Q: Hello Ginny,
I am 8 months of pregnancy. They found Gestational diabetes I have. Could you please let me know about special diet what I should use during last 9th month?
Thank you very much!
A:What did your doctor tell you to do? Did they want you to see a dietician? Did they want you to test your blood sugar levels?
It is best to see a registered dietician to help you design a diet that will help the higher than normal blood sugars that you are having but still provide your growing baby with the calories and nutrients that he/she needs. The dietician will also recomend the correct number of calories for you. It usually turns out to be about 2,200 to 2,500 calories a day if you are of average weight. If you are overweight the dietician may ask you to lower the amount of calories.
The dietician will teach you how to balance your diet. Diets are very individual but usually about 10-20% of the calories come from protein (meat, eggs, cheese, fish); less than 30% of the calories come from fat and the rest of the calories come from carbohydrates (bread, rice, fruit, milk, cereals ect). The dietician will teach you how to choose the healthiest carbohydrates.
In addition to the diet, your doctor may ask you to exercise 3-5 times each week to help control your blood sugar levels too.
To make sure the diet and exercise are working, your doctor may ask you to test your blood sugar at the clinic or use a blood sugar meter at home. It is important to know what these blood sugar numbers are! If the numbers remain high even after you change your diet and add exercise, your doctor may ask you to take insulin. Not many women need to take insulin but the blood sugar levels must be normal in order for you to have a healthy baby. Your doctor may need to monitor you and your baby more closely during these last few weeks. They may do ultrsounds, non-stress testing and/or other fetal movement charting. The doctor will be checking to see if the baby is growing normally. Most women are able to have a normal labor and vaginal delivery but some doctors will deliver the baby earlier or may suggest a cesarean section if the baby becomes too large.
After delivery, your doctor will also check to make sure your blood sugar level have returned to normal. It will be important to check again at the baby's six week check up and every 1-3 years to make sure your blood sugar levels are still normal.
Please contact your doctor right away and ask: Do I need to see a dietician? Should I exercise? Should I test my blood sugar? It will be important for the health of your baby!
Good luck, Ginny
