Diet is a cornerstone of diabetes management. Be sure to consult with a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator to assist you with meal planning. Remember that your meal plan is for you only.
Gestational Diabetes Nutrition
Helpful Nutrition Tips
Good nutrition helps maintain optimal blood sugar levels and prevent or delay the long-term complications of diabetes. A well-balanced meal plan includes a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
- Try to cut down on all sweet drinks: juices, regular sodas, sweet tea, Gatorade®, regular lemonade or Kool Aid®.
- For thirst, drink: tap water, carbonated water, sugar free tonic water, Crystal Lite®, diet sodas, or artificially sweetened lemonade, Kool Aid® or tea (made with sugar substitutes such as Splenda/Equal/NutraSweet, etc.).
- Eat meals (and snacks, if needed) at regular times every day.
- Try not to skip meals. If you skip a meal, you may eat too much at your next meal and your blood sugar may go too high.
- Eat about the same amount of food each day. It helps blood sugar control and medication action (if medication is taken).
- If you want or need to start losing weight, cut down on your portion sizes, not on the number of meals.
- If you enjoy starches like bread, pasta, rice, tortilla, potatoes, green peas, corn, beans, crackers, cereals… make sure you eat small portions at each meal.
- If you are a milk drinker, spread the amount you drink throughout the day (not more than one 8-oz glass at a time).
- If you enjoy fruits, do the same as with milk. Don’t eat them all at one sitting. Your blood sugar may go too high.
- Enjoy a 10-20 minute walk/stroll after meals.
- Test your blood sugar!!! Please bring your meter to all your visits.