Grocery shopping is not typically one of people’s favorite chores, but it is an important one. Unfortunately, in order to put food on the table you have to brave the aisles and florescent lights. If you are a mother to be with gestational diabetes, what you buy when grocery shopping affects more than just yourself. What you eat affects your glucose levels and your unborn child.
Tips for Dining Out with Gestational Diabetes
September 29, 2014 by ·
Dining out with gestational diabetes can sometimes loses its charm. The huge portions, rich sauces, and decadent desserts sometimes feel like they are just taunting you. However, whether it is a special night out, a gathering with friends, or one of those days where you’re just too tired to cook, everyone dines out once in a while.
Dining out can still be a fun experience, even with gestational diabetes. Your dietary restrictions are not so strict that they omit all of the best foods, and the healthier options honestly almost always taste better. Even so, dining out with gestational diabetes might seem like an overwhelming temptation, considering that you are eating not just for your own heath, but for baby’s health too. [Read more…]
Brand New Book Released For Women In Need Of Gestational Diabetes Meal Plans On Amazon
January 19, 2013 by ·
Mathea Ford announces the release of her third book on Amazon, entitled “Gestational Diabetes Diet Meal Plan and Recipes: Your Guide To Controlling Blood Sugars & Weight Gain
Oklahoma City, OK (I-Newswire) January 19, 2013 – Gestational Diabetic Diet HQ and CEO Mathea Ford, RD/LD announces the launch of her third book “Gestational Diabetes Diet Meal Plan and Recipes: Your Guide To Controlling Blood Sugars and Weight Gain”. Her book is available now in print form via Amazon. This book describes best practices for diets and meal planning for gestational diabetes and includes full meal patterns and recipes for the duration of the pregnancy. Mathea spent two years gathering the information and formulating the meal plan recipes for the bulk of this book and she is very grateful to all the friends and family that made the book possible including her fine group of employees at Healthy Diet Menus For You, LLC.
Currently the book is priced at a very reasonable rate and is appropriate for those in need of information related to gestational diabetes diet meal plans. When asked about how this book will help newly diagnosed women, Mathea stated, “When women have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and are in need of some assistance in meal planning, the book teaches them how to manage a gestational diabetes diet meal plan with the ultimate goal a healthy pregnancy and a health baby.” In addition, Mathea talked about how the new health care laws will make it more likely for women to be diagnosed and in need of help finding their way, stating, “With the changes to the Affordable Health Care Act this is a timely launch as with the new plan year of 2013 we expect the diagnoses of gestational diabetes to increase with in the parameters of the Act.” Having gone through a pregnancy with gestational diabetes, Mathea feels her experiences can help new moms manage the tough road ahead and come out with a healthy and enjoyable experience when using a meal plan. Her book can be found at amazon by clicking this link: Gestational Diabetes Diet Meal Plan and Recipes: Your Guide To Controlling Blood Sugars & Weight Gain
Brought to you by Healthy Diet Menus for You, LLC, Gestational Diabetic Diet HQ specializes in gestational diabetes diets and meal planning. The Gestational Diabetic Diet HQ website provides valuable information for all types of diabetic pregnant patients through an extensive information library of articles and a fully functional blog written by the CEO and Registered Dietitian, Mathea Ford. Gestational Diabetic Diet HQ is committed to bringing the utmost quality and service to it is client base through it’s website and toll free phone number. Specializing in this very complicated and unique group of patients, Gestational Diabetic Diet HQ is proud to be a superb resource that can be relied upon by it’s clients to meet the demands that our client’s desire.
Gestational Diabetic Diet HQ is operated by Healthy Diet Menus For You, LLC located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and is operated by the principals Mathea Ford RD/LD MBA and Chief Executive Officer and Donovan Ford, Chief Operations Officer. Healthy Diet Menus For You, LLC was launched in January 2011 as the brain child of Mathea Ford who is also currently serving as CEO. Healthy Diet Menus For You, LLC provides meal plans for diabetic, gestational diabetic, renal, renal diabetic and cardiac patients.
About Healthy Diet Menus for You, LLC:
Healthy Diet Menus for You provides people with set weekly menus. Each menu is specifically targeted towards particular health requirements. Save time by subscribing to our easy to use menu plans.
Company Contact Information
Healthy Diet Menus for You, LLC
Mathea Ford
PO Box 6554
73153
Signs Of Gestational Diabetes: How Do I Know?
December 31, 2012 by ·
What Are The Signs Of Gestational Diabetes?
