High blood glucose levels during pregnancy can impact the health of the mother and baby. Keeping blood glucose levels close to normal can prevent a problematic birth and decrease your baby's risk of developing diabetes.
When you eat foods containing carbohydrates, like cornbread, grits, peaches, milk, or even collard greens, your body breaks these foods down into sugar called glucose. The more carbohydrate-containing foods you eat at a meal or snack, the more glucose will enter the bloodstream.
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Your health care provider may suggest that you spread out your carbohydrates throughout the day. Eating small amounts of carbohydrate all through the day will help keep your blood glucose from rising too high after a meal. Women with gestational diabetes should eat at least three small to medium sized meals and two to four snacks every day.
Choose Your Snacks Wisely
Choosing the right snack can be challenging when you have gestational diabetes. Your snacks for gestational diabetes should be healthy, keep blood sugar in the target range and prevent excessive weight gain. A healthful snack is one that is high in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and low in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat. Protein foods such as unsalted nuts like pistachio nuts can make your snacks more satisfying without causing blood glucose levels to spike.
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In fact, results of a new study presented at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ 2017 Food & Nutrition Conference & ExpoTM in Chicago, Illinois show that eating pistachio nuts may help manage blood sugar levels in women with gestational diabetes.
“Our study is the first to show that eating pistachios may help women with gestational diabetes control their blood sugar levels after eating,” said Sheng Ge, M.D., lead investigator, Chief Physician and Director of Clinical Nutrition at the Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China, where the study was conducted. “The results highlight pistachios as a smart food choice for women with gestational diabetes as they aim to manage their illness.”
In the study, women with gestational diabetes were given... ...a breakfast of either 42 grams of pistachios (about 1/3 of a cup) or 100 grams of whole wheat bread (two slices) after an overnight fast. The pistachios and whole wheat bread were matched for calories. Blood sugar and other indicators of glucose tolerance were measured every 30 minutes after the meal, up to 120 minutes. The researchers observed a significantly lower rise in blood sugar at every time point measured after the woman ate the pistachio nuts than after eating the whole wheat bread.
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Pistachios have a low Glycemic Index (GI), are relatively high in fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants, all of which can benefit people with diabetes. Eating pistachios have a minimal effect on blood sugar levels after eating a meal and, when added to a carbohydrate-rich meal or snack, they help minimize any spike in blood sugar.
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Remember, elevated blood glucose during gestational diabetes can impact your health and the health of your baby. Eating small amounts of carbohydrate all through the day can help keep your blood glucose from rising too high after a meal. If you are not achieving your blood glucose goals, speak to your registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) or certified diabetes educator (CDE), who will help you find your best snack choice. If you don't have an RDN or CDE, you can click here to locate one near you.
Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of The African American Guide to Living Well with Diabetes. She is a Dannon One Yogurt Every Day Nutrition Advisor.
