Following a diabetic pregnancy diet might seem like a needless hassle.
Before dismissing the idea completely, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is there a history of diabetes in your family?
• Have past pregnancies been effected by gestational diabetes?
• Is a diabetic eating plan a healthy diet during pregnancy?

If the answers to these questions are yes, it might be advisable to include the principles of a diabetic pregnancy diet from the pregnancies beginning and incorporate the balanced eating habits as part of your diet after pregnancy as well.
Tenants of Diabetic Eating It is not difficult to understand or develop basic eating habits to prevent diabetes.
Many of these habits contribute not only to a healthy diet during pregnancy but to a nutritious diet after pregnancy.
Controlling sugar consumption is only part of the story, but that is where it begins.
Insulin is the body's way of controlling blood sugar.
Diabetics for whatever reason have a breakdown in insulin's effectiveness.
It is necessary therefore to control sugar by limiting its intake.
This is good advice for anyone: pregnant, diabetic, at risk or completely healthy.
To this end, a diabetic pregnancy diet plan would limit not only simple sugars like those found in fruits and candies but also complex sugars like those in starchy vegetables and whole grain.
Go Beyond Sugar for Gestational Diabetes Controlling sugar is not enough.
Limiting weight gain during pregnancy is also necessary.
Fat increases the body's demand for insulin.
Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is fat, not the healthy increase of blood volume, the baby and other healthy sources of pregnancy pounds.
The extra fat stores place more strain on the body and weaken its ability to properly regulate blood sugar levels.
This extra strain puts both mother and baby at risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy and Type II Diabetes later in life.
Select Healthy Snacks during Pregnancy One of the best ways to combat eating too much of the wrong thing is to select healthy snacks and consume them at regular intervals.
Eating small amounts frequently throughout the day regulates blood sugar.
This means less demand for insulin and prevents spikes.
The kind of snack is important.
Junk food should be avoided.
Choose instead vegetables, nuts or cheese.
Protein digests slowly releasing a steady stream of fuel into the blood.
Eating a bit of protein with every meal and snack will keep blood sugar levels steady.
A steady blood sugar level derived from the diet itself reduces the body's need to use insulin.
In addition to keeping blood sugars steady, expectant mothers feel fewer symptoms of morning sickness, fatigue and dizzy spells.