Pregnancy is a superb experience for all women . It is that dream phase of life where most women give no heed to the calorie count of the food they eat . And we all love to pamper ourselves by eating all that you really desire to eat ! Well, tempting as it may sound, but for some women the same phase turns in to a more serious one if they get diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Don’t worry ! This Indian diet plan for gestational diabetes will help you enjoy your eating during pregnancy while taking care of the nourishment and growth of your fetus .
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Pregnancy brings in a lot of emotions in a women . You are happy , emotional (due to hormones) , depressed (due to body changes), excited and full of anxiety and nervousness. You want to do every thing for the baby growing inside of you to come out healthy and fit. Health issues like Gestational diabetes makes you worry more and stress more. You get all the more confused about what to do and what to eat. Surprisingly, most people consider excess weight-gain as a desirable and healthy sign of a healthy pregnancy. This is the reason why we took an initiative to plan this Indian Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes . We will discuss on how a healthy diet can protect an expecting mother from gestational diabetes while allowing her to spend blissful moments with her child growing within her every second.
Understanding Gestational Diabetes :
We all have a basic and wide idea of what is diabetes. But what you really need to understand is, When it comes to Diabetes , there are certain measuring terms which may help in understanding a foods capacity to increase the blood sugar. While there are some that helps in understanding the body’s response or reaction to the raised blood sugar. I know i am getting too technical here, But it is important to have a basic knowledge about these indexes so that you really know what you are eating and how it is going to help you . This might just be your first tiny step towards being a smart mommy !
- Glycemic Index – It is a Number that signifies the capacity of a particular food to increase the blood sugar levels. 100 being equivalent to pure glucose . Foods that have a glycemic index or below 55 are considered healthier for diabetics. These foods are digested slowly in the gut and hence they raise the blood sugar slowly and steadily.
- Glycemic Load – Glycemic load depends on the amount of carb contained by a particular food. And the capacity of each gram of this carb to raise the blood sugar level.
- Insulin Index – Insulin index is kind of similar to the above 2 indexes. The only difference is that Insulin index does not depend on the blood sugar levels. Insulin index o a particular food is based on the food’s capacity to raise the concentration of insulin in the blood after 2 hours of intake.
Indian Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes:
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Here is a sample Indian Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes. Please note that the plan was made keeping an average Indian pregnant lady in mind. If you have any additional medical issues, it will be best to consult your personal dietitian or doctor before starting to follow our Indian Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes.
Food Item | Calorie (Kcal) | Protein (Gms ) | Nutri fact |
---|---|---|---|
Early Morning : (7.00 Am) | |||
Kesar and cardamom + cinnamon flavored Milk(1 glass) | 150 | 4 | Milk Is the best way to start your day, It will cool the acid rush down, and the nutrients in milk will be are absorbed better on empty stomach.(add 1-2 threads of kesar, and 1 pinch cardamom + cinnamon powder) |
Whole Wheat Rusks(2 pieces) | 50 | 2 | Dry Carbs in the Morning helps in relieving Morning Sickness |
Soaked Almonds (6 pieces) | 50 | 4 | It is a good souce of protein and omega 3 acids |
Breakfast (9.00 Am) | |||
Besan/ Mung dal chilla with chopped Palak and grated carrots – (2 medium sized) | 200 | 12 | This low carb , high protein dish helps you control sugar rush in the mornings. Carrots and spinach help in providing fiber , keeps you away from skin and digestion problem during pregnancy , and cuts on the risk of baby developing jaundice at birth. |
Curd1 Soup Bowl(1 Soup Bowl) | 75 | 4 | curd Provides calcium, protein, Vit A and D very beneficial during pregnancy, And helps you enhance your mood during downs. |
OR | |||
Egg Omlette(2 No.) | 160 | 10 | Eggs are easy to make and best sources of proteins that helps in baby’s growth. |
Toasted Brown Bread (2 slices) | 100 | 3 | Dry carbs Helps in relieving Morning sickness |
OR | |||
Vegetable oats upama (1 soup bowl) | 250 | 3 | Multi nutrients from veggies and good fiber to tackle constipation |
11.00 Am | |||
Apple /Guava / Pomegranate (1 medium size) | 40 | – | These fruits help in maintaining hydration and Ph balance in increasing blood volume. |
12.00 Pm | |||
Coconut water / Lemonade (1 glass) | 30 | – | It Benefits in constipation, sluggish digestion, heart burn and urinary tract infections during pregnancy |
LUNCH(1.30 Pm) | |||
Quinoa / Brown rice pulav with veggies (carrots , beans, capsicum , onions etc )- 1.5 soup bowl | 350 | 6 | – |
Dal tadka / Fish curry(1 soup bowl) | 150 | 6 | Fish helps in obtaining nutrients like pufa and mufa and good quality protein for development of the baby. |
sliced cucumber (1 medium) | 40 | – | Benefits of cucumber |
sliced tomatoes(2 medium size) | 40 | – | Anti oxidant lycopene helps in taking care of metabolic wastes. |
(2.15 pm )Post Lunch walk (15 mins ) | This will help in better digestion and the pp sugar levels will decrease. | ||
2.30 Pm | |||
Buttermilk(1 glass) | 40 | 1 | Helps in hydration and heart burn |
4.30 Pm | |||
Tea(1 cup) / Milk | 50 | 2 | (use the masala mentioned below this diet plan, to make it healthy) |
Wheat and methi Khakara (2 medium ) | 120 | 3 | Methi will help you with slow rise in sugar levels while whole wheat will ensure complex carb availability. |
6.00 Pm | |||
2 Table spoon – Museli / wheat flakes / oats bite (avoid the sugar coated cereals ) | 120 | 5 | Museli is a wholesome food in itself and provides with all vital nutrients. It satisfies hunger and raises your sugar levels slowly, avoiding the sugar spikes in the blood. |
