Foods You Should Avoid If You Have Gestational Diabetes

Foods to Avoid With Gestational Diabetes

All kinds of foods can be eaten, so long as you eat them in moderation. Basically, there are no strict restrictions regarding what you can and can’t eat with gestational diabetes.

As a general rule, you should avoid foods and drinks rich in sugar, such as candy, cakes, cold drinks, and cookies. Simple carbs are also bad for your health.

You should rather replace them with complex carbs. A few examples are white rice, cereals, white flour, and all kinds of processed foods.

These can increase your blood glucose levels quickly, increasing the risk of complications in your pregnancy.

Women often ask what to do when they have sugar cravings. It’s normal to crave processed foods or foods rich in sugar at some point in your pregnancy.

When that happens, you can eat small portions of the food you are craving. For instance, if you are craving soda, take 1-2 sips and then drink plenty of water. Or, you can order a glass of diet soda.

Here’s what not to eat with gestational diabetes.

Sugar-rich Food

Baked foods rich in sugar are a big no for women with gestational diabetes. Ice creams, cake, doughnuts, soda, candy, and all baked foods can raise your blood sugar levels quickly, making gestational diabetes unmanageable.

But you can’t avoid holidays and special occasions. Keep in mind that anything containing excess sugar is okay as long as it’s eaten in moderation and once in a while. Remember, balance is the key.

If you think you have eaten access carbs or sugar-rich foods, go for a walk or practice a low-impact exercise after consulting your gynecologist. That will compensate.

Beverages and Sugary Drinks

Drinks with artificial sweeteners can raise your blood glucose levels significantly. Any beverage that’s sweetened with added sugar, even if it’s fruit juice, then that’s unhealthy.

It’s best to replace them with unsweetened beverages or 100% fresh, natural juice that’s approved by your healthcare provider. Sweetened drinks raise your glucose levels and have no nutritional value.

Shellfish and Shark

Seafood is healthy for pregnant women, even those with gestational diabetes. Fish, like salmon and sardine, cord, and lake trout, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids—the healthy fat.

So, these should be added to the gestational diabetes diet. In fact, you should eat 2-3 portions of healthy fish every week.

But, certain types of fish are unsafe for pregnant women and everyone in general.

These are fish rich in mercury, a harmful compound found in marine animals that live in polluted water. Sharks and shellfish are common examples of fish rich in mercury.

Marlin, swordfish, and sharks contain toxins that can harm you and your baby’s health.

Raw and Uncooked Food

Pregnant women should be careful about raw and uncooked food. Raw meat, especially, contains a lot of toxins and harmful bacteria that can increase your risk of miscarriage.

Salmonella is one such pathogen that can make you sick. Toxoplasmosis is another toxin that can cause miscarriage if it enters your body. Raw meat is a big no for pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

You should also avoid liver and liver-based products during pregnancy, as those are rich in vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can harm your baby.

Unpasteurized Milk or Dairy

Pasteurization is the process used to heat milk and dairy products for 15 seconds to kill all harmful pathogens.

Although that doesn’t necessarily mean unpasteurized milk is harmful, it has a slight chance of harming your baby.

Also, avoid cheese containing an outer white coating, as bacteria thrive on the outer white surface.