Daily Food Intake: Pregnancy Diabetic Diet

Continued From << Pregnancy Diabetic Diet

Unlike most mothers who tend to let go of their strict eating habits during pregnancy, you should monitor your glucose, urine, and heart rate closely. Giving in to every craving might have an adverse effect due to your diabetes. Remember that you are connected to your baby and that what you eat and what you do passes through the placenta where nutrition is absorbed by the baby. Your baby’s blood which performs its fetal respiratory and excretory functions and your own are one and the same during pregnancy.

Your Daily Food Intake

A daily intake of 2200 calories is recommended by physicians for a mother with diabetes.  About forty to fifty percent of this should be made-up with carbohydrates but should not be taken in concentration during a certain part of the day. It should be divided between each meal with snacks containing fewer carbohydrates.

Complex carbohydrates like vegetables, whole-wheat pasta, beans and oat meals should be preferred. This is great in more ways than one as food like these are high in fiber which prevents constipation. A common type of irregular bowel movement to a lot pregnant women suffers from. Getting between 25-30 grams of fiber daily is advised as this also helps in normalizing your blood sugar.

A quarter or so of fat should also be included in your daily calorie count but instead of saturated fats that clog your arteries, monounsaturated fats should be in your meals. This type of good cholesterol is good for your heart, an important aspect especially if you have high blood pressure. No more than 300 mg of fat a day should be induced.

Sidebar: The next article in this group is about South Beach diet and diabetes.

Restricting your sodium consumption may not be needed except if you have a kidney problem. A normal daily intake of 2400 mg is recommended, 2000 mg if you have damaged kidneys. Make sure you are taking iodized salt that provides iodine which is beneficial for both you and your baby.

Prenatal vitamins may be taken under the advice of your doctor. Vitamins containing folate, vitamin D, iron and B-complex are usually some the recommended supplements you should take.

Consult a Professional

Remember to seek first the opinion of professionals who know what is best for you and your baby. Having the approval of someone who knows what they are doing would ultimately give you peace of mind.