1 bowl milk | 75 | 2 | Its iron content helps in increasing heamoglobin with increasing blood volume. |
1 /2 apple with the peel | 20 | – | Peel will help in keeping the fiber intact . |
evening walks (15 mins ) | This helps in over all control in the blood sugar levels. | ||
7.30 Pm | |||
Vegetable soup / Chicken soup(1 soup bowl) | 125 | 2 | —– |
DINNER (8.00 Pm) | |||
Multi-grain roti with ghee (1 tsp )(2 medium size) | 200 | 4 | These are easy to digest and do not burden the system. Helps in maintaining the BSL |
Palak paneer veg(1 bowl, home made) | 150 | 4 | Good combination of protein and iron for baby’s growth. Spinach is rich in folic acid and iron and helps in maintaining healthy pregnancy. |
Koshimbir / salad(1 bowl) | 50 | 2 | Fiber helps in better digestion |
(9.15 pm )Post dinner walk (15 mins ) | This will help in better digestion and will lower the fasting blood sugar levels. | ||
10.00 Pm | |||
Milk(1 glass) | 150 | 4 | Along with good nutrition, a glass of warm milk at bedtime helps in getting a good night sleep. |
Soaked Almonds (6 pieces) | 50 | 4 | It is a good source of protein and omega 3 acids |
TOTAL | 2325 | 71 |
While following this Indian Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes, Make sure you spend 10 – 15 mins after your lunch and dinner in walking around the house / office . These are slow walks . These walks will help in better digestion and will help in controlling your postprandial blood sugars.
Recipe of Masala for your Milk and Tea –
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Make this masala and keep handy . It will help in reducing blood sugar and add taste to your milk / tea .
Grind all these spices together – 10 -15 cardamom buds green , 5 black cardamom, 4 sticks cinnamon , a little javitri , 10 -15 buds of cloves , 10 – 15 black pepper balls.
It is all about keeping your blood glucose levels stabilized :
- Carbs are not only present in foods that contain processed sugars such as jam, honey, candies and soft drinks, But also in foods containing natural sugars such as yogurt, fruit and milk
- During digestion, your body converts all carbs to glucose and hence, higher intake of carbs at one time leads to a rise in the blood glucose level.
- Starchy foods such as cereals,Refined flour products like breads, pastries , cakes, cookies, rotis (hotel made)and naan and vegetables such as peas, legumes, potato, lentils, baked beans and corn have high carb content. You may want to choose your carb intake accordingly in order to prevent the intake of excess calories while still honoring your taste.
You may be interested in Reading – How to gain less weight in pregnancy
The Dos and the Don’ts of Gestational Diabetes :
While you are following our Indian Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes, This small list of simple Do’s and Don’ts will help you a long way. These tips will brighten up your day and ensure safety and well being of your baby and your own health.
Eat small meals
Allow a time of 2.5-3 hours between a meal and a snack. Similarly, make sure that a snack and the next meal has a time gap of at least 1.5 hours.
Never ever skip meals or avoid carbs
This won’t do you any good and would just make you feel hungrier and eat more at your next meal which would ultimately destabilize your blood glucose levels. If you consume less carbohydrate, you are putting your baby’s health at stake as a growing embryo needs a certain amount of glucose energy for its growth.
Include a lot of veggies in your diet
Make sure your meals and snacks contain adequate amount of salads and cooked non-starchy vegetables that are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals.
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Consume a lot of protein foods
Consume a lot of protein foods during meal and snack times. These foods do not turn into glucose after digestion and they can help you feel full. Protein is found in foods such as eggs, chicken, fish, meat, tofu, nuts, seafood, nut butter, cheese and seeds.
Re-consider your fat intake
Excess weight gain may not mean healthy pregnancy. Go for lean meat, low-fat dairy products and avoid deep-fried foods and high-fat junk snacks. It is not that fats would directly contribute to an elevated blood sugar level, but they may make it difficult for the insulin to work properly.
Include un- sweetened Greek yogurt in your diet
Greek yogurt has richer protein content compared to regular yogurt and would help to keep you full while promoting the health of your digestive tract as well.
Opt for complex carbs
Go for brown rice, quinoa, ragi (red finger millet) or cracked wheat instead of white rice. For many, this may mean tough practice and compromise, but once you train your taste buds, you would not want to switch back again to white rice.
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Reduce your oil and butter intake
However, sometimes if you do need to surrender to your mood, you may use extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle olive oil into soups and pastas and enjoy your snacking times.
Replace Unhealthy with healthy
Regular pasta with 100% wholegrain pasta and white bread with natural multi-grain bread. Have fine cracked wheat instead of upma/ rava/ semolina.
Replace potatoes with sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes have high fiber content and low glycemic index which means that they release glucose into the blood slowly after digestion, thereby helping in keeping the blood sugar level stable.
Include Oats
Start your day with healthy breakfast cereals such as oats. Make it interesting with berries and nuts. Oats do not only have high fiber content, but they also promote milk production in nursing mothers.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water every-day.
Making frequent visits to the washroom is the last thing that an expecting mom would want to experience. But by doing so, you would allow your body to flush out toxins regularly.
Try variety of salads
Relish your salads with a generous combination of quinoa, kidney beans, chickpeas and soya chunks. Make your taste buds happy with tofu curries at times.
