When a pregnant woman experiences high blood sugar for the first time, she has what's called gestational diabetes. Because gestational diabetes can have serious consequences for mother and child, it's critical that women with this condition work closely with medical professionals to develop a detailed treatment plan.

One of the most important parts of any gestational diabetes treatment is nutrition. What you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat it all have a direct effect on your blood glucose level. By working with your doctor and a registered dietitian, you can construct a nutritional plan that works for you.

Gestational Diabetes and Nutrition Basics

Gestational diabetes and nutrition are intimately related. By managing your diet, you can minimize the effects gestation diabetes has an you and your unborn child.

These are a few basic principles your dietician or physician will likely discuss when you construct your nutrition plan:

• Graze: The term 'grazing' is just another way of saying you should 'eat little meals throughout the day.' Instead of having one or two large meals, 'graze' on 3 small meals and have 1-3 snacks in between. This lets your blood sugar adjust to meals slowly throughout the day, instead of having to process large amounts of food at once.

• Limit Carbohydrates and Sugars: Carbohydrates and sugary foods will raise your blood sugar the most. By limiting how many carbohydrates and sweets you consume, you can help keep your blood sugar from rising higher than it needs to.

  Examples of carbohydrates include pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, and biscuits. Typical sweets include candies, soda, cake, or ice cream. Maintaining a good gestational diabetes and nutrition plan doesn't mean you can't ever eat these foods, only that you may have to limit your intake.

• Get Your Vitamins: It's always important to get the right vitamins and minerals, especially when you're pregnant. Look for healthy, vitamin rich foods that are high in nutritional value.

  Delicious, healthy foods that are great for people with gestational diabetes include leafy green vegetables, squashes, tomatoes, whole grain breads, lean meats, and fish.

• Don't Focus on Weight: With gestational diabetes and nutrition, the goal is to be as healthy as possible, not necessarily to lose weight. Cutting back your diet rigorously can have negative effects on your pregnancy and your child's health. Your physician and dietitian should carefully monitor any weight gain or loss.

Gestational Diabetes and Nutrition: Getting Started

After you're diagnosed with gestational diabetes, start working on meal plan with your physician or ask for an appointment for registered dietitian. Once you have a nutritional guide to work with, you'll be in a much better position to control your blood sugar and manage your diabetes.

However, as important as it is to get gestational diabetes under control, some women can find the idea of changing their diet and managing diabetes very stressful. This can result in feelings of frustration and worry that may make it difficult to stick to a meal plan. If you feel overwhelmed by your pregnancy, or gestational diabetes nutrition, talk to a medical professional or diabetes educator for support. Handling gestational diabetes and nutrition isn't always easy, but with hard work and dedication, there's a strong chance that you'll stay healthy and enjoy a successful delivery.