Dieting With Gestational Diabetes – Concerns And Solutions

Gestational diabetes is one of the top temporary health complications that a woman has to endure during pregnancy. In gestational diabetes, a woman’s body produces insulin, but the body is resistant to it. If a woman acquires gestational diabetes during pregnancy, then the child is most likely to acquire it from his mother. There is also an increased risk of developing diabetes for both mother and child.

Risks of Microsomatia

Microsomatia is the term for the excessive weight gained by babies in the womb during gestational diabetes. Babies with microsomatia are prone to other health problems, such as damage to their shoulders during birth because of their increased size and weight. Infants may also have breathing problems and low blood sugar levels.

Controlling Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is controlled by diet, exercise, and sometimes insulin injections.  Oral medications for diabetes can cause birth defects and are not used in pregnancy.Treatment of gestational diabetes should begin as rapidly as possible to prevent adverse effects to the mother and the baby.

Food choices are of paramount importance. This will have beneficial effects on the health of your baby’s growth. It should aim to keeping blood sugar level equal to those of pregnant women who do not have gestational diabetes. Treatment includes scheduled physical activity, daily blood sugar testing, and special meal plans and  to keep it under control.

Gestational Diabetes Diet

The focus of diet control of gestational diabetes is on decreasing concentrated sugars and fats.  Complex carbohydrates and foods high in fiber are emphasized and make up fifty to sixty percent of the daily caloric intake.  Less than one third of your daily calories should come from fats.  Ten to twenty percent of the daily calories should come from lean protein choices.  The total daily calories should be approximately fifteen calories for every pound of your ideal body weight.

Gentle Exercise

Gentle exercise four to five times per week is the optimal plan for achieving the glucose lowering effects of exercise. Walking and swimming are excellent forms of exercise for the gestational diabetic.  Just remember that your balance and center of gravity will be more altered as your abdominal girth increases so wear good, flat, sturdy shoes and guard against falls and injuries.  The mother’s heart rate should not exceed 140 beats per minute.  There should be a warm up period of five to ten minutes, and a cool down time of five to ten minutes.  Exercise strengthens muscles and helps the body to prepare for labor.  Women who exercise on a regular basis have reported easier and shorter labor than those who do not.

The good news is that with the help of your medical team and a concentrated effort on your part, you can achieve a healthy pregnancy and have a healthy baby.


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