Diabetes Pregnancy Diet As a Vehicle For a Healthy Lifestyle

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One of the most remarkable moments in a woman's life is learning that she is about to embark upon the wonderful journey of motherhood. While most women would receive news like this with much joy and gratitude, other women who have medical conditions like diabetes might feel more anxious. They might think that having diabetes would instantly cause complications for their unborn child, or that their pregnancy diet would have to be so restricted that the only foods that they can eat are the ones that are bland and tasteless. However, this is simply not true. Even women who get gestational diabetes during their pregnancy should not look at the situation as a cause for panic. The truth is that, following a diabetes pregnancy diet plan not only allows the mother to eat varied, nutritious and tasty foods, it also enables her to take on a healthy lifestyle that would lead to her having a healthy baby free from any defects she might have initially feared. More than just stating what the mother should and should not eat during the pregnancy, a diabetes pregnancy diet plan focuses on proper nutrition, and does not really differ radically from other situational diet menus.

Of course, it is extremely vital to monitor the diabetes all throughout the pregnancy, and to control the condition through the pregnancy diet plan and insulin. Doing so would greatly reduce any risk of the baby having any breathing problems, heart and digestive problems, spina bifida, jaundice, or weighing excessively at birth (macrosomia). Aside from preventing any unwanted birth defects, controlling the diabetes through a pregnancy diet plan would also allow both the mother and baby to receive the proper nutrition, while keeping the mother's blood sugar levels in check.

A good diabetes pregnancy diet plan can aid greatly in bringing about a healthy baby with no severe health consequences. What the pregnancy diet plan does is to provide well-balanced nutrition through proper calorie consumption. Carbohydrates, for instance, are converted into sugar by the body, and this information serves as an important factor in determining the kinds and amounts of foods that should be eaten by the diabetic mother in order to keep the blood sugar levels within the normal range. The diabetes pregnancy diet plan includes other guidelines, such as:

o    Daily calorie intake should be around 2,000 calories. This includes an increase by 300 calories in order to provide sufficient nutrients for both the mother and baby.
o    Take healthy snacks instead of giving in to food cravings.
o    Make sure that the body gets the necessary vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E, C, B6, B12, iron, zinc selenium, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin.
o    Modify the diet and meal plan as necessary throughout the different stages of the pregnancy.
o    Factors such as the mother's weight, overall health, and the baby's growth rate would determine the balance of foods that should be taken.
o    The mother's weight should be proportional to the baby's development.
o    The mother should have a total of six meals a day, three main ones and three light ones.
o    Sweets should be taken sparingly, if not completely avoided.

As part of having a healthy pregnancy lifestyle, light exercise, as consulted with and approved by a doctor, should also complement the diabetes pregnancy diet. Employing these guidelines during her pregnancy should banish any worries that a diabetic mother might have, and instead replace them with joy and the anticipation of having a healthy, strong child.