Pregnancy Diabetic Diet Plans

About 7 percent of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes. This is according to the American Diabetes Association. The March of Dimes states that 1 out of 100 women have preexisting type 1 or type 2 diabetes during pregnancy. While overall treatment may differ by type, the reason for prescribing diabetic diet plans during pregnancy remain the same, and plans are similar regardless of type. The objective is to help keep blood sugar levels in control and avoid excessive weight gain while providing enough nutrition for the mother and developing baby.

Following a proper diet can have a significant positive effect on the pregnancy. Poor blood sugar control and excessive weight gain can be controlled with diet along with exercise and medication. This helps decrease risks to mother and baby. Depending on whether the mother has gestational diabetes, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the National Institutes of Health website lists risks to the baby that include macrosomia, hypoglycemia, jaundice, respiratory distress syndrome, birth defects and stillbirth. The mother can be at higher risk for pregnancy and delivery complications.

It is important that the mother work with a registered dietitian to tailor a diet specific to her individual needs. Consideration needs to be made for weight before pregnancy, current weight, height and caloric needs. Basic dietary recommendations during pregnancy for women with diabetes are similar to those for women without diabetes in that they aim to reduce sugars, fat, and salt while increasing complex carbohydrates and other high-fiber foods while ensuring the mother is getting enough protein. It is important pregnant women with diabetes get enough folic acid to help reduce the risk for birth defects. Eating at regular times throughout the day, and not skipping meals or snacks, helps keep blood sugar levels consistent and stable.

Two common diabetic diet plans prescribed during pregnancy include exchange diets, like the one from the American Diabetes Association, and carbohydrate counting. Diabetes exchange diet: The mother is prescribed a certain number of food serving portions or "exchanges" of different food groups daily. The number of exchanges per food group depends on individual needs. Carbohydrate counting: The mother is given a number of grams of carbohydrate she should have per meal, snack, and/or day. Instead of grams of carbohydrate, she may be given a number of 15 g carbohydrate servings she can have. Again, the specific number of carbohydrates will be determined by the dietitian according to the mother's needs.

It is often assumed that diet plans during pregnancy for women with diabetes do not allow for any type of sweets. This may have been the case in the past. However, occasional portion-controlled treats can often be worked into the plan, provided they do not cause portion or carbohydrate limits to be exceeded.

It is important to note that the diet plan is usually just a starting point and can be considered a work in progress as the mother and her health care team monitor her condition and blood sugar levels. The diet may be tweaked throughout the pregnancy. It is important to regularly monitor blood sugar levels and communicate with the team so adjustments can be made as soon as possible.