Ayurvedic Diet and Exercise in Gestational Diabetes -part 2

Management of gestational diabetes

• Scrutinize blood sugar levels four times per day (before breakfast and 2 hours after meals.)
• Scrutinize urine for ketones (an acid that indicates your diabetes is not under control).
• Following specific dietary guidelines as instructed by your doctor.
• Exercising after obtaining your health care provider's permission.

• Scrutinize weight gain.
• Taking insulin, if necessary. Insulin is currently the only diabetes medication used during pregnancy.

As your pregnancy progresses, the placenta will make more pregnancy hormones and larger doses of insulin may be needed to control your blood sugar. Your health care provider will adjust your insulin dosage based on your blood sugar log.
When using insulin, a low blood glucose reaction, or hypoglycaemia, can occur if you do not eat enough food, skip a meal, do not eat at the right time of day, or if you exercise more than usual. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:Confusion,Dizziness,Headaches,Sweating,Weakness etc.

Hypoglycaemia is a serious problem that needs to be treated right away. If you think you are having a low blood sugar reaction, check your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is less than 60 mg/dL (milligrams per decilitre), eat a sugar-containing food, such as 1/2 cup of orange or apple juice; 1 cup of skim milk; 4-6 pieces of hard candy (not sugar-free); one tablespoon of honey, sugar, or corn syrup. Fifteen minutes after eating one of the foods listed above, check your blood sugar. If it is still less than 60 mg/dL, eat another serving of the food varieties listed above. If it is more than 45 minutes until your next meal, eat a bread and protein source to prevent another reaction.

Diet tips for Gestational Diabetes :
Eat three small meals and two or three snacks at regular times every day.
Do not skip meals or snacks. Carbohydrates should be 40%-45% of the total calories with breakfast and a bedtime snack containing 15-30 grams of carbohydrates.
If you have morning sickness, eat 1-2 servings of crackers, cereal, or pretzels before getting out of bed.
Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day and avoid fatty, fried, and greasy foods. If you take insulin and have morning sickness, make sure you know how to treat low blood sugar.
Choose foods high in fibre such as whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables. All pregnant women should eat 20-35 grams of fibre a day.
Fats should be less than 40% of calories with less than 10% consumed being from saturated fats.
Drink at least 8 cups (or 64 ounces) of liquids per day.

Exercise
Be as physically active as you can. Aim for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
Do aerobic activities, which use your large muscles to make your heart beat faster. Try brisk walking, swimming, dancing, or low-impact aerobics. But, regardless of gestational diabetes, every pregnant woman should consult with her health care provider before beginning an exercise program.
Since both insulin and exercise lower blood sugar, you should follow these additional exercise guidelines to avoid a low blood glucose reaction:

Always carry some form of sugar with you when exercising, such as glucose tablets or hard candy.
Eat one serving of fruit or the equivalent of 15 grams of carbohydrate for most activities lasting 30 minutes. If you exercise right after a meal, eat this snack after exercise. If you exercise 2 hours or more after a meal, eat the snack before exercise.

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