Quick Start Guide For Gestational Diabetes w/ Grocery List

THE GESTATIONAL DIABETIC

If you're new to GD and don't know what to do or where to start, here are 5 steps to get you going as you wait for specific instructions from your dietitian or endocrinologist.

Start a food log

It doesn’t need to be specific. Log the foods and amounts. Example: Breakfast – 2 eggs, 2 sausage links, bottle of water.

1

Eat every 3-4 hours

Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. You may have to eat smaller portions at mealtime so you're hungry again in three hours.

2

Eat a balanced breakfast

Breakfast sets the tone for your blood sugar for the day. A high-protein, lower-carb breakfast sets you up for success.

3

Eat a bedtime snack

Since the time from dinner to breakfast is a long fasting period, eating a bedtime snack is important to keep your glucose from extreme highs or lows.

4

Track your blood sugar

You need a glucose meter for this. Meters are covered by insurance, but if your insurance doesn't, you can buy one from any drugstore.

5

GROCERY LIST

A grocery list for gestational diabetes should include lean proteins, healthy fats, non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

6