During a normal pregnancy, after a woman eats, the food is broken down in the digestive tract and releases protein, fats and sugars. Then, with the help of insulin your body produces, the glucose enters the blood stream and is used by the cells as fuel. Unfortunately, sometimes in pregnancy the hormonal changes make the cells less responsive to the insulin. When the body can’t keep up with the increased amount of insulin, the glucose level in the blood gets too high resulting in you seeing signs of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that either starts during a pregnancy or is first diagnosed during pregnancy.
Signs Of Gestational Diabetes Are Sometimes Called Symptoms
Generally if a pregnant woman has symptoms, they are not life threatening. However, if a pregnant woman does have symptoms she should advise her doctor. Some symptoms include blurred vision, increased thirst and weight loss.
During pregnancy, it’s common for an expectant mom to feel fatigue because of her body is continuing changing to nourish the growing fetus. However, the fatigue could also be a sign that her body not metabolizing sugar properly. That is a major indicator of gestational diabetes. It’s also common for a pregnant women to get a skin, bladder or vaginal infection because of the changing hormones. However, constant reoccurring infections is a sign of gestational diabetes and should be discussed with a doctor.
The good news is that for most women, signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes disappear after giving birth.
Signs Of Gestational Diabetes Are Confirmed With A Test
As part of routine tests, pregnant women will receive an blood test between week 24 and week 28. Higher risk women are tested earlier. One hour before the blood is drawn, the mother is given a sweet drink. If the blood has a high sugar content when it is drawn, it may indicate that your body is not processing sugar as it should. After a positive test, the doctor will order a glucose tolerance test to measure the baseline and over 3 hours of fasting blood glucose levels. Once the condition is confirmed, in addition to the doctor’s office, expectant mothers can monitor their condition at home using a glucose monitoring machine.
Treatment For Gestational Diabetes
Diet and exercise are the best methods to treat this condition. Together they will help keep the blood sugar level within an acceptable range. It’s important to read food labels and eat a variety of healthy foods. The diet should be moderate in protein and moderate in fat. High-sugar foods, pastries, fruit juices and soft drink should be used sparingly. Using a gestational diabetes meal plan is the best choice for your ease and your health. Learn more about our meal planning solution on this page.
All carbohydrates should come through complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as rice, pasta, bread and cereal. In rare cases when diet and exercise is not enough to control the blood sugar level, the doctor will prescribe oral diabetes medicine or insulin therapy.
Management Of Gestational Diabetes: Steps To Take
December 24, 2012 by ·
Management of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes, which is glucose intolerance during pregnancy, can also be described as high blood sugar. Most cases of gestational diabetes presents itself at the halfway point of a woman’s 
pregnancy. Once this glucose intolerance is detected, a treatment to keep your blood sugar levels normal begins. Although gestational diabetes should not be taken lightly, it can be controlled.
Manage Your Gestational Diabetes With A Balanced Diet
Expectant mothers with gestational diabetes have to remain on a balanced diet throughout their pregnancy. Many are recommended to a dietitian that will create a healthy balanced diet to follow. There are also meal plans available that are specifically for those with this condition. If you need management of gestational diabetes, you will be advised to limit the amount of carbohydrates consumed in order to control blood sugar along with keeping track of what you eat. Although a diet is not ideal when pregnant, it has to be done in order to keep both mother and baby in good health. Maintaining a healthy diet can help you avoid having to take daily insulin shots to control blood sugar levels.
Get Regular Checkups
Having gestational diabetes means that in order to manage it properly, you have to visit your doctor on a regular basis. During your regular visits, your doctor will check your blood pressure, blood sugar level and take a urine sample. During these visits, you will also discuss your test results along with your diet and exercise plan. In addition, you will learn how to check your blood sugar levels at home to ensure that they are within normal limits. Your doctor will want to make sure that you are eating right and keeping your overall blood sugars down to keep them under control.
Exercise Regularly To Manage Your Diabetes
Those with gestational diabetes should take part in moderate exercise for at least two hours per week, after getting approval of your doctor. Regular exercise combined with the right meal plan can help your body use insulin more effectively. This will help control your blood sugar level and help you maintain a healthy pregnancy weight.
Management Of Gestational Diabetes During Labor and After Delivery
While in labor, those with gestational diabetes will be monitored closely. Blood sugar will be checked every hour and you may be given insulin through an IV. Your baby’s heart rate and movement will also be watched closely. After delivery, monitoring still continues but your blood sugar should return to normal quickly. Doctors must also make sure that your baby has a regular blood sugar level and may have to be given sugar water or other nutrition to keep from getting a low blood sugar.