Here are some interesting and simple recipes –
- koshimbir with curd
- Kachumber salad (without curd)
- Simple salad
- Simple salad with cheese dressing
Look for attractive variety of colors in your food
Include multicolored veggies and leafy greens in your diet. Indian cuisine has a lot to offer to us in terms of flavors and variety. Try out your grandma’s recipes or discover something on your own with an incredible combination of cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kale, mustard greens, dill weed, Brussel Sprouts, fenugreek, and spinach.
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Eat fruits as mid meals
Who said you need to avoid fruits completely? Enjoy a sumptuous fruit bowl with slices of guava, citrus fruits, melons, apples, berries and pears. However, avoid over ripe fruits as they have high sugar content. Avoid bananas, grapes, jackfruit, mangoes, pineapple and grapes and chikoo as they have high sugar content. Of course, you may have them as a treat once in a while if you have been sticking to our Indian Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes on a regular basis.
- Snack on nuts such as peanuts, walnuts, roasted channa and almonds and give your body a healthy supply of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Include proteins and carbs in every meal and veggies and fruits for at least two meals.
- Avoid soda, coffee, and tea. If you do need to take some caffeine, consider sipping into a cup of Joe prepared with fat-free milk and without sugar.
- Replace fruit juices with whole fruit or tender coconut water.
Some low sugar Snacking Ideas:
- Carrot slices with any vegetable based yogurt dip
- Lettuce salad with boiled chickpea, tomatoes, cucumber and lemon juice
- Whole wheat crackers with yogurt dips and avocado slices
- Greek yogurt with berries
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- Sprouted green gram with grated carrots and lemon juice
- Brown bread toast with almond butter and apple slices
- Raagi roti with mint chutney
- Wholegrain dosa
- Asparagus omlette
How to fight Cravings?
- Never avoid the intake of carbs as they give you instant energy.
- Drink a glass of water when craving hits. False hunger pangs are more likely to subside with a glass of water.
- Reassess your meals to find out if you are eating less. Add some proteins to your diet or snack on celery, baby spinach or baby carrot salads.
Here are a few more reads on pregnancy that might be of help to you –
- How to reduce fasting blood sugar levels in pregnancy
- Indian diet plan for pregnancy
- What to eat during Pregnancy
- What foods to avoid during pregnancy
- Benefits of Beetroot Juice in anaemia and pregnancy
- Benefits of Ginger in Pregnancy, Gastric problems and infections
Follow your grandma’ advice- Eat for two. And invite gestational diabetes to impact your health. It may seem to be contradictory to the sayings that has been shaping the diet plans of pregnant women in traditional Indian households. Your baby needs an extra 300 – 500 calories to support his/her growth and and follow our Indian Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes to manage your elevated sugar levels.
Hello Mam,
This is Shalini and i’m 12 weeks pregnant. At 11 weeks i had sugar test.I did 75 gm of glucose at 10.50 am and i have given blood for testing at 12.50 noon.My Glucose level was 133.Is it very high?Could you please let me know the precautions i should follow.
Hi Shalini ,
below 140 is the normal level an your sugar is 133 , so that should not be a problem . AND YOU CAN FOLLOW THE TIPS MENTIONED ABOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT REMAINS IN CONTROL.
Hi Payal. I am a 26 week pregnant woman and had my Glucose Tolerance Test 1HR (Glucose-O Sullivan Screen) yesterday and the result is 190 mg/dl (standard range is 70-140 mg/dl), which is really very high. So I am suppose to do another 3 HRS test in next 9days (advised by my hospital).
Now I am really worried for my baby and for my diet as well.
I have some questions regarding this.
In your diet chart You have mentioned that milk can be consumed. So should I take whole milk or low fat milk ?
And is there any specific dal which should be avoided and any dal which can be consumed without any guilt ?
Can I have corn flakes with milk in breakfast ? The bread I am consuming right now, when checked the ingredients, I found there is some sugar also. So should I continue that ?
Can I have homemade yogurt (you have mentioned that Greek yogurt is good, so which one would be best) ?
Any fruits I should avoid ?
Mostly, is it really possible for one to be in the standard range of glucose (as I am having 190mg/dl) without any medication (in 1 week) and only by following this diet ?
Hi Sumi,
firstly , conratulation on entering motherhood. dont worry . stress increases blood sugar levels , so it is important that yiu stay calm . here are your answers –
In your diet chart You have mentioned that milk can be consumed. So should I take whole milk or low fat milk ?
payal – Low fat milk
And is there any specific dal which should be avoided and any dal which can be consumed without any guilt ?
Payal – take mung dal , it has equal carbs , but it is easy on digestion .
Can I have corn flakes with milk in breakfast ? The bread I am consuming right now, when checked the ingredients, I found there is some sugar also. So should I continue that ?
payal – please avoid bread completely . take mung dal chilla , egg omlette, daliya upama , oats upama, rawa idli , bean chilla for now.
Can I have homemade yogurt (you have mentioned that Greek yogurt is good, so which one would be best) ?
payal – home made yogurt , made out of low fat milk.
Any fruits I should avoid ?
payal – check this – https://www.dietburrp.com/fruits-vegetables-allowed-avoid-diabetics/
Mostly, is it really possible for one to be in the standard range of glucose (as I am having 190mg/dl) without any medication (in 1 week) and only by following this diet ?
payal – if you keep your cool . maintain a healthy diet . and walk for 15 mins 2-3 times a day at home , then it is achievable.
Hi mam I am 31st week pregnant I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with fasting blood sugar 93 and post lunch 172. My doctor prescribed me glyciphage and also told that insulin will be started after a week. Is it really needed to start insulin? Can maintaining a strict diet help protect my baby till 36th week? Please suggest me.
