To have a successful birth and continue to be healthy during pregnancy, the future mom has to make sure that she sticks to a balanced diet that is high in nutrition. Although, for the soon-to-be mother, who also has gestational diabetes, her diet is really the only help that she should need to continue good sugar blood levels before resorting to using insulin injections.

Given the requirement of being on a gestational diabetes diet, she should be certain to give direct attention to the amount of calorie intake each day while also abstaining from foods that send blood sugar levels to abnormal high levels. Instead, she will have to concentrate on foods that assist to give normal blood levels. In almost every case, a woman specifically needs to adhere to a gestational diabetes diet really has to consult with a specialized dietitian.

Eating While in Pregnancy

An appropriate diabetes diet for a woman in gestation will help that mother and future baby get their required nutritional needs. Again, this means you will be eating the appropriate foods to keep blood sugars stable as possible. While in the second and third trimesters, it is important that she remembers to elevate her calorie intake daily by about 300 cal. What this comes down to is that from about 14 weeks up to the time of delivery a good level of calories for her will be about 2100 cal per day for a woman that usually concerns 1800 cal.

Vitamins and minerals will also be required to be consumed in increased amounts during pregnancy. A good rule of thumb to adhere to this course of action will be to increase consumption of the basic food groups like whole-grain cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products that are low in fat. It is important to note that while vitamins specifically designed for prenatal care are usually recommended but they do not necessarily provide a replacement for a well planned gestational diabetes diet. If one does take these vitamins, they should be consumed right before bed time or immediately after waking from a night of rest on an empty stomach so that the absorption of iron will be increased.

Avoiding Some Foods While in Pregnancy

It is very important to avoid high sugar foods both in pregnancy and also out of pregnancy for not only women but also for others. Not only can it impair a woman's body that has gestational diabetes but it also can help send a woman into gestational diabetes. Various foods have a better chance at having high sugar such as cookies, candy, soft drinks, cakes, ice cream, pies, jelly, and even some breakfast cereal.

It is always a good idea to look at the ingredients of various food items that you buy at the store. Packaged foods like breakfast cereal will likely have sugar as one of the first few ingredients.

When a woman is on a gestational diabetes diet, she should only ingest fruit juices of about 6 ounces during the meal. Too often a very large amount of sugar will be contained in these juices even though the makers of the product have clearly stated that there is no added sugar. Often the best choice which will also provide good nutrition yet actually not a fruit juice will be tomato juice. It usually does not have high sugar included.

Good Foods to Eat While in Pregnancy

A good food group to include at high amounts in your diet plan will be complex carbohydrates which will include grains, peas, beans, vegetables and other foods that are starchy. These foods are usually very good for someone with gestational diabetes. What these foods will do will assist in decreasing the amount of insulin needed and will also assist in lowering the insulin amount required by the body to help maintain good sugar blood levels within the safe range.

Make sure you take advantage of high dietary fiber foods like breads and whole grains. Vegetables, fruits and beans or legumes are also good high-fiber foods to eat. Many times your digestive system will need help so these foods will provide that assistance for easier digestion. Although you need to have some type of good fat that will help your body with effective absorption of nutritional vitamins, you need to still make attempts to keep your fat intake low.

With all these suggestions you should be well on your way to having a very successful pregnancy and birth. Being in a future mom will be enhanced by your careful adherence to your gestational dietary needs. Continually watching your diet while in pregnancy will be the only gestational diabetes treatment that should actually be required. However, it is still good to be in regular consultation with your physician.