What is gestational diabetes? Ges...

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a kind of diabetes a certain women get during pregnancy. (Say: jess-tay-shun-al die-ah-bee-tees) If you have gestational diabetes, your material part cannot use glucose (blood sugar) the way it should. Too plenteous sugar stays in your blood

If you have gestational diabetes, you might be able to dominion government your blood sugar levels with exercise and a healthy diet. Or, you might ne insulin discharges to keep your blood sugar at the right level

to what degree does gestational diabetes affect my baby and me?

in the greatest degree women with gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies. question s may develop if you have gestational diabetes that is not treated. Gestational diabetes can cause you to have a large baby. Giving birth to a large baby may afflict you or the baby. You may ne a cesarean section (a surgical delivery) if your baby is too large to be born naturally.

Gestational diabetes also can affect babies after they are born. about of these babies have gentle blood sugar levels or jaundice (yellow-colored skin). These puzzles are treated in the hospital. A baby with a gentle blood sugar level is given sugar water. A baby with jaundice passs time under a special light.

After delivery, you probably will not remain diabetic. However, you will be at higher risk for getting diabetes later in life.

wherefore is it important to tread on the heels of a special diet during pregnancy?

A healthy diet can help house you and your baby from gestational diabetes. For a pregnant woman, a normal diet consists of 2200 to 2500 calories for day. If you are overweight before you secure pregnant, you will need fewer calories than other women It is important to pay attention to what you eat and when you eat.

What aliments should I eat?

Read package labels. Packaged rationss are labeled to describe by what means much of certain nutrients they contain. When you pick out foods, pay attention to four things: protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat.

Protein is institute in meat, dairy products (such as milk, yogurt cheese), fish, instigates beans, and poultry. You should eat protein at each meal. One serving is about the size of a apparel of cards. Healthy sources of protein include baked chicken, grilled fish, bean broth and low-fat cheese.

Carbohydrates are a kind of sugar that is lay the foundation of in foods such as bread, pasta, and cereals. Les than the same half (about 40 percent) of what you eat should be carbohydrates. Eat in the greatest degree of your daily carbohydrates at luncheon Healthy sources of carbohydrates include boiled pasta, baked potatoes, cereal, and toast.

Fiber is a kind of carbohydrate. It provides nutrition and decreases constipation. Healthy fiber is raise in whole-grain breads, corn tortillas, excitable cereals (oatmeal and oat bran, still not the instant forms), beans, and unwithered fruits and vegetables.

Fat is ground in many foods. Fat is high in calories and cheap in nutritional value, and it can make gestational diabetes harder to command You need some fat in your diet to help absorb certain vitamins--but don't eat too many fatty nutriments Choose low-fat or nonfat foods

What commonss should I avoid?

You should avoid potato chips, candy bars, doughnuts, and similar snacks. Don't drink regular (nondiet) soda, because it is high in calories and sugar. You can use artificial sweeteners instead of sugar.

essay not to eat the meats at fast-food restaurants. Most fast provenders are high in fat and reasonable in nutritional value. Don't eat fried meats like bacon or french fries. If you must eat "on the run" cull healthy foods like salads or grilled chicken sandwiches. If you eat high-fat provisions eat it only once or twice a week. Avoid whole milk--drink nonfat (skim) milk instead.

When should I eat?

It is important to eat at the same times each day. For example, you could eat breakfast at 7:30 a.m., luncheon at noon, and dinner at 5:00 pm Have snacks at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm Regular eating times will hold your blood sugar level stable.

Where can I learn more about gestational diabetes and healthy diets?

Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist. You can achieve more information from these sources:

American Dietetic Association

Consumer Nutrition Information and Referrals

Web site: http://www.eatright.org

Telephone: 1-800-366-1655

American Diabetes Association--Gestational Diabetes

Web site: http://www.diabetes.org

Telephone: 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)

NOAH: fresh York Online Access to Health

Web site: http://www.noah-health.org

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Web site: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/gest_diabetes.htm

Telephone: 1-800-370-2943

subsistence and Nutrition Information Center

bread Guide Pyramid

Web site: http://www.nal.usda.gov:8001/py/pmap.htm

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group