How the diet for mums-to-be with gestational diabetes differs from a normal pregnancy diet

Choosing a scientific diet for mums-to-be with gestational diabetes helps manage the symptoms of the condition well while ensuring nutrition for the baby. Eat a wide variety of foods (15-20 types) including carbohydrates, protein and fat to provide your body with all the nutrients it needs. Content reviewed by Specialist Doctor Level I - Le Pham Anh Vy.

Glucid (carbohydrate) needs:

The carbohydrate group includes: rice, rice vermicelli, pho noodles, hu tieu noodles, rice porridge, bread, milk, vegetables and fruit,... Besides providing energy, glucids also help build tissues and regulate the body's functions.

In pregnant women with diabetes, carbohydrates should make up about 50-55% of total energy needs (compared with 60-65% in other people).

To get enough carbohydrate without raising blood sugar, keep in mind:

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals: pregnant women should have 3 main meals and 2-3 snacks/day
• Carbohydrate foods should be spread evenly across meals (3 main meals and snacks)
• Choose foods with a low glycaemic index and combine foods appropriately to keep the glycaemic load low (in the next articles, let's learn with Momby what the glycaemic index of foods is)
• Fibre has a positive effect on blood sugar control; the recommended fibre intake is about 28g/day (300-400 grams of vegetables and fruit each day)

Rice is the staple food in Vietnamese meals, but white rice usually has a high glycaemic index and little fibre. So pregnant women with gestational diabetes should eat rice that still has its bran, such as brown rice or germinated brown rice, which cooks softer and is easier to eat.

• Foods to eat: wholegrain cereals, whole beans, fresh rice vermicelli, brown bread, less sweet fruit (guava, pomelo, jicama, oranges, apples,...)
• Limit foods with a high glycaemic index that cause blood sugar to spike after eating: cakes, sweets, ice cream, sweet soups (chè), dried fruit, soft drinks…..

Protein needs:

• During pregnancy, the mother's protein needs increase to help build and develop the baby's body. Meals should combine animal and plant protein. Foods that provide animal protein include meat, fish, eggs, milk, prawns, crab, seafood... Foods that provide plant protein include soya beans, mung beans and other beans.
• Pregnant women with diabetes should eat lean meat, lean fish, tofu, yoghurt, milk and cheese (low-fat, unsweetened).

Lipid (fat) needs:

• Lipids are especially important during pregnancy and breastfeeding; most importantly, lipids take part in the formation and development of the brain during pregnancy and ensure the quality of breast milk.
• Eating too little fat in daily meals affects not only the development of the baby's brain and nervous system but also many of the baby's other organs. A lack of fat in meals reduces the absorption of nutrients, affecting the mother's health and her fat stores for making milk after birth. Mothers who eat too little fat during pregnancy may not gain enough weight, may not produce enough milk and may become malnourished from protein-energy deficiency.
• On the other hand, eating too much fat can lead to overweight and obesity, affecting the baby's development, as well as some chronic non-communicable diseases and metabolic syndrome in the mother.
• Pregnant women with diabetes should use more vegetable oils instead of animal fats.
• Limit high-fat foods that raise blood fats: skin, egg yolks, organ meats (liver, heart, kidneys...), fried and stir-fried food…

Understanding your diet and eating healthily will help you keep your blood sugar at a safe level so you can enjoy a healthy pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby.

References:

International Diabetes Federation

World Health Organization