Overall, with the help of a great meal plan, exercise and regular doctor’s visits managing gestational diabetes becomes less of a challenge. Small changes can greatly improve the health of mother and baby and ensure that the pregnancy goes smoothly. Learn more about a gestational diabetes meal plan to manage your condition at our informational page – click here to learn more!
What Is Gestational Diabetes?
December 19, 2012 by ·
What is Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy, is a condition that affects how the body’s cells use glucose. Those who develop gestational diabetes may experience high blood sugar, which affects the health of both mother and baby. Fortunately, this condition can be controlled and blood sugar returns to normal after the child is delivered.
Symptoms Of Gestational Diabetes In Moms
In most cases of gestational diabetes, no obvious symptoms are present. Although no symptoms occur, tests are administered to all expectant mothers to check for elevated blood sugar levels. Many doctors would recommend that any woman wanting to become pregnant should see a professional in order to evaluate the risk of developing gestational diabetes. For those who do not choose to do so, checking for gestational diabetes is part of routine prenatal care at about 24 weeks. Expectant mothers who develop this condition can easily learn to manage their blood sugar with the help of healthy eating, exercise and in some cases medication.
Risk Factors
Although any woman can develop gestational diabetes, some are at a higher risk than others are.
Risk factors of developing gestational diabetes are:
Pre-diabetes: slightly elevated blood sugar.
Carrying excess weight: Being significantly overweight increases the chances of developing gestational diabetes
Those older than 25 years of age
Those who are not Caucasian: Although the reason remains unknown, women who are not Caucasian in race have a higher risk of developing this condition.
Mothers with gestational diabetes have a high chance of delivering healthy babies but complications are still possible.
Complications that of gestational diabetes that affect the child include:
Hypoglycemia: Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes can develop hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar.
Preterm birth: Mother’s with high blood sugar may go into labor early and deliver the child before the due date. Doctors may also recommend early delivery if the baby is growing too large.
Excessive birth weight: Extra glucose in the mother’s bloodstream can trigger their baby to grow too large too quickly. This is a result of the baby’s pancreas making excess insulin
Jaundice: Although not a huge concern, jaundice should be monitored carefully.
Mothers with gestational diabetes can also experience serious complications.
These complications are:
Pre-eclampsia
Eclampsia
Diabetes
Overall, gestational diabetes is a condition that should be taken seriously. Although there is a risk of complications that can affect both mother and child, it can be easily managed. In most cases, a great meal plan can control the condition and keep both mother and baby is good health. Eating right is a crucial step to controlling gestational diabetes.
Learn more about what is gestational diabetes by getting my FREE EBOOK and my newsletter on this page!
Learn more about our gestational diabetes meal plans at our informational page – Click here to learn more!
Diet for Gestational Diabetes: Where Do I Start?
December 17, 2012 by ·
Diet for Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is brought on when a woman becomes pregnant; this process occurs due to the hormone changes within the body because of the placenta. During pregnancy, the placenta delivers nutrients to the uterus so that the fetus may develop. However, as the hormone levels in a woman’s body changes, their body may not be able to efficiently manage the glucose levels.
Although these changes are occurring, a woman’s pancreas will naturally produce more insulin to offset the indifference. It is when a woman’s pancreas is not able to produce more insulin that glucose levels within the body rise, which leads to gestational diabetes. However, there are some dietary techniques including meal plans one may employ to help manage their gestational diabetes condition.
Dietary Techniques
One may follow some basic dietary techniques in conjunction with choosing appropriate foods to help manage their gestational diabetes. It is beneficial for one to eat three small meals a day at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, it is also healthy to have two healthy snacks in-between meals throughout the day. It is important to not skip any of the meals or snacks because this helps to maintain insulin levels. When an individual is choosing foods to eat, it is wise to opt for fiber-rich, high-carbohydrate foods that will help to maintain glucose levels as well. However, during morning hours, it is not advisable to consume carbohydrate-rich foods as insulin levels are peaked at this time.
Foods & Drink
It is important for one to choose healthy foods and drinks to consume to help keep their gestational diabetes condition managed. Among choosing healthy foods, one should drink at least eight glasses of water per day to stay hydrated. Healthy food choices include: four servings of dairy foods, or 1200 mg of calcium/day, three servings of iron-rich foods such as rice, eggs or leafy-green vegetables. It is also beneficial for one to consume one food source containing vitamin C per day; this can be an orange, green bell pepper, kiwi, papaya or even a serving of brussel sprouts. Lastly, it also beneficial for one to consume one food source per day that is rich in vitamin A; this can include butternut squash, sweet potatoes, or carrots.