Hi Srilatha ,
strict diets cannot alone control the blood sugars in gestational diabtes as the hormonal levels and the stress are also responsible in controlling the sugar levels . But dont worry. No doctor will start you on insulin if it was really not needed. try to eat as prescribed in the diet plan mentioned above , this will considerably control your blood sugar levels and help you keep away the insulin for a little longer , if all goes well.
Hi doc.., em Sangeeta from Karnataka.., em 22nd week pregnant.., em diagnosed with gdm in 21st week., My FBS is-110 n after 2hrs of glucose it was 160.., my doc suggested me only to follow strict diet for 15days.,no medications given yet.., can I follow Ur diet plan mentioned above..? N after 15days she will test again
Hi Sangeeta ,
Yes you can follow it , just eat a little lesser in terms of quantity than prescribed .. remember to do 10 – 15 mins small walks after each main meal ..
Hello Payal mam,
I am 5 months pregnant and having history of PCOS and diabetese in paternal family. In 4th month of pregnancy I have detected with high blood sugar level. Uptill four month sugar level was normal. So my gynac prescribed me metamorphine 500mg 2times before breakfast and dinner. Also she prescribed me insuline 4units before dinner. But still my sugar level is not controlling. I am cheking it for alternate days on dr. Morepen glucometer. My weight before pregnancg was 76kg and now 78 kg. I am working women and active. I want to share my diet plan with you and looking forward for your suggestion. How could i share my diet plan with you? Plz help.
Hi Anjana,
You can write the details here and i shall guide you , this may also help many other readers who have a similar problem as yours …
Hello,
Dr Payal
I am currently 31 weeks pregnant, residing in USA detected with gestational diabetes with value of 183.. doctor started with metformin 500mg twice daily and insulin 14units. My fasting sugar is pretty much controlled but pp after lunch and dinner is always above 140.i am pretty much freaked out.. please help me doctor what should I do?
Hi Shybba,
dont worry .. start walking after your meals .. 10 mins slow walk at home .. this will help in lowering pp sugar .
Hello Mam,
This is Meghana and i’m 20 weeks pregnant. At 14 weeks i had sugar test.I had my breakfast at 8 am then 75 gm of glucose at 10 am and i have given blood for testing at 12 noon.My Glucose level was 121.Is it very high?Could you please let me know the precautions i should follow.
Hello
I am Neha Tyagi 27week of pregnancy i just had sugar test on doctors recommendation and my sugar level is 146 so my doc suggested some diet plan to maintain but i want to ask if i can have coconut water or not and also he asked me not to have fruits so much especially mango banana etc.
i want to ask if i can have pomegranate ,lichi ,blueberries or i should avoid these fruits as well
and
can i eat white rice in my diet like once in a day
Hi Neha ,
following the above mentioned diet plan will help you control you blood sugars better. has your doctor put you on any insulin ? if ye , you can have all the above mentioned food in less and ver less quantity deending upon the nature of food. but you dont need to avoid any food completely …
if you are not on insulin and controlling sugar only with food , then yes avoid banana , mango or have 1-2 pieces , replace white rice with brown rice , or reduce the quantity of white rice and eat lot of veggies with it. litchi is btter avoided , other fruits you mentioned can be eaten in limitations.
Hi maam i am 29 weeks pregnant. I was given glucose drink and blood was taken after 1hour and result is 140. It is normal range.
If it is 140 , then you may not have Gestational diabetes . the criteria , is or the normal results areyour blood sugar should be less than or equal to 140 mg / dl . so you are right there .. you doctor might repeat the test in a few days , as the results are like border line .
Hi payal, I am 10 week pregnant and I detected gestation diabetes can you suggest please what should I take Indian food that help me control my gestation diabetes my OB said said I have 103 when theydid fasting test.
Hi Parveen ,
The above mentioned diet will suit you perfectly .
hii payal,I am 22 week pregnant nd already taken insulin but blood sugar nit controlled its very high…I am worried about glucose test also i m taking 16 point insulin….
Hi Chiku ,
are you managing your food intake ? it needs to be looked at . it controls your sugar great deal . if you are eating appropriate amount of carbs and still the sugars are high , then we need to do analysis .
Hi Payal ,
Myself Jhansi from USA, I’m 28 years old n dis is my 1st Pregnancy now I’m in 34th week , as I had Gestational diabetes from 28th week so I’m in diet but sometimes it seems high but I didn’t crossed 140 after meal (2 hr ) during fasting it’s almost < 95 but sometimes 102 , last week doctor suggested me Insulin 6units ..
Is my sugar levels ok ?
I’m now in medication but during insulin injecting to my belly I’m scared that needle can harm to my baby n my uterus ?
And is my gd affect to normal delivery ?
I wanna give birth to my baby as normal ..
I’m doing walking 30 mins daily ..
Suggest Me please
In 32nd week I went for ultrasound n doc told me that everything good baby weight is average n amniotic fluid is normal no need to worry like dat doc told ..
Hi Jhansi ,
i can understand your curiosity . see firstly it is very uncertain and un predictable . even women who do not have gestational diabetes have to go under c section due to complications arriving during labour. hence all we can hope for the best.
if your doctor has prescribed insulin shots , then may be you need it . i cannot give a second opinion , as a physical examination is needed. but ifi you have a doubt , you can always check with a different doctor once . if you are scared to take injections , they will teach you how to use it . and the needle for these are very tiney , they only inject subctaneously , hence will not affect uour baby in any way.
exercises you mentioned are good . you can continue .
