Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

I just found out I failed my 3 hour and I have to take 2..2hr classes on nutrition and education and then go for one on one sessions after that. But, my first class isn't until Wed. night and I don't know what I should be eating. I am so upset by this because after all I've been through trying to get pregnant, hold pregnancies and all the stuff since being pregnant..I did not expect this too.

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

Im sorry sweetie

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

I believe nmp070106 is going through a similar thing right now, she posted something about gd today. Maybe you can help each other out!

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

just watch the amount of carbs that you eat.. make sure there is 25g or less in bread etc. Be careful with Pastas . I got this off of the NAtional diabetes website


Meal Plan

You will talk with a dietitian or a diabetes educator who will design a meal plan to help you choose foods that are healthy for you and your baby. Using a meal plan will help keep your blood glucose in your target range. The plan will provide guidelines on which foods to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat. Choices, amounts, and timing are all important in keeping your blood glucose levels in your target range.

You may be advised to
• limit sweets

• eat three small meals and one to three snacks every day

• be careful about when and how much carbohydrate-rich food you eat; your meal plan will tell you when to eat carbohydrates and how much to eat at each meal and snack

• include fiber in your meals in the form of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain crackers, cereals, and bread



or you can try this website
http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT/cnoteShowLfts.asp?fname=02063&title=GESTATIONAL+DIABETES+DIET+&cid=HTHLTH

Good luck!

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

My friend had this and found that when she didn't eat carbs for breakfast her sugar was lower. Try eating eggs and canadian bacon. Other than that limit fruit and sweets(obviously) She ended up having to go on insulin because hers couldn't be controlled. Apparently the placenta interferes with the way some owmens bodies process insulin. she was PG with twins which may have contributed. Only a few more weeks to go right?!

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

On my initial blood work they found my sugar to be high so at 6.5wks I was making an appt for the 1hr glucose, which I failed so had to do the 3hr glucose which again I failed terribly. I had to attend the 2-2hr classes. It was so upsetting for me to find out that I was probably a borderline diabetic and didn't even know it. I never thought either that after trying for 9mons to get pregnant this would happen to me and even though I am an L&D nurse and see this all the time you never expect it to happen to you. At 14wks I went on Metformin becuase diet and excersie wasn't working to keep my fasting sugars below 90. So I am 18wks now and I will tell you I lost a total of 9lbs because of the diet you have to be on. I also found eating eggs and bacon or eggs with mushroom, broccoli and 1 slice of light whole wheat bread i was able to keep my morning sugars down. I will try and found the food list and get back to you today. Everything will be fine, you have a few more weeks to go. I have 5 mons. and trying to say off being put on insulin

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

Until you get to your dr., I will tell you what they told me when I took the classes recently: breakfast should be about 30 total carbs or less. They say one piece of toast with an egg or some cottage cheese with a piece of fruit, cheese omlette, stuff like that. Mid morning snack should be 15-30 carbs, something like Activia yogurt or the Stonyfield Farms baby yogurt, 5 pieces of melba toast with peanut butter, a small piece of fruit, etc.. Lunch can be 45-60 carbs and so can dinner. They recommend eating lots of protein so dinner would be like chicken with a veggie and small potato for example. Certain things are "free" like non-starchy veggies ie. lettuce, cukes, broccoli, etc. so you can have those whenever you want and in any combination. They also recommended a snack between lunch and dinner and after dinner, same thing, 15-30 net carbs. Hope this helps.

ETA; they said if you feel hungry to try to eat something protein. They recommended walnuts or eggs or peanut butter, pretty much anything that is protein won't affect your blood sugar. To me, it seems very similar to the Atkins diet but they do allow you to have carbs, you just have to space them out over the day.

Message edited 2/12/2007 4:33:08 PM.

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

Count your carb intake with each meal.. try to limit it to 30 carbs for breakfast lunch and dinner and have 3 snacks during the day with the limit of 15 carbs per snack...

I found for snacks the 100 calorie snack packs are great....

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

Posted by nbc188



I believe nmp070106 is going through a similar thing right now, she posted something about gd today. Maybe you can help each other out!

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

Here's the food list that I promised


GDM Guidelines for Eating
Eat small, frequent meals. Try to eat every three to four hours

Have a good source of protein at every meal and snack. High-protein foods are meat, chicken, fish, low-fat cheese, nuts, peanut butter, cottage cheese, eggs, turkey and tofu.
It is important to pay attention to portion size rather than the type of food.
High-sugar foods tend to have less nutritional value.
While you are pregnant, your body and growing baby need an additional 300 calories a day during the second and third trimester.
Make sure that the additional 300 calories come from foods high in vitamins and nutrients.
Do not save food from one meal and eat more than your meal plan allows at the next meal.
Measure your portion sizes of carbohydrates with measuring cups.
If you are hungry, it is better to eat more protein than carbohydrates.
Condiments and foods that contain 5 grams of carbohydrates and are under 20 calories are considered free foods and do not have to be added to your total daily carbohydrate count.
Read labels. Be mindful of the grams of total carbohydrates instead of grams of sugar.
Chinese food should be ordered steamed, with any rice and sauce on the side.
Try to include two servings of fruit and three to four servings of vegetables throughout the day for added vitamins, fiber and antioxidants.
Non-starchy vegetables contain only small amounts of carbohydrate and can be added as desired (lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and broccoli).
Include mild/fortified soymilk, if tolerated, as a good source of calcium or incorporate other calcium-containing foods into your plan.
By monitoring your blood glucose results, you will discover your own sensitivity to the amounts of carbohydrate you eat. Your meal plan can be adjusted depending on your results.
Eat a Small Breakfast
15-30 grams of carbohydrates
Eat a protein
Choose High-Fiber Foods

