Sample Diet for Gestational Diabetes

The following sample diet for gestational diabetes is designed to work as the framework for additional daily meal plans. Since gestational diabetes can be completely and effectively controlled with diet alone, and the fact that oral hypoglycemic medications are not recommended during this delicate time, it is important to discuss any questions with a nutritionist. You can post your inquiries here and our expert nutritionist will be happy to answer all your questions.

Goals for Blood Glucose Control

During pregnancy, it is critical to maintain healthy blood sugar levels throughout the day and evening. Screening for gestational diabetes is typically conducted between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. A fasting glucose needs to be less than 95 milligrams/deciliter, and a two-hour postprandial (after meal) reading needs to be less than 120 milligrams/deciliter. Healthy eating habits and smart food choices are essential to meeting these goals.

Basics of Sample Diet for Gestational Diabetes

The goal is to provide the pregnant woman with adequate energy, commonly known as calories, to ensure nutritional adequacy and appropriate weight gain to support the mother’s body and the needs of the growing baby while also maintaining blood glucose levels. While calorie needs are highly individualized, the average women with an appropriate weight prior to conception needs an additional 300 calories during the second and third trimester. As with any pregnancy, these additional calories need to contain quality nutrition loaded with essential vitamins and minerals to support a healthy pregnancy and outcome. Also, protein requirements are increased by an extra 10 grams per day above the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.

Meal planning should center on eating several small meals throughout the day. Small, frequent meals support the stabilization of healthy blood sugars much better than one or two large meals. The sample diet for gestational diabetes offered here follows this guideline. Food combining to ensure that carbohydrates are not ingested alone is also important.

Sample Diet 1

Breakfast

2 slices whole grain toast

2 tablespoons of peanut butter

½ cup of 100% juice

Mid-morning Snack

1 apple

1 cup cottage cheese

Lunch

1 cup of lentil soup (or other bean soup)

1 serving of whole grain crackers

2 ounces of low fat cheese

1 cup baby carrots

Mid-afternoon Snack

20 raw almonds

1 cup grapes

Dinner

6 ounces of fish of choice

1 cup steamed broccoli

1 cup brown rice

1 cup reduced-fat milk

Evening Snack

5 cups air-popped popcorn (plain)

Sample Diet 2

Breakfast

2 egg whites, scrambled

1 whole egg, scrambled

1 whole wheat English muffin

1 teaspoon butter or margarine

1 slice of melon

Mid-morning

6 ounces yogurt

1/4 cup of low fat granola

Lunch

2 slices whole grain bread

2 ounces sliced turkey or chicken (low-sodium)

1 slice of cheese

lettuce leaves

tomato slices

1 tablespoon of mustard or mayonnaise

1 apple

1 cup reduced fat milk

Mid-afternoon Snack

¼ cup hummus

1 cup of raw vegetables of choice

Dinner

5 ounces grilled chicken breast

1 cup steamed carrots (or vegetable of choice)

1 small baked sweet potato

2 tablespoons of sour cream

Evening Snack

Small smoothie made with:

1 cup reduced-fat milk

½ cup strawberries

crushed ice

Additional Recommendations

A suitable sample diet for gestational diabetes also includes plenty of fluid intake throughout the day. While fruit and vegetable juice is acceptable, it is best not to drink these alone, but rather enjoy small amounts at a time with meals and snacks. Water is the best option as it contains no sugar to counteract the goals for keeping glucose amounts intact. A snack before bed is suggested as a way to decrease the chances of an overnight hypoglycemic episode. For those women that wake up with high blood glucose readings, it may be mandatory to reduce the amount of carbohydrate eaten at the breakfast meal.

For those women who require insulin to treat their gestational diabetes, the quantity and frequency of carbohydrate needs to be matched to the insulin requirements accordingly. In all cases, simple sugars such as white table sugar, honey, jams, maple syrup, candy, non-diet soft drinks, and the like should be omitted entirely from the diet.

Exercise is a key component to assisting insulin function. Be sure to discuss this option, and diet regimes, with your obstetrician before beginning any specific plan.