Hi doctor, I am 30 weeks pregnant. My fasting blood sugar is 99.My afi value is 12.7.My doc said I have too much fluid and it may problem to my baby.I am taking bymet 500 tablet from 5 days.can it control.Is there any problem to my baby.My baby weight is 1.67gr.please suggest.
Hi Sruthi ,
dont stress so uch , many women face this problem now a days , but it comes back t o normal with the medicines .
Hi mam, i m 32 weeks pregnant and detect with genstational diabetes .As per my GTT test report sugar level for fasting was 119 and with 75gm of glucosr ,it was 254 and after one hour it was 153. I wana knw mam , is there any derious complication regarding my pregnanacy. One more thing baby weight as now is 1.9 kg . Please do suggest me precautions and diet plan for remaining pregnanacy.
Hi Savita ,
dont worry , there is no hidden side effect of having GDM . i am sure your doctor must have made you aware about the possibilities and side effects if any in your case . see , basically you will find a lot of long stories about side effects of have gestational diabetes . and they will scare the shit out of you . but the best way is to ask your doctor as not all the women with GDM have the same risks and effects. so dont worry , just check with your doctor. I have had a lot of clients with gdm , who went on to give birth to very healthy babies without much trouble . the key lies in managing your blood sugar .
you can either follow the plan given above , or buy our E book for a detailed 1 month plan , or you can buy a personalized consultation .
Hello Doctor,
We are 24 weeks pregnant with twins. My wife has Gestational Diabetes and is on complete bed rest during the entire pregnancy as suggested by our doctor due to some complication.
We have consulted a dietitian and have been following strict diet, but still we feel that the sugar levels goes up only after my wife finishes her dinner. Due to which my wife is being given insulin.
Can you please suggest a good diet plan so that we can follow it.
Hi Nagraj , can you mail me her medicine details and diet intake detailsat care@dietburrp.com . i will also need her latest blood sugar reports .
Is am pre diabetic and 10 weeks pregnant my Dr puts me on insulin 20units twice a day my hc1 is 6.2 after taking insulin my sugar levels are normal as 85-90 fasting and 110-115 after 2 hr plz tell me if I am on correct doses of insulin
Hi Adil ,
yes the units are correct . the best way to judge if you are on the right dosage if to check your blood sugar levels after taking the insulin . as you mentioned , the blood sugar levels are much in normal values and hence the units of insulin are suitable in your case .
hi, i a m Soumi. i am 31 yrs, diagnosed with type two diabetes since last two yrs and have been on medication since then. since conception i have been put on insulin. presently i am 25 weeks pregnant. my insulin doses have been increased but still my fasting sugar remains around 11o and pp ranges around 180. i follow a active life style and healthy diet as well. i would be glad if you guide me. thanks
Hi Soumi , are you walking ? you should walk for 10 – 15 mins 3-4 times a day . like once after every meals and one in the evening mid time . this will help in great deal to get your sugars down .
Hi can i have daal and basmati rice boiled what kinda daal can i eat without getting worried also if i make paratha in ghee how bad is tht . Can i have pakora kadhi or pakoray on its own or with yogurt please help me with sum food ideas
Hi Asma ,
you can have daal , with 1 small cup ( 50 – 80 gms cooked ) rice . if you change from basmati rice o brown rice , this will help you in GDM . by paratha if you mean roti , its fine . but if you mean potato stuffed paratha , than this is a big no . Kadhi is ok to have . if the pakora is made from besan , then you can have a piece or 2 . plain pakora is better avoided.
you can buy our Ebook , it has the complete diet plan for 1 week . this plan will help you in controlling the blood sugar levels , while satisfying your hunger.
Gd eve mam……I have a question can we recommend flaxseed in GDM..and beetroot n anar
Hi Priyamvada,
Flax seeds is no issue , but you consume roasted flax seeds , instead of raw .
if you are on medications , then a little bit of pomogranate and beetroot wont harm . but its better avoided if you are managing it with diet alone.
Hi I am Lavanya.I am 30 weeks pregnant.i have gestational diabetes so i would like to know about Raagi (finger millet drink)java ?How many calories does it have .At what time it is good to have?Can i eat Dates and dried soaked fig?
Thanks in Advance
Hi Lavanya , dates and figs are better avoided if you are not taking any medicines for GDM. ragi kanji (salted) can be taken at mid meal time. in morning between breakfast and lunch or evening between lunch and dinner.
Hlw mam how much calories and protein requires during gestational diabetes.
Hi Priyamvada ,
it differs from person to person . out of your total calorie intake , 60 % should come from complex carbs , 20 – 22 % from protein and remaining from good fats .
I m pregnant 27 week. I m in USA.checked with dietitian but it’s more of American version of food. I got confused how much m what to eat,.if I go of less food my worry is will baby will grow or not.my weight is not super increased n remains constant.shoild I follow Indian diet. Is it is completely diet or just controlled carb eating?what about protein?can I eat more protein?
Hi Mayuri ,
you can follow the diet plan mentioned above without any tension . Also if you want we can plan a personalized Indian diet for you based on what your doctor has prescribed food wise and medicine wise as well. I am also mailing you the details of our consultation . you can reply back if interested . if not , you can refer the plan mentioned above in the article.
Should I follow this diet?
yes you can follow it for 2 days and check your sugar stats if they suit you .
Hi payal
Like many ladies here complained for high fasting numbers, I also struggled with those.
My dietician told me to eat crackers and cheese/peanut butter/ cottage cheese at the end of night as night snack. This will help in bringing fasting numbers down. you might wannna make that change in the plan for other ladies to follow
Hi Nancy , thanks for suggesting … many might benefit from your contribution .