Whole-grain breads and cereals
Fresh or frozen vegetables
Beans and legumes
Fresh fruit Foods to Avoid
Cakes, pies
Regular soft drinks
Sweet N’ Low
Bagels from the bagel store
Alcohol and caffeine
Free Foods (eat as desired)

Cabbage
Green onions
Mushrooms
Celery
Radishes
Cucumbers
Spinach
Green beans
Zucchini
Lettuce

Check this website for more info

www.northshorelij.com/maternalfetal

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

When I was preggo with my son I had GD. This is a sample diet plan that I had...

Not at all foods: cakes, cookies, candy, fruit/veggie juice, soda, ginger ale (only really water and a little milk as far as liquids), fast food, pizza, sugar coated cereal, bagels, rolls, animal or graham crackers, french fries, muffins, waffles, breakfast or power bars of any type, ice cream, pudding, pie, jelly, syrups, etc.

Breakfast (6/6:30am) - 1 starch, 1meat or meat sub, 1 fat
Sample meal - 6 wheat crackers and 1 string cheese, or cheese on a slice of wheat bread

Snack (9:30am) - 1 meat, 1 fat, 1 starch, 1 milk
Sample meal - 1tbsp peanut butter (low carb peanut butter), 6 wheat crackers, 8oz milk or 6 oz lite yogurt

Lunch (12:30/1:30pm) - 2 starches, 1 fruit, 1-2 non-starchy veggies, 2 meats, 2 fats
Sample meal - 2 slices of wheat bread, 1 small apple, 1-2 cups raw veggies, 2 oz meat, 2 tsp mayo (I had a lot of turkey, ham or roast beef sandwiches with mayo, lettuce, cheese with apple and carrot sticks or green pepper slices)

Snack (4pm) - 1 meat, 1 fat, 1 starch, 1 fruit
Sample meal - 1 Tbsp peanut butter, 3/4 oz or pretzels or a 2 breadsticks, 1 small orange

Dinner (7/7:30) - 2 starch, 1 fruit, 1-2 non starchy veggies, 3 meats, 2 fat
Sample meal - 1/2 baked potato or a cup or corn or small rice, unsweetened applesauce or small fruit cocktail or 1/2 banana, steamed veggies, 3 ox meat (one chicken cutlet or small hamburger - no bun), 2 tsp of oil (any fat)

Snack (9:30/10) - 1 meat, 1 fat, 1 starch
Sample meal- 1/2 sandwich or string cheese and 6 crackers or peanut butter with 2 rice cakes or string cheese and natrural popcorn

I lived on wheat crackers, wheat bread, fruit cocktail, apples, peanut butter, sandwiches (i hate cold cuts and ate them like 2 times a day at times at times), popcorn, pretzels, cheese, rice cakes, lots of veggies, and small meat portions.

Your diet will be based on your weight/weight gain and other factors..so I wouldn't follow this solely. I know I was starving on this meal plan - my nutritionalist was very strict...

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

I was on a 1900 cal diet.

I was not supposed to eat any fast food or sugary items.

My Diet was like this:

Breakfast: 1 starch, 1 protein, 1 fat
snack: 1 milk ,1 starch, 1 protein, 1 fat
lunch: 2 starch, 2 protein, 2 fat, 1 fruit, 1 nonstarchy veg
snack: 1 starch, 1 protein, 1 fat, 1 fruit
dinner: 2 starch, 3protein, 2 fat, 1 fruit, 2 nonstarchy veg.
snack: 1 starch, 1 protein, 1 fat

I ate 2-3 hours and I didnt cheat in between. I used the diabetes exchange book to figure out what I can eat. I took my blood in the morning, after breakfast, lunch and dinner. My father is a type 1 diabetic, so he was my greatest help. In the beginning I weighed out my food ie i was only allowed 1 oz of protein per 1 protein exchange. That is equal to a slice of cheese.

good luck! you have lots of resources here, but ultimately, follow your doctor's advice.

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

I have been doing a lot of reading about diabetes since I am recently diagnosed, and have found that a handful of almonds are GREAT for you...great source of protein..and if you do not like almonds whole, if you try the sliced/slivered almond by the salad stuff, they have some that are seasoned, and are quite a treat!!

Also, I ahve been told that string cheese is GREAT too!

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

I had GD- it is manageable... what I did was I ate no white carbs (no sugar, no white potatoes, no white rice, no white bread)- everything I ate that was carb related was very high in fiber- kashi cereal, brown rice cakes, sweet potatoes, etc.

Re: Can someone give me a list of foods to eat when you have Gestational diabetes?

I had it too. Looks like you got some good advice here but feel free to FM me if you have any more questions.....that is what I did when I found out I had it.

Some of my favorites....

Cheese quesadillas were good- I used half a tortilla and a bunch of cheese which was ok.

English muffin pizzas- but be careful of tomato sauces because they have tons of sugar. I bought the one that came in a little can- tomato sauce NOT pasta sauce.

I bought the small apples to keep around.

For breakfast I had a scrambled egg with cheese in it and half an english muffin.

lunch- a turkey burger on low carb bread with a side of veggies and an apple.

Snacks- peanut butter on crackers.