Must-Haves | Let’s eat
Get ahold of glucose
With the right plan for what to eat, and a good amount
of patience, you can thrive with gestational diabetes
BY KATE GEAGAN, M.S., R.D.
;When Robin Plotkin failed her glucose tolerance test (G TT) at 26 weeks, she was scared. A registered dietitian in Dallas,
Plotkin knew the results likely meant gestational
diabetes (GD). And for an otherwise healthy
mama-to-be, having to suddenly adopt a strict
diabetic regimen would be a huge adjustment.
Like regular diabetes, GD is an excess of
glucose in the bloodstream, except that it
develops during pregnancy. Dealing with GD as
soon as it appears, usually between 24 and 28
weeks, is key. While GD is often symptom-free, if
left untreated, it increases the risk of high blood
pressure during pregnancy and can lead to a
larger baby, meaning a potentially more difficult
delivery. It also means a greater risk of developing
type 2 diabetes for your child.
The biggest focus of the gestational diabetes
diet is carbohydrates, because carbs have a
direct impact on your blood-glucose levels.
For Plotkin, this meant minimizing refined
and added sugars, counting the carb content of
meals and snacks, and regularly using lancets
Tips from the trenches
STAY CALM. The beginning can be a frustrating
time, but keep trying until you find what works.
EXERCISE EVERY DAY (check with your
doctor first). Regular workouts help your
body use glucose without extra insulin.
EAT RIGHT. Pack your diet with nutrient-rich
foods. Avoid high-fat, high-carbohydrate,
and calorie-dense foods and drinks such as
processed foods, soda, and anything fried.
MANAGE STRESS. Plotkin found that both the
stress of moving to a new home while pregnant
and suffering through a severe cold affected
her blood glucose numbers significantly.
and test strips to check her blood. “My routine
changed completely. Suddenly, I was checking
my blood sugar four times a day, tracking
numbers and food choices, and packing all may
own snacks,” Plotkin says. Her day planner
was dotted with visits to a Certified Diabetes
Educator, who helped her create a customized
eating plan and track her progress.
Plotkin says there was a learning curve, even
for someone like herself who’s educated about
what to eat. Getting it right was a process of
trying carb-rich foods like fruit, milk, and bread,
and seeing how they a;ected her glucose levels.
“When you have such a short time to take care
of your health and your baby, you want to get it
right, right away. So I had a lot of frustration that
my blood sugar numbers weren’t perfect at first,”
Plotkin says. But she read labels and eventually
discovered foods to match her cravings and her
carb quotient (see our sample menu, “A great
day with GD” at right).
Through trial and error, Plotkin hit her
stride and thrived, gaining just 21 pounds.
Despite fears of delivering “a 15-pound
turkey,” she welcomed a healthy baby boy just
under 7 pounds, and her symptoms resolved
right after the birth—which often the case
with proper management. Her six-week
checkup proved the elevated glucose gone.
“This just shows if you can manage your
diet, you can do it,” she says.
Kate Geagan, M.S., R.D., is an award-winning dietician
in Park City, UT, and author of Go Green, Get Lean:
Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low-Carbon
Footprint Diet. She’s the mother of two toddlers.