Hi, I am 30 weeks and diagnosed with GD.. I stay in the usa and here we need to monitor our levels4 times a day.. my concern is I am well able to manage my after meal numbers below 125 but my fasting numbers are above 95 no matter what I do each night.. after reading ur blog I wanted to know if u can help me in providing any tips which can help me In reducing my fasting numbers will be highly helpful..
Hi Archana,
fasting sugar is the result od over night production from liver , so it depends less on eating . the best way to control it is to walk for 20 mins late in the evening or at night. this will help great deal .
Hi Archana,
You might want to check this – https://www.dietburrp.com/how-to-reduce-fasting-blood-sugar-level-during-pregnancy/
Hi
I am 28 weeks pregnant. I found that i have gestational diabetws in 25 weeks. At first I was nt able to control the number but with your diet above I am able to resuce the numbers after food but my fasting numbers are still high. It should be below 5.5 but the first test in morning is above 6. What can i do to reduce that number. I really appreciate your help.
Hi Mandeep ,
do you take walks ? walking in the evening and post dinner at night for 10 – 15 mins , in slow speed will help you get the fast ing sugar in control .
Hi Mandeep , you might want to check this – https://www.dietburrp.com/how-to-reduce-fasting-blood-sugar-level-during-pregnancy/
Hi Payal,
First of all, i found your blog to be super helful! so thanks for that 🙂
I am 27 weeks pregnant with baby#2.I tested positive for gestational diabetes, when i had my test last week.
Definietly freaking out , since i was guilt free during my first pregnancy.
Now that i have the “GD” tag, i am frightened to put absolutely anyting in my mouth! 🙁
I have 2 weeks before i meet with the dietiecian here at my local hospital, and was looking to begin a meal plan early on.
Thought you would be able to help?….
I have already begun working on totally cutting sugar, juices anyting that even looks sweet *sigh!!*
Is there a way you can help me chalk out a meal plan specific to the foods that ive been eating?
Let me know if i can sync up with ya and we can take it from there! (you can send me an email)
FYI – no medications as of yet.
Thanks a ton,
Poonam
Hi Poonam ,
Yes , i can help you . mailing you the details .
Dear Payal,
I am 4 months pregnant and Type II Diabetic for last 4 yrs ( Metformin 1000 + Glimipride 1M ) was keeping it under excellent control , Hb1Ac were always under excellent control and calculated Sugar was below 110. After getting pregnant my BS raised too much and doc advised me to take insulin ( Livemir 22 IU at night and 10 iu of Humalog before meal. My diet is 99% controlled and i do min 10,000 steps every day still my fasting BS is 105-110 and 2 Hrs after meal is 120-140. PS : I am overweight 100 Kgs + Hypo Thyroid ( 75mg Medicine)
Hi Sonam ,
You can either follow the diet plan mentioned above , or i can persoalize a diet plan for you based on your requirements and condition . Mailing you the details on the email id you mentioned .
Good Evening Ma’am
My wife was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and after like controlled diet and walking we managed to get it under 120 without any medicine and on 27th December we blessed with a Baby Girl, it’s her first pregnancy, delivery was normal and baby’s weight was 3.1 kg. Now today again we checked sugar test and results came 141. She is having those homemade laddoo( so called medicine) and less water and almost no fruits.
Could you please suggest us some diet. I have mailed you request also for your one week diet plan. Please do the needful.
Hi Jayjeet ,
Congratulations on getting an Angel . i have replied your email with teh details . please mail me if you need any more .
Hi,
I am a 39 yr old, Indian, vegetarian first time pregnant and currently in 13th week of pregnancy. I was made to undergo the sugar diabetes test in the 11th week of pregnancy, wherein I was made to drink 100 mg glucose and thereafter the blood was withdrawn and the test results were 170. Yesterday, I underwent HbA1c test and the fasting sugar level was 89 and 5.2.
My doctor has advised that though I do not have diabetes now, I am at high risk and need to modify my diet starting now, especially, suggesting that I should avoid sugar, breads, rice, potatoes and have a more balanced diet.
Currently, I have two chapatis, 7 almonds, 1 glass milk with 1 spoon sugar for breakfast; a fruit like orange/cup of tea for mid meal snack, two chapatis, veg and curd for lunch, a fruit/tea n biscuits for snacks and two chapatis/rice with dal/veg without potatoes for dinner.
Please suggest changes in the diet.
Hi Prathibha ,
please include soaked almonds and more milk in your diet . if you are a non – vegetarian , please include egg . please include some colourful veggies like yellow pumkin , bottle gourd , capsicum , spinach , methi , lettuce . tomatoes . this will help
I am pregnant of 5week and having type2 diabetes and hypothyroid too.. today my fasting blood sugar level was 94 and 2 hrs after meal was 170.
I am taking metformin 500 HCL twice a day.
Do i need to take insulin or continue with same medications?
I need a complete vegetarian diet chart too.
Hi Ayushi ,
1] About taking Insulin – i think the doctor is the best judge of the situation . as uncontrolled sugar levels may cause several complications in the pregnancy . hence you should follow your docto’s advice on this ..
2] sure we can plan a detailed diet chart for you . check this – https://www.dietburrp.com/diet-services/
Hello
I am 26 weeks pregant , residing in dubai and it is my first pregancy.so far all my reports were normal and was going smooth but 4 days back i had Glucose challenge test and reports came abnormal that is over night fasting and i was given glucose drink of 50mg and blood was taken after one hour. Reference range is less than 7.7 and i got 8.59 mmol/L . coming to me i am underweight starting of my pregancy 44 now i managed to puton with 52kg . I am 5 feet 4 inches . Should i fellow the same diet plan what u suggested. As i am looking for vaginal delivery. plz need help .Thanks in advance.
