What diet changes to implement now.

Aug 17

Written By Malama Health

The high level on diet; when to eat & what to avoid

If you've recently received the news that you didn't pass the Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT), you might be concerned about out-of-range blood sugar readings.

Rest assured, these readings are a natural part of the process, and positive changes are on the horizon. With the right adjustments to your diet, you can significantly improve your glycemic control.

DIET

• Aim for 3 small meals and 3 snacks every day — this means eating every 2 to 3 hours so you don’t get hungry during the day. Since pregnancy affects carbohydrate tolerance, you'll focus on distributing your meals and snacks throughout the day to avoid spikes in blood sugar.

• Typically you are advised to limit sweets and using too much sugar in your food

• Hydrate with water 💧 and avoid juices

• Focus on adding protein to every meal and snack — Our app helps with ideas on how to do this while keeping with your food preferences

• Dress your carbs! Carbohydrates are the foods that raise your blood sugar the most. They are mainly found in grains, fruit, and milk. If you eat them alone, your blood sugar spikes. If you eat them with some fat or protein, it keeps your blood sugar more stable. So, instead of eating an apple by itself, “dress it up” with some peanut butter. If you have crackers, have them with cheese. If you’re having toast in the morning, make some eggs to go with it.

• Generally speaking, you can eat large portions of non-starchy vegetables they tend not to spike your sugars

• Logging your meals after tracking blood glucose will allow the Malama App to identify if specific foods are causing your blood sugar to spike and to point out which are safe meals for you.

Source: American Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. (2023). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Care and Education. Read more here.