Low Sugar Diet In Pregnancy – Content Prepared by: Dr. Nikita Toshi BDS, Deputy Director (Medical Review), Dr. Ritu Budania MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs & D.T. Ami Shah PG Clinical Nutrition (Cardiovascular and Diabetes), Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator
Pregnancy is a very exciting period in a woman’s life. But as the body adapts to help the baby grow and develop, it is important to monitor the health of the mother and the unborn child to avoid any complications during pregnancy. If the mother has diabetes, there is a possibility that the health of the child will be affected. A lot of unnecessary advice can come from friends and family, which only worries the expectant mother. So instead of listening to naysayers, let’s learn a little about gestational diabetes.
Low Sugar Diet In Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes is a condition associated with pregnancy. While gestational diabetes has the potential to negatively affect both the mother and her unborn child, research shows that following a healthy diet for gestational diabetes can help the mother manage the condition.
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But before we explore the detailed diet for gestational diabetes, let’s delve into some questions about it. Questions like what is gestational diabetes, some symptoms of gestational diabetes, risk factors and causes of gestational diabetes, and then how to treat gestational diabetes with a healthy diet.
Gestational diabetes, also called gestational diabetes, is a condition in which a woman develops diabetes, or high blood sugar levels, during her pregnancy. Gestational diabetes, one of the three types of diabetes, can occur even if the expectant mother had diabetes before pregnancy.
However, it is usually seen in people who have never had diabetes before. Gestational diabetes during pregnancy does not mean that you will have high blood sugar after giving birth. For many women it goes away soon after childbirth. But unfortunately, if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you have a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Gestational diabetes usually occurs at the end of the second trimester, especially between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. In general, it is common for your diabetes specialist to test for gestational diabetes as a precaution at the end of the second trimester. If left untreated or undiagnosed, gestational diabetes can increase the risk of your baby developing diabetes in the future. Therefore, it is better to treat it early so that we can reduce the risks and complications associated with gestational diabetes during pregnancy and delivery. In such cases, a diet prescribed by a dietician for gestational diabetes can help a lot in controlling the mother’s blood sugar levels and keeping the baby safe.
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In this section, we will look at some of the complications of gestational diabetes and how it affects the baby. Complications can harm the growing baby and early diagnosis is important to help control their effects throughout pregnancy. A pregnant mother and her baby may experience complications related to gestational diabetes. Here are some ways that gestational diabetes can affect your baby:
Higher than normal birth weight – High blood sugar levels during pregnancy can cause their baby to be larger than normal. It is a type of complication of gestational diabetes that can lead to birth injuries or an emergency cesarean delivery because the baby is not able to pass through the birth canal easily or is less likely.
Premature birth – This is closely related to high birth weight where the woman has to give birth before the due date due to the large size of the baby.
Difficulty breathing – A serious complication of gestational diabetes, a serious condition that interferes with breathing, babies can experience respiratory distress syndrome soon after birth.
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Low blood sugar – Although gestational diabetes is associated with high blood sugar, some babies may experience the opposite after birth. Extremely low blood sugar levels can cause frequent seizures in children. However, monitored feeding sessions and occasional intravenous administration of glucose solution can be used to treat low sugar levels during labor.
Future obesity – Children born to mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
Steady Birth – Untreated and unmonitored gestational diabetes during pregnancy can eventually lead to the death of the baby before or shortly after birth.
Although we have seen how much risk gestational diabetes poses to the baby in pregnant women, it can also affect the expectant mother. Let’s look at some of the complications of gestational diabetes that can harm the mother:
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High blood pressure – Mothers with gestational diabetes are at risk for high blood pressure and preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that usually develops at 20 weeks or even after birth. If left untreated, it can cause high blood pressure, headaches, blurred vision, protein in the urine, fluid retention and organ damage, which can be life-threatening for both mother and baby. This can lead to growth problems as the child grows. Although the causes of preeclampsia are not certain, it is usually caused by problems with the placenta.
Cesarean Delivery – Although not a complication of gestational diabetes, due to the birth weight and size of the baby, mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to have a cesarean delivery instead of a normal vaginal delivery.
Diabetes later in life – A history of gestational diabetes may predispose the mother to develop the condition again in another pregnancy. There is also a risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Unfortunately, the exact cause of gestational diabetes is still unknown. However, a woman’s endocrine system is thought to play a role. But as far as we know, the cause of gestational diabetes is not the lack of insulin, but the production of some other hormones that reduce the effectiveness of insulin in the body during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body starts producing large amounts of special pregnancy hormones that help the baby develop.
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So what is the role of insulin in our body? Its job is to direct blood sugar into the cells where it is converted into energy. It is common to develop mild insulin resistance during pregnancy as blood glucose is transferred to the baby. On the other hand, increased insulin resistance can cause abnormally high blood sugar levels, resulting in gestational diabetes.
Many pregnant women do not experience any unusual signs or symptoms of gestational diabetes. This is why we often ignore gestational diabetes. Gynecologists usually test for gestational diabetes at the end of the second trimester, which tells them about the presence or absence of the condition.
On the other hand, some pregnant women may complain of mild symptoms similar to other types of diabetes. Some common symptoms of gestational diabetes are:
All pregnant women are routinely screened for gestational diabetes, regardless of the presence of symptoms. As soon as you notice any of the above symptoms weeks or earlier, it is important to consult a diabetes specialist for an accurate diagnosis. Yes, every pregnant woman feels tired. After all, carrying children is not a man’s job! However, it is useful to get checked by your doctor to be sure.
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If gestational diabetes is confirmed, your gynecologist will recommend medications, diabetes care supplements, light exercise and/or a strict diet depending on your condition, to help lower your blood sugar levels, along with frequent checkups.
Everyone has their own opinion on what to eat during pregnancy. So ignore them and do what is best for you. See a nutritionist and find out your dietary needs. And if you have gestational diabetes, a nutritionist can help you keep your sugar levels under control.
The best diet for gestational diabetes is a balanced diet and includes the appropriate carbohydrates, proteins and fats recommended to maintain optimal blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels often rise when you eat too much processed sugar or don’t store carbohydrate-rich foods well throughout the day. A dietitian or nutritionist will help you understand the gestational diabetes diet you need based on your blood sugar level measurements. They will be able to tell you how many carbohydrates you should be eating each day.
Whole grains – Include foods rich in whole grains like oats, millet, barley, quinoa and sorghum in your diet plan for gestational diabetes. They are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index. They support healthy bowel movements and help reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the long run.
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Leafy vegetables and fruits – Add beans, peas, lentils, corn, spinach, lettuce, etc. to your diet chart for gestational diabetes.
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