Healthy Eating for

Diabetes in Pregnancy
Diabetes & Endocrinology Center
 HEALTHY EATING…
• Focusing on a variety of foods daily that you
presently tolerate…desire….like

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Common Nutrition Discomforts of Pregnancy

Nausea
Nausea & Vomiting
Heartburn & Reflux
Constipation

Is anyone currently experiencing these?

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Major Nutrients

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How Nutrients are Handled by Your Body

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What does this look like day to day?
• Carbohydrate: minimum 175g/day
• ~11 servings/day
• Ex: 1 piece of bread= 15g
• Protein: minimum 71g/day
• Ex: 4oz chicken breast= 28g
• Fiber: minimum 28g/day
• Ex: ¼ cup raspberries= 4g

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 KEY TO SUCCESS
• Space “carbohydrates” through the day
Grains/Starches/Breads & Cereals
Fruit
Milk & Yogurt
• Portion control carbohydrates
• Too many carbohydrates or too big a portion size
can make your blood glucose go up
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 So what are CARBOHYDRATES?
Carbohydrates from foods and beverages break
down to sugar (glucose).

They give us fuel or energy to think and act.

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Insulin is needed to help this sugar (glucose) get
into the cells of your body to give you energy and
help you think
…so you feel and act your best!

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 Measuring portions of carbohydrates is
important to control your blood glucose!

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 Practice Makes Perfect…..
Measuring your carbohydrate portions will improve
your ability to “eye” correct portion sizes.

This will help when you are dining out or eating away
from your home to keep accurate with your
carbohydrate portions.
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 MEALS and SNACKS
Eat three meals or (three times a day)
Ideally four or five hours apart
With snack(s) in-between

Throughout the day feed/fuel your baby with

healthy food(s)

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General guidelines for carbohydrate servings
• Meal Time:
2-3 carbohydrate choices, or
30-45 grams carbohydrate

• Snack Time:
1-2 carbohydrate choices, or
15-30 grams carbohydrate
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 Balanced Snacks
• Try pairing a carbohydrate with a protein or fat to
keep you full and satisfied and to improve blood
sugar control!

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All about FIBER:
• What is fiber?
• Part of plants your body cannot digest
• Why is fiber important?
• Helps constipation, keeps you fuller longer, and blood sugar control
• Soluble Fiber: soaks up water to aid in digestion forming a gel;
slows absorption of glucose  better blood sugar control
• Good sources: oatmeal, nuts, legumes/beans, fruits, vegetables
• Insoluble Fiber: bulking agent, keeps everything moving,
prevents constipation
• Good sources: whole wheat products, pumpkin/sunflower greens, leafy greens, peels of
fruits and vegetables

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FIBER
Carbohydrate Foods Carbohydrate foods with more
FIBER
Juice Fruit
Potatoes/Winter Squash Peas/Corn
Crackers Whole Grain Crackers
Bread/ Tortillas Whole Grain Bread/Tortillas
Pasta Whole Grain Pasta
White Rice Whole Grains like Brown Rice or
Farro
Cereal like Rice Krispies or Rice Whole Grain Cereal and Oatmeal
Chex

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 Where are the CARBOHYDRATES?
Where are the carbohydrates in these breakfasts??

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LUNCHES

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DINNERS

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SNACKS

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Indian Cuisine

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Spanish Cuisine

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Arroz con Gandules

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Arroz con Pollo

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Asian Cuisine

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Italian Cuisine

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Arabic or Middle East Cuisine

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Jamaican Cuisine

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Southern Cooking

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 Blood Glucose Testing
Recommended to test:
• Fasting
• Two hours after each meal (3 meals daily)
• Note: two hours from the start of your meal.

• Write on paper or put in cell phone what you eat.

• Test your glucose as recommended.

• Refer to what you wrote down to help understand your blood glucose
response to what you ate.
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 Reminder of blood glucose goals
• Fasting < 95 mg/dL
• Two hours after eating < 120 mg/dL

• What if my glucose reading is higher than

recommended?
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 Weight Gain
How much weight should I gain in pregnancy?
If pre-pregnant weight (PPW) is:
(ACOG 2018)
Pre-pregnant Goal weight gain in
weight pregnancy
Low 28-40 lbs
Normal 25-35 lbs
High 15-25 lbs
Very High 11-20 lbs
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 Meal Plan Options
• Calories designed for you
• Carbohydrates spaced through the day
• Carefully portion the carbohydrates
• Follow the healthy diabetes plate for pregnancy,
or meal plan designed for you,
or sample day menu

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IN SUMMARY…
Follow Nutrition Guidelines.
Keep focused on carbohydrates and portioning.
Monitor blood sugar.
Keep your appointments with your team of
healthcare professionals.
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THANK-YOU!

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