Other Tips
Final tips for one to try are to refrain from foods that are high in sugar, or fat as well as to avoid caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco. Drinking caffeine, alcohol or consuming tobacco products all can aggravate gestational diabetes as well as cause birth defects.
Following these dietary techniques and using a gestational diabetes meal plan will allow a woman to manage her gestational diabetes and keep it in control so that it does not ultimately affect their baby. Typically once the child has been delivered, a woman’s glucose levels will return to normal thus reversing the gestational diabetes condition.
Gestational Diabetes Symptoms: Do You Have Them?
December 12, 2012 by ·
What is Gestational Diabetes?
This is a specific type of diabetes that occurs in women during pregnancy. Basically, it is caused by hormones that occur during pregnancy that block insulin from doing its job in breaking down blood sugar. This leads to a condition of diabetes that a woman may have when pregnant, and usually clears up once the child is born.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
The symptoms that will be experienced are much the same as with diabetes in general. You can have an increase in thirst. There will also be an increase in the frequency of urination that is disproportional to the amount of liquids that are consumed. Fatigue will set in with occasional blurred vision. Nausea and weight loss can also be symptoms of gestational diabetes. Many of these symptoms can be mild and easily confused with the effects of being pregnant.
Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
The symptoms alone are not enough to indicate a problem. In fact, because they are often so mild, they usually mean nothing, but when accompanied by risk factors, your health care provider needs to be informed. Among these factors are having diabetes in your family, being overweight before your pregnancy and having high blood pressure. A doctor can look at your medical history to determine what other factors may be applicable to your pregnancy.
Why Treatment is Needed for Gestational Diabetes
For the sake of the child as well as the mother, this type of diabetes needs to be controlled. Doctors will usually test pregnant women by the 24th week. Without a diagnosis and treatment, a woman can give birth to a baby that is much larger than it would normally have been with complications. In many cases, the baby will not be able to be born vaginally. This increase in size is due to the high levels of sugar in the mother’s blood. This provides much greater energy than a baby requires for normal growth. A baby will often have a condition of low blood sugar levels after birth. This is due to the baby’s pancreas producing high levels of insulin in response to the mother’s blood sugar, then at birth the amount of sugar in the child’s blood is suddenly low so they need additional sugar water or breastmilk at birth.
The Fundamental Treatment for Gestational Diabetes
There are several treatments used to control gestational diabetes, but fundamental to all of them is with diet. In fact, with a proper diet and monitoring of your blood sugar, most women can keep the problem under control. In general, a diet that is low to moderate in both fat and protein is needed. Carbohydrates are obtained from fruits and whole grains. All food with sugar is avoided or completely eliminated such as soda pop, candy, donuts and other sugary snacks.
There are medications that can be prescribed to a pregnant woman to keep her blood sugar levels from getting too high, but these should not be used to control high blood sugar levels that come from eating the wrong foods. It is much healthier for you and your baby to eat right to begin with.
You can learn more about a gestational diabetes diet from our meal planning solution that is a kit put together to guide you through your gestational diabetes and help you improve your health. Click here to find out more.
Gestational Diabetes Treatment – What Choices Do I Have?
December 7, 2012 by ·
Pregnant Girl Eating Cake (Photo credit: o5com)
Gestational Diabetes Treatment Is Important
Pregnancy can be a joyous occasion as mom and dad prepare for the arrival of the little one. However, women are not without minor to major complications during these 9 months. Conditions from morning sickness and fatigue to major complications can hospitalize the expectant mother from several days to weeks. Gestational diabetes is a condition brought on by pregnancy and is characterized by high sugar levels within the blood. Symptoms include excessive thirst and urination. Expectant mothers may also experience blurred vision, bladder infection and vomiting unassociated with pregnancy, and this makes you wonder what is the treatment for gestational diabetes.
Reasons to Solve the Problem
There are potential short and long term risks for mother and child due to gestational diabetes. Large birth size, breathing difficulty and low blood sugar levels at birth are but a few. There is also a risk of the mother developing metabolic syndrome after the child is born. This condition is associated with heart disease and other heart related conditions as diabetes and stroke. There is also a greater risk of childhood obesity for the infant, especially if you don’t pursue any gestational diabetes treatment.
