Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs for the first time when you become pregnant. As in other kinds of diabetes, gestational diabetes leads to too much sugar in your blood.. If you have gestational diabetes, you will need to control your blood sugar with exercise, a gestational diabetes diet, and sometimes with medication.

But just because you have gestational diabetes doesn't mean you can't go out to eat. You just need to follow the same rules as you would at home and make healthy choices. "We generally recommend a diet for a woman with gestational diabetes that gets about 50 percent of calories from carbohydrates," says Kelly O'Connor, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. "Good sources of carbohydrates are whole-grain breads and cereals, fresh fruits, low-fat dairy products, potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, and brown rice. We try to have the women consume as close to the same amount of carbohydrates each day as possible," says O'Connor.

One thing to keep in mind if you do go out to eat is timing. "We recommend women with gestational diabetes eat every two to three hours, which translates into three meals a day and two to three snacks a day. Putting a moderate amount of carbohydrate into your body every few hours keeps blood sugar stable throughout the day," advises O'Connor. You can avoid problems by making reservations that coincide with your regular meal times. Try to go to restaurants at less busy times so you don't get stuck waiting too long for a table.

Some Tips for Dining Out With Gestational Diabetes

"In terms of eating out, your choices do not have to be very different from your choices at home. The best choices are a balance of lean protein, carbohydrate, and a small amount of fat," says O'Connor. You need to count your calories when you go out the same as you would at home.

  • Choose the right restaurant. Stick with restaurants that offer "heart-healthy" selections. Some restaurants offer calorie and fat information on the menu. Ask if the chef can prepare lower-fat meals for you with lean cuts of meat, or chicken without the skin. A restaurant with a larger menu may give you more choices.
  • Be aware of the serving size. Many restaurant servings are much larger than what you would serve at home. Avoid jumbo, deluxe, and super-size meals.
  • Watch out for dressings and gravy. Ask for your dressing, sauces, and gravy to be served on the side and then use them sparingly to avoid excess calories. Order low-fat salad dressing if it's available.
  • Plan your meal. "If you take a roll before the meal, that has to be figured into your total carbohydrates. If you plan to eat a dessert, you need to budget your carbohydrates to leave room at the end," says O'Connor. Ask for substitutes: Get an order of vegetables or garden salad in place of a side of fries.
  • Remember to count what you drink. "Many beverages can add a lot of carbohydrates. Regular soda, juices, fruit drinks, lemonade, sweetened tea, and coffee can all elevate your blood sugar quickly," warns O'Connor. Also remember that alcohol contributes extra calories to your meal, often without any nutritional value.
  • Watch out for fast foods. Although it is possible to get a healthy meal at a fast food restaurant, keep in mind that the average fast-food meal has 1,000 calories or more and can cause a sharp increase in your blood sugar. Fast food also tends to be higher in salt and fat, and even if you choose chicken or fish, they may be breaded or deep fried. Look for grilled or baked options instead.

Eating out is fun and much easier than cooking and cleaning up at home. If you have gestational diabetes you just need to plan ahead, pick the right restaurant, and make the right food choices once you get there. As long as you follow the basic rule of counting your calories, and eating a balanced meal of carbohydrates and lean proteins with limited fat, you can enjoy a night out and still keep your blood sugar under control.