain cereals and breads.