Hi Sabeena ,
ofcourse , you can ollow the same plan mentioned above . this will help you in all regards .
Hi Dear Payal,
I am 32 week Pregnant, i am on insulin 40m per day (12+18+10), but still some times sugar level is too high (above 180 ~ 200). My diet is OK, don’t know what sugar level shoots high some times…?
Please advice i am too much worried.
Regards
Mrs Malik
Hi ,
you should try walking for 10 mins at home after all 3 major meals. this will really help . do it for 2 days and check your sugar levels . let me know if it helps
Hello there….I am 28 week pregnant and on bed rest due to short cervix. My PBS come 158 this week and following above mentioned diet.
Can I add khakhra and amul buttermilk (tetra pack ) in my diet?
As I am on bed rest and I am not able to cook can you pls suggest some ready to eat snacks.
Hi , yes you can include these things in your diet . you can alslo include saffola oats which is ready to eat . bran flakes with milk for breakfast . please hire a cook so that your nutrition is not compromised
Hii mam. I am Mona. And Im diabetic patients.. And now I am 10 week pregnant.. So I want to know that if my baby will born baby will be healthy or not.. Now my sugar is 140 in fasting sugar and m taking insulin .. Pls and my question
Hi Mona ,
dont worry . diabetic women also give birth in a completely healthy and normal way . all you have to do is just be a little extra cautious with your diet and keep your sugars in control. to avoid complications in the pregnancy. be active walk around
Hi Payal,
i am 26 weeks pregnant and got to know that i have GD, fasting sugar is 89, one hour is 194 and 2 hour is 167. It is very high? i am a bit shocked as we do not have any history of diabetes in our family.
I am also taking duphaston (progestrone) but no other medicine for sugar.
I take a walk for 15 mins after every meal. But at the moment i am too scared to eat anything fearing it will affect my baby, please guide
Hi Mohini ,
Firstly , stop worrying so much and eat well . if you dont eat , this will project more risk on your fetus than the increased sugar . the levels are not very high . and can be due to body stress , mental stress , or too much weight gain in pregnancy . dont worry , eat well. and it can be managed
hi Payal ,
I am 24 weeks pregnant and have been diagnosed with GD post breakfast with the rate of 8.8 . And my doctor had prescribed me metformin 500 mg twice a day as i had PCOD . And am still continuing the same .
Wanted to check if i can add tender coconut water and dates in my diet.
Hi Pavana ,
coconut water yes . but avoid dates .
Hi payal
First of all thank u I have been following your diet for gd…am 35 weeks pregnant and diagnosed with gd 2 weeks back the doc adv me to cut my carbs by 25% and keep monitoring so far the values are within the range….I have a query is coconut water good….doesn’t it increase sugr levels???
if you are on insulin , then coconut water once in a day or once in 2 days is ok to have . if your sugars are way beyound the normal levels then things will change accordingly .
Hi, I m 8 month pregnant and having intense problem of gases and acidity along with constipation, please suggest and guide me further….
Thank you
are you having ginger in your diet ? include ginger and ajwain in your food also make sure you walk for 10 mins after all the 3 main meals.
I started with glycomet 500 twice a day but that did not help in maintaining sugars, I had headache and stomach upset, I got low levels < 70 a couple of times so i stopped and have trying to manage with diet alone for past 1-1.5 month. I got hba1c done couple of days back and it was 5.6. Usually 2-3 times a week I have these spikes (130 @ 2 hours or 160 @ 1 hr). Fasting has been < 95 always. My doc wasn't happy with me stopping meds but I feel they don't help anyway and have side effects . Should I get GTT done again?
Hi ,
it is best to take the medicines . these medicines dont have side effects . the headaches may be due to mismanaged sugar levels . like the sugars must be either very high , or very low . if the dosage din suit you , you should have changed that .. in some cases , it take 2-3 weeks for the doctor and the client to fit a proper medicine as per sugar levels , and the levels to stabalize . patience is the key.
Hi Payal,
You offer great advice here. Could you also share carbohydrate content of each food item recommended along with proteins content that’s already given?
Also I am unable to have more than one chapati at any meal lest my bg rises to 160+. I tried medication but that also didn’t help much so I am restricting my diet a lot in terms of carb content. A typical day is – morning tea without sugar with nuts and wheat rusk/ crackers, whole wheat bread with veggie omelette for breakfast. Bowl of sprouts as mid morning snack. 1 bowl of daal/lobiya/chickpea/palak paneer with 1 small roti (wheat bajra and besan mixed), evening tea with 2 digestive biscuits, dinner is veggie soup with 2-3 tbsp of oats or 10-15 springs of whole wheat pasta. 1 cup milk at night. Any other snack is usually roasted chana, peanuts, half an apple, a rusk etc. But sometimes even 1 roti and daal with salad makes my bg high 🙁
Hi ,
what medications are you taking ? if your BGis so happazard , ill have to plan a personalized diet plan for you … please check this – https://www.dietburrp.com/diet-services/
Thanks dear payal for Sharing this great knowledge…
Thanks for your reply Ms. Payal for my Post from – Indian Mom in USA.
