When you’re pregnant, people love to say “you’re eating for two”, or “you’re pregnant, you can eat what you want”.
Unfortunately, these words are not entirely accurate. Every mum-to-be would need to do a glucose tolerance test, which involves ingesting a high concentration of glucose mixed with water, to see if they have gestational diabetes (GD).
This happened to Lillian (not her real name), who was informed she had GD despite her pregnancy routine of gently exercising five times a week and eating well on most days.
She admits she could have eaten more healthily, but she gave in to the cravings and bouts of hunger. Lillian learnt there are three things to help keep her blood sugar level from spiking throughout the day.
1. Diet regulation and portion control
Her body mass index was calculated, which was important to determine a healthy weight gain during her pregnancy. She was told to eat three small meals and three snacks a day.
Breakfast was the smallest meal and should be eaten within an hour of waking up, with limited carbohydrates as her hormones would be at their peak and cause insulin resistance, making it harder for her body to handle carbs in the morning.
She was advised to always eat a small, balanced snack. Skipping this would prevent the liver from releasing sugar into the bloodstream while she slept, which could lead to high sugar levels before breakfast the next day.
She was taught how to accurately plan each meal throughout the day. She didn’t have to give up things like chips, fast food and sweets, but they would become occasional treats.
2. Balancing types of foods
Her doctor’s recommendation was not so much about keeping away from carbohydrates but about selecting carbs that don’t spike her blood sugar, and to eat them in combination with protein and fat.
She was advised to consume enough fibre every day, which helps delay the absorption of sugar into the blood, and to drink sufficient water to keep her regularly hydrated.
Fibre also prevents constipation, which is common during pregnancy. She also took daily prenatal vitamins such as folic acid, and iron supplements to prevent anaemia.
3. Timing, eating, and glucose testing
Lillian was told to eat several small meals throughout the day, with three to four hours between meals, and was advised to test her blood glucose regularly to monitor her condition.
These tests were important as they allowed her to know how efficiently her hormones were regulating her metabolism and uptake of glucose. The testing also helped her be accountable in terms of making healthier choices for each meal.
Lillian is sharing her experience to encourage mothers with GD to monitor their glucose levels, and to continue keeping track until after their delivery, when hormones rebalance.
She shares that living a normal life is possible, as the goal is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent complications for herself and the baby during childbirth.
TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life after that. Feel free to email [email protected] to share your story.
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