Apr 21 2009
Pregnant Women Having Diabetes Should Take 2200 Calorie Gestational Diabetic Diet
When your blood glucose level gets high during pregnancy even though before pregnancy you were non-diabetic, then this is a case of gestational diabetes. change in hormone levels during pregnancy is the reason for this. There is fluctuation in hormone levels in the women’s body so they cannot use insulin properly which leads to high blood sugar levels.
During this delicate time of pregnancy, you cannot use oral medications, in such case doctor recommends insulin and diet. You can effectively control gestational diabetes with diet. While planning gestational calorie diet you have to take care about nutritional needs of the mother’s body as well as nutritional requirements for the baby’s growth. Brake your meals into several small meals throughout the day; this helps in stabilizing blood sugar levels within the normal range.
The amount of calorie intake for women having gestational diabetic depends on body weight, height, maternal age and physical activity. 1000, 1400, 1600 and 1800 calorie diabetic diets are popular calorie diabetic diets. These are not sufficient for the pregnant women as during pregnancy women need more calories than when not pregnant. 2200-2400 calorie level is accepted for gestational diabetes.
For 2200 calorie diet the sample menu is:
Have a breakfast of 42 grams of carbohydrates. It includes one cup of bran cereal or one cup cooked oatmeal that is two servings of starches. You should have a cup of skim milk or non-fat yogurt, one ounce meat and two teaspoon margarine.
In morning snacks include only 15 grams of carbohydrates which you get from one fruit and two tablespoons peanut butter.
Your lunch have 67 grams of carbohydrates. Sandwich of vegetables like lettuce and tomato with one teaspoon of mayonnaise or one tablespoon of salad dressing can be included. Include 1 ¼ cup fresh strawberries, ½ cup vegetable soup and one cup sugar and fat free yogurt in your meal. 12 ounces of sugar free soft drink is allowed because it is free food less in calories.
Include 15 grams of carbohydrates in afternoon meal.
The amount of carbohydrates in dinner is 82 grams. You can include one cup cooked pasta, one cup melon cubes, one small dinner roll, one cup skim milk or yogurt and two cups salad in this. You can include three ounces of meat, grilled chicken or fish and one teaspoon margarine and two tablespoons low fat salad dressing in your diet.
Six whole wheat crackers, one ounce low fat cheese or ham and one cup of non-fat milk or yogurt can be your evning sanck as they contains 27 grams of carbohydrates.
It is advised to taking much fluids throughout the day. If you are taking fruit and vegetable juice try to drink it with a small meal or snack. Water has no sugar so it is the best drink for gestational diabetic women.
Monitoring glucose level throughout the day is mandatory. If any time sugar level goes up then reduce the amount of carbohydrates from next meal and adjust the glucose level. Woman who requires insulin, should adjust her carbohydrate intake with the insulin dose. It is advised to take extra care about diets in gestational diabetes as it can affect your baby’s health.
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