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Hey there, incredible moms-to-be! Are you navigating the journey of gestational diabetes and searching for ways to manage it naturally, all while ensuring the health and well-being of you and your baby? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Gestational diabetes may seem daunting, but with the right approach, you can take control of your health and enjoy a smooth pregnancy journey. In this blog post, we’ll dive into some practical tips on how to manage gestational diabetes naturally through diet and exercise. From making mindful food choices to staying active and finding balance in your daily routine, we’re here to support you every step of the way. So, grab a cozy seat, mama-to-be, and let’s embark on this empowering journey together!
Pregnancy is such a wonderful, joyous time.
You are growing a human being inside you, what could be more special? Then you go to your 27 weeks appointment and they tell you that you have gestational diabetes… What???
For me this came at such a shock the first time. I was very small when I got pregnant, probably below 120 pounds. I wasn’t gaining excessive weight during pregnancy. I was working out almost every day (waking up at 5 am and going to the gym). I ate very healthy (whole foods primarily).
And I had gestational diabetes?!?
Tracking Blood Sugar with Gestational Diabetes
I remember that for the first two weeks after the diagnosis… I would cry at almost every meal because I was already having severe food aversions – now I could barely eat anything! (or that’s how I felt)
I really had to dig deep to find what would work so that I could control this naturally without medication… and I want to share what I learned with you.
I kept a very detailed log throughout my two pregnancies (both of which I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes). I tracked my blood sugar with my glucometer like this one: One Touch Ultra 2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System
To test my blood sugar, I would prick my finger 1 and 2 hours after eating meals and snacks.
In a normal person with no blood sugar issues, their blood sugar levels stay around 100. When you have gestational diabetes, your blood sugar levels spike higher than 140 (mg/dL).
When I would follow a low or moderate carb diet and exercises, my blood sugar would stay within normal limits. I only had a few spikes when I was testing and it was always when I ate too many carbs at one time (That Logan’s Roadhouse roll was totally worth it, haha)
*** I am not a doctor or a medical professional. Please contact your doctor or midwife for approval before trying to change your diet, exercise program or lifestyle. This is just what I did that worked for me and my pregnancies. This isn’t intended to diagnose, treat, or cure a medical condition.
Here is what I did to control my gestational diabetes naturally:
1. Limit carbs to 15 net grams at each meal or snack.
Carbs are what really affect your blood sugar. When you are pregnant you are more prone to higher blood glucose anyways due to your hormones. By reducing carbs, you aren’t allowing any sugar spikes to happen or cause any harm to your baby. Net carbs would be the carbs left after you subtract carbs from fiber.
2. Include protein at each meal and snack.
This doesn’t mean you have to eat a huge piece of steak at 10 am. Be creative in your protein choices: Greek Yogurt, cottage cheese, peanut butter, homemade protein shakes, eggs and cheese, turkey and cheese roll ups, and your standard chicken and meat.
3. Eat every 2 -3 hours.
You are doing a great work by growing a baby. You don’t realize how much energy you are really expending each day. I’ve heard it compared to running a marathon. You need to stay fueled and not get your blood sugar too low (in a smart way, not by eating chocolate cake, unless you mean the low carb minute brownie!)
4. Get in 30 minutes of exercise each day
This may be just a light weight lifting workout or a walk outside. For me I usually am too sick to workout my first trimester, then I can do 50 minute workouts in my second trimester. In my 3rd trimester, I usually just walk and do light weights or long walks. Working out uses the extra sugar floating around in your blood. I did find it was way easier to workout my first pregnancy.
By following these steps, I was able to control my blood sugars and have the home births I wanted! I hope that you have a smooth and easy pregnancy. These tips are great for everyone to follow. You don’t want to have high blood sugars during pregnancy and this is the right way to control them naturally.
What to learn more?
You can read my full plan that I followed outlined here in my EBook:
Buy My E-Book Here $7:
How to Control Gestational Diabetes Naturally
Table of Contents
Page 4 Introductions to Gestational Diabetes
Page 8 The Plan
Page 16 Typical Food Diary
Page 18 Breakfasts
Page 20 Snacks
Page 25 Main Dishes
Page 39 Desserts
Buy My E-Book Here $7:
How to Control Gestational Diabetes Naturally
Have you had gestational diabetes?
What are your tips for managing gestational diabetes?
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I was recently tested for GD and confirmed that I do have it. This is pregnancy #7 and I have been doing trim healthy mama for about a year. I hated to even drink one drink of that nasty sugary drink that they use, but I obliged, and of course, the results were what I expected.
What are some examples of portions of carbs that you ate to be under 15 grams? I haven’t done so well with counting the carbs, but I have been careful to eat E meals and S meals. I think this would help.
Thanks so much for your information! It is so helpful!
Hi Rebecca! Thank you so much for sharing with us! If you are using THM I would try to focus on eating primarily S meals. I personally just couldn’t eat any E meals when I was pregnant and dealing with the blood sugar issues. But protein with every meal and snack and purposely limited my carbs as much as humanly possible helped get me through it!
I’d love to hear from other readers on what they’ve done as well!
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful article. I hope I can see more of this.
Thank you Lyn! This is something that is really important to me to share with others and bring some hope to tough situations!