Real Food for Gestational Diabetes

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, please immediately pick up the 2015 book “Real Food for Gestational Diabetes” by Lily Nichols. It is, as some would say, a game changer.

Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy.  Sometimes this is truly a condition of pregnancy. There are natural mechanisms in our body to adapt to pregnancy and ensure the best outcome. For example, the placenta releases hormones to interfere with insulin production and keep important nutrients and sugars in the blood stream to nourish the growing baby.  However, when the body isn’t able to maintain normal blood sugars, it carries risks for both mom and baby.

The great news is that many cases of gestational diabetes can be controlled by dietary changes – and those dietary changes have the potential to not only transform the outcome of the pregnancy, but also the long-term health of the birthing parent, and the long-term health of the child.

Here are two things to consider:

·       Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes have a high chance of developing Type 2 diabetes within 5 years of delivery (70%).

·       Children exposed to gestational diabetes in the womb have a 6-fold higher risk of blood sugar problems by adolescence (including type 2 diabetes)

Since gestational diabetes can be the earliest sign of a predisposition to diabetes, and diet can prevent diabetes for both the mother and the baby, then pregnancy can be a critical time of mobilization for long-term health. You can do this!

Here are some things I encourage my clients to do if blood sugar level is an issue:

·       Always start the day with protein rich food because most women experience more insulin resistance in the morning and a high carb breakfast can cause high blood sugar levels throughout the day. Start the day right!

·       Always end the day with a post-dinner snack of a whey shake or other high protein food because this slow release of protein through the sleeping hours can maintain a balanced blood sugar and assure a healthy reading the next morning.

·       Always include a protein food when you are having carbohydrates (nuts along with your fruit, cheese with a whole grain bagel, scrambled eggs along side potatoes).

·       Always integrate movement or exercise into your day, but especially right after meals as exercise reduces blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.

·       Always make a list of high carb foods and low carb foods and do your best to focus on the latter as much as possible.

If these above guidelines are not balancing out your blood sugar levels, feel free to contact me for more nuanced or personalized advice. Don’t give up right away, sometimes this process needs tweaking.  As suggested before, invest in “Real Food For Gestational Diabetes”!  Also, remember that sometimes susceptibility to gestational diabetes is genetic and cannot be controlled. In these cases, after you’ve tried natural methods, it is appropriate to move toward insulin or other interventions for the safety of you and your baby.