Solutions for the Problem
Gestational diabetes often is tested and diagnosed during the 24th week of pregnancy. Doctors are still unclear regarding aggressiveness of treatment or start of initial screening. However, they do agree treatment will severely reduce complications associated with the condition. Although rare, some women are prescribed insulin to combat gestational diabetes. It is recommended women who do require insulin should always have a sweet food available to prevent low blood sugar. Low blood sugar is initially characterized by lightheadedness and nausea. If not treated right away the condition can be dangerous. Most cases of gestational diabetes can be treated with exercise and proper nutrition, especially the use of a meal plan.
Proper exercise helps to maintain healthy weight and blood circulation. Proper nutrition is the thing that keeps a mom from insulin dependency during pregnancy. Proper nutrition, as part of your gestational diabetes treatment, will provide foods that do not cause blood sugar levels to spike. Mothers must not forget they are eating for two and must be able to maintain an eating program of appropriate foods that do not add empty calories. Empty calorie foods include candy, cakes, ice cream and other sugary foods and cereals. Expectant mothers should also be aware of juice intake. Some makers claim their products to be sugar free or 100% juice. However, some of these products contain sugar and are contraindicated for the mother with gestational diabetes. Each trimester will require eating habits to be adjusted to the baby’s needs. Some doctors prescribe prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. Mothers must realize vitamins are not meant to replace nutritional needs but to aid the pregnancy. Therefore, whole grain foods that are rich in fiber will give mother and baby a tremendous advantage. High fiber foods help digestion and may alleviate constipation associated with pregnancy.
Fortunately, gestational diabetes often disappears after birth. Proper care and nutrition during the condition will reduce long-term risks upon mother and child, and is the proper gestational diabetes treatment. You can use a gestational diabetes meal plan to make life a lot easier on you and your family to help solve the treatment issues you might encounter. Read more about our gestational diabetes meal plan on our information page.
Gestational Diabetes – How Often Should I Check My Blood Sugars?
April 18, 2012 by ·
You know you have to check them, right? I read a Facebook post yesterday where a woman wrote that she was afraid to check them.
Let’s think about that, shall we? I mean, I am afraid of a lot of things. Data is not one of them. And, that is what you are gathering.
It might feel like a judgement against you, especially if you have not been following a healthy gestational diabetes meal plan. If you have been snacking too much, or eating too big of portions. But the damage is already done and you are already making it worse by ignoring it. Sticking your head in the sand doesn’t make it any better. Face up to it.
Ok, now that I have that off my chest, I want to talk about how often to check your blood sugars.
First of all, make sure you know what your doctor or dietitian wants you to do. Best practice in the beginning when you are still learning – and if you have to take insulin – is 4 times a day.
When you wake up
One hour after you start eating breakfast
One hour after you start eating lunch
One hour after you start eating supper
*Any time you feel “funny” or different.
You need to check your blood sugar at least once a day after you are past the early stages and are well balanced. If your doctor wants more – do it. If you end up checking it once per day, vary the time that you check it so you get a good idea of where it’s at throughout the day. Our bodies handle sugar and insulin different depending on a lot of things. Best that you understand your body, because it’s different than other pregnant and gestational diabetic women.
In the morning, you may have what is called a “dawn phenomenon“.
Basically,it’s that your blood sugar is higher than normal because your body (in the middle of the night) gets a little low on blood sugar so it reacts by making more blood sugar. Add that to the fact that you may be low on insulin, and it’s going to be a little elevated. Many women counter this by eating a little larger evening snack and making sure it has a combination of protein and carbohydrate. That way it takes longer to digest, and gives your body carbohydrate throughout the night. It’s not a good idea to counter the higher blood sugars by skipping a bedtime snack.
Most women are taught to measure their blood sugars about one hour after they start eating, also known as “post prandial”. This is the time when your blood sugar is likely to have peaked and should be below 140 mg/dl. If it’s higher than that, look at the meal and see where the carbohydrate is lurking. Earlier this week I wrote about a gestational diabetes meal plan for a week, and I know it’s hard to understand that a lot of foods have carbohydrate in them.
Ask your doctor how you should treat your blood sugar numbers – the answer may be that it depends… Either way, you have to check them. Not checking them is putting your baby at higher risk, and you as well. It’s just information that you can use to make a decision about how to treat your blood sugar levels. That’s it, that’s all, and you need to track them throughout the day.
