{"id":1554,"date":"2022-06-23T08:46:23","date_gmt":"2022-06-23T08:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/?p=1554"},"modified":"2022-07-20T08:54:52","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T08:54:52","slug":"gestational-diabetes-can-diet-make-a-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/gestational-diabetes-can-diet-make-a-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Gestational Diabetes: Can Diet Make a Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diagnosed with gestational diabetes?<\/span><\/p>\n

Gestational means during pregnancy and diabetes is a metabolic disease where your blood sugar that is too high and there is an imbalance between your insulin and glucose levels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gestational Diabetes is not uncommon. Every year 2-10% of pregnant women in the US who have no previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes are diagnosed with this metabolic imbalance, generally during their second trimester.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>our OB-GYN<\/span><\/a> practices in South Miami and Doral, we are on the front line in diagnosing gestational diabetes. We know what to look for and how to help you make informed decisions to promote both your health and the health of your baby.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diet and exercise play an important role in managing gestational diabetes and we have personally seen the benefits of diet modifications in keeping our patient\u2019s blood sugar levels in the normal range. Together with a dietitian, we can help you explore the options and establish healthy eating patterns that will last beyond your delivery date.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Gestational Diabetes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop in pregnant women. Characterized by an elevated level of glucose in the blood, gestational diabetes is generally diagnosed in the second trimester. Gestational diabetes, left untreated, can raise your risk of high blood pressure as well as <\/span>preeclampsia<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a>, about 6-9 percent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is an interesting fact: Women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes do not necessarily have diabetes before pregnancy and most cases of gestational diabetes typically resolve after the birth of the baby.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Test<\/p>\n

This is the tricky part.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many women do not experience any of the symptoms of gestational diabetes. However, some pregnant women do experience mild symptoms such as:<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Excessive thirst<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Increased urinary frequency and urgency<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Weight gain<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Vision changes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Blood tests are the common way to diagnose gestational diabetes. Our practice generally performs this screening test between your 24th-28<\/span>th<\/span> week of pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What are the Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    You are more likely to be diagnosed with gestational diabetes if you:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Have a family history of diabetes or prediabetes<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Had gestational diabetes before<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Have PCOS<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Were overweight or obese before you conceived<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Have high blood pressure, high cholesterol,\u00a0 or heart disease<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Had a baby larger than 9 pounds<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Are African-American, Asian, Hispanic<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Are older than 25\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      How to Lower Your Risk for Gestational Diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      While there is no way to prevent gestational diabetes, there are things you can do to lower your risk including:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Losing those extra pounds before you conceive<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Including physical activity in your daily routine<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Eating a healthy diet<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Managing Gestational Diabetes with Diet<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        \"Diabetic<\/p>\n

        Diet plays a major role in controlling gestational diabetes. Even if you need to take medication, a well-balanced diet helps keep your blood sugar levels stable.<\/span><\/p>\n

        The goal is to keep the blood sugar levels in check and keep you satiated by including lean protein (such as turkey, chicken, fish and eggs), plenty of non-starchy vegetables (broccoli, cucumber, salads, etc.), healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, nut butters<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0and complex carbohydrates (whole grains, peas, beans, etc.). Working with a dietitian is key in setting up a meal plan that will work for your schedule, eating habits, and food preferences.<\/span><\/p>\n

        In general, the following practices are essential for a healthy diet when suffering from gestational diabetes:<\/b><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Always include complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, whole grains, and beans for your meals.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Ditching carbs completely is not a solution as your body needs carbohydrates to function properly. Pair your complex carbs with healthy fats and protein to stay full after a meal. For instance, one of the ideal snacks for gestational diabetes is an apple paired with peanut butter.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Limit your milk intake to one cup at a time since it is considered a carbohydrate in liquid form. Avoid juice since it is a concentrated source of carbs which can raise your blood sugar quickly.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Limit the amount of fruit you eat since it is high in natural sugars.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Control your portions with the so-called plate method. When arranging food on your plate, fill half the plate with non-starchy vegetables, a quarter of the plate with whole grains, and the remaining quarter with lean protein. It’s all about what you can see on your plate without actually having to measure anything.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Create a schedule for your three main meals and two snacks in between. Eating at regular intervals will keep the blood sugar levels normal while eating too much at a time can cause your blood sugar to spike.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Skipping meals is not an option you should consider as it can lead to many other health complications for both you and your baby.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Some favorite patient snacks include edamame, nuts, berries with Greek yogurt, kale chips, and celery with hummus. As always, check with your dietician for other suggestions or modifications.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          While we are firm believers in the role diet plays in managing gestational diabetes, we also recommend the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Meet with a dietician to discuss what plan will work for you not only during your pregnancy but after.<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Keep all your prenatal appointments. The more we see you, the better we can monitor your health and the health of the baby.<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Work out! Walk, swim, dance or engage in the physical activity of your choice for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. Check with your OB-GYN before starting any new exercise program<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Monitor your blood sugar according to your OB-GYN\u2019s directions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Simple dietary changes and regular prenatal visits can make a difference. Schedule your appointment today and learn how we can help you on your journey to have a healthy baby.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Diagnosed with gestational diabetes? Gestational means during pregnancy and diabetes is a metabolic disease where your blood sugar that is too high and there is an imbalance between your insulin and glucose levels. Gestational Diabetes is not uncommon. Every year 2-10% of pregnant women in the US who have no previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[286,285,287,289,288,284],"class_list":["post-1554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pregnancy","tag-gestational-diabetes-breakfast-ideas","tag-gestational-diabetes-meal-plan","tag-how-to-prevent-gestational-diabetes","tag-risks-for-gestational-diabetes","tag-snacks-for-gestational-diabetes","tag-what-is-gestational-diabetes"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1554\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}