If you have gestational diabetes it is essential that you implement a low GI diet so that you can get all the benefits that will assist you in the long term. The only way you will avoid developing type 2 diabetes is to change the way you eat by including nutritional healthy foods which will help you to manage your gestational diabetes. During the second and third trimesters, you will require more energy, but this does not mean that you need to eat more, even if there are two of you, you will only require around 1200 kj extra per day. It is vital that the extra kilojoules you add to your diet should be nutrient-rich foods.

The following guidelines shows you how to apply a low GI diet if you have gestational diabetes:

* Eat small amounts of food on a regular basis

* Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and salads

* Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol

* Limit your intake of foods that are high in saturated fat like biscuits, cakes, chips, butter, cream, processed foods and takeaway foods

* Reduce the amount of food and drinks that have large amounts of refined sugar or added sugar

* By reducing the amount of iodised salt will help you to prevent iodine deficiency

* Add cereals, low GI breads, pasta, legumes, low fat dairy products, and rice into your diet

* Include good sources of protein into your diet like lean meat, fish, seafood, chicken, eggs, and nuts

Your daily low GI diet food guide should include:

* 6 to 10 servings of low GI breads, cereals and other starchy foods

* 5 to 6 servings of vegetables

* 3 servings of healthy fat-rich foods

* 3 servings of lean meat or alternatives

* 2 to 3 servings of low fat milk products

While you are breastfeeding you will be required to change your daily food guide by simply adding more of the main food groups and lowering your meat intake, this is because your iron needs are not required as much as they are during pregnancy. Following is your daily food guide if you are breastfeeding:

* 8 to 10 serves of low GI breads, cereals and other starchy foods

* 6 or more serves of vegetables

* 4 to 5 serves of fruits

* 3 serves of healthy fat-rich foods

* 2 serves of low fat milk products

* 2 serves of lean meat or alternatives

Having gestational diabetes can be managed if you implement a low GI diet, this will not only help you manage and control your diabetes much easier, but it will reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You should aim high for you and your baby to achieve optimum health.

Discover more about Gestational Diabetes. Stop by Sue Kennedy’s site where you can find out all about how a Low GI Diet can assist you to avoid type 2 diabetes and maintain optimum health for you and your baby.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is different from diabetes that existed before a pregnancy which is commonly called pre-existing diabetes.

About four percent of all pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. The cause of gestational diabetes is not completely understood, but it may have to do with hormones that help the baby develop but have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the mother’s natural insulin in her body.

Gestational diabetes occurs late in a pregnancy. This condition does not cause birth defects, but may affect the baby by increasing the baby’s body mass. Large babies can be susceptible to injury during birth.

If a pregnant woman has gestational diabetes, the newborn may be at an increased risk for breathing problems. Newborns of women with gestational diabetes may also have low blood glucose levels at birth. People whose mothers had gestational diabetes during the pregnancy may be prone to obesity and type II diabetes.

Blood tests are done to check for gestational diabetes. A blood sample may be drawn at the beginning of the test. The pregnant woman is required to drink a glucose solution and have at least one more blood test after time has passed.

Diabetic diets are the first treatment for gestational diabetes. The obstetrician may have the pregnant woman with gestational diabetes meet with a dietician or nutritionist who will devise a diabetic diet.

The diabetic diet typically includes three meals and two snacks each day. The diet usually specifies how many servings of each food group should be eaten with each meal and snack. The dietician may provide a food exchange list that includes suggestions and serving sizes for each food group.

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes are required to check their blood sugar levels multiple times during the day. If the gestational diabetes is not well controlled with diet, the pregnant woman may have to take insulin injections.

Women and newborns rarely have lasting effects from gestational diabetes after birth. The woman may have an increased risk of type II diabetes. The effects of gestational diabetes are usually minimal if it is properly managed.