The 3 hour Glucose Tolerence Test that I had to go through is recommended by my OBGYN between 26 t 28 weeks of Pregnancy. This is a Fasting Glucose Test.I was fasting the night before and the first blood draw happens while fasting. Then I was given a concentrated Sugar solution with 100gms of Sugar and then they draw the blood after 1 hour of drinking the sugar solution, again after 2 hours and 3 hours. This is supposed to be the most accurate way of identifying Gestational Diabetes as it sees how our body responds to the Sugar and how soon it produces insulin. In this test, my 1 hour readings were elevated but Fasting, Second and 3 hours were normal. Hence , my doctor’s suggestion to Re-Do the test again in 3 weeks and to follow a Low Carb, High Protein Diet in the interim.
I’d like to know what type of Diet should I follow before going for my next 3 Hour Glucose Tolerance Test .
Can you please let me know.
Thank you,
Indian Mom in USA
Hey Nandita ,
Yes i got your point . I am afraid i do not have anything readily available to give you as a reference for your condition. if you let me know your daily food routine , i might be able to help you in figuring out what needs to be changed and how.
Hello Ms Payal,
Thank you for sharing this GD Diet Plan. In this above Diet Chart , could you also please include the amount of Carbohydrates for each of the meals listed. I have been asked to limit by Carb intake to 150-165 gms ( 10-11 servings of 15 gms each)
I’m 28 weeks pregnant and live in USA , I have NOT been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes but I went for a 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test last week , my 1 Hour reading came back elevated(191) but my Fasting, 2nd hour and 3rd hour readings are very much in normal limits. Since the results of my test are ambiguous ( as the doctor wants atleast 2 elevated readings to confirm a GD diagnosis) my doc has asked me to re-do the 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test again in 3 weeks ( as she wants all 4 readings to be normal) and until then I have been advised to be on Low Carb and High Protein Diet.
I’m an Indian vegetarian , so I’m looking for Low Carb high protein options. I see that Chick Pea, Kidney Beans , Kaala Channa and Dal are all High in Carbs , so I’m a little confused on what options I have.
If you could also share the Carbohydrates Content and Glycemic Index of the foods in the above food list, that will be very helpful.
Also any insights on just why 1 hour reading could be elevated when by other readings are normal would also be very helpful.
Thank you very much in advance!
An Indian Mom in USA
Hi ,
firstly , the 1 hour reading that is the pp reading can be elevated due to the type of foodyou ate in that meal or the quantity . say for ex . if you had some dessert in that meals , the 1 hour reading could go high temp. and then the other readings can be normal . if you eat normal food the readings should not go up if you are not gestational diabetes . hence the confusion
the diet plan mentioned above has around 200 gms of carbs , as it is planned for gestational diabetics who are already on medications. you can use the same fiod items in reduced quantity .
Hello doc pls help m . 29 week pregnant wt. 52 kg ht 4’9. Recently I hv diagnose with gestational diebties 202mg. Pls suggest m dite. Can i take gourd and& better gourd juice ?
Yes you can take it . are you on medications ? if yes you dnt need to go into all this, in pregnancy .
Hi mam i am vanathi 33 year old, its my first pregnancy at 31st week, last week we did sugar test its confirmed by doctor diabetes.. And water level is 21cm..today water level is 12cm my sugar level is controlled 100 to 130 one hour test taking insulin at 4point, tonignt my sugar level suddenly 160, i am get confused,, and also i have fibroids 9cm out side utraus but its not grow.. Kindly advise me for sugar level
Hi Vanathi ,
such great fluctuation can be handled only with due medications and insulin . are you taking insulin ? if yes , follow the diet mentioned above and walk for 10 mins each after lunch and dinner to manage blood sugar .
Greetings,
My midwife had me take waking and post meal glucose readings for three days and my numbers were not pretty. I have drastically adjusted my diet and the number stabilized in normal range. I am being encouraged to eat only a vegetarian diet, but I grew up vegetarian and find that my body craves and thrives on some quality meat/eggs/dairy balanced with a high vegetable content. I have eliminated all grains, but will be reintroducing quinoa and oat groats this week. Do you have any other suggestions/recommendations? And do you feel that a plant based diet is the best/only way to manage this situation?
you can have dairy and eggs . this is important in pregnancy . meat can be avoided for a while.
Hello mam
Im 28 years old pregnant 2 months …My Dr told me to avoid sugar stuff …My result of test after drinking glocuvita like something they gave me to drink after 1 hour she checked my sugar levels which was 137 …Im eating gram flour with rice flour snacks at evening is it bad for me ?
HAS YOUR DOCTOR DECLARED YOU AS GESTATIONAL DIABETIC ?
Hello mam, am Sukanya now am 37weeks pregnant, in 34weeks I tested glucose tolerance test and the result was 161, so my doctor suggested me to take glycomet 500 mg tablet for morning and night and after 10 days I did 1hr sugar test, fasting , after breakfast, after lunch test. And the result for fasting-105, after breakfast 145, after lunch 131. Is this normal mam, my doctor suggested me to do a very strict diet till delivery. But Am worried a lot am tensed a lot , whether my diabetes will this effect my baby. Will my baby born as a diabetic. Pls tell me doctor am worried a lot about my baby and am crying a lot daily and thinking about my baby. Full tension… pls tell wat will happen to my baby after born . Will it be normal or diabetes…
Hi Sukanya ,
dont worry dear . having diabetes during pregnancy will not affect your baby’s growth if you take good care of your diet . just be regular with the suggested medication and you can follow the above mentioned diet plan . this will help you keep your blood sugars in control . and will result in a good baby growth .
Hi.. im in my 31st week of pregnancy. First baby. I regularly check sugar level. Wen I checked yesterday in fasting it was 83 and aftr two hrs from breakfast it was 145. I had dosa (rice+sabudana+daals). Will it indicate high sugar level. How can control?
are you detected with gestational diabetes ? are you on medications ?