7 Natural Remedies to Maintain Gestational Diabetes

Natural diabetes treatments have grown in popularity in recent years. However, it is unfortunate that most people are unaware of the effectiveness of these methods for naturally overcoming diabetes. Even if your pregnancy starts on a positive note, there are numerous reasons to prioritize for the sake of both fetal and mother’s health. Some pregnancy complications can arise in the middle of the nine months and negatively affect you and your baby. Gestational diabetes is one such complication that women face during pregnancy. Following a proper gestational diabetes diet plan can be highly beneficial.

Pregnancy already comes with a list of things you should and shouldn’t do to achieve the best results for you and your baby. Gestational diabetes is a common condition in pregnant women who previously had diabetes but have hyperglycemia during pregnancy. Usually, the disease strikes women around the 24th week of their pregnancy. The condition has no visible signs or symptoms. In non-diabetic patients, gestational diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin during pregnancy. If addressed on time, it is not a major issue.

What Is Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes that develops during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes, also known as insulin resistance or carbohydrate intolerance. During pregnancy, all women experience mild insulin resistance. Blood sugar is the ideal way to feed a growing baby, and extremely low blood sugar can be dangerous. Because famine occurs occasionally, insulin resistance is a beneficial and protective trait.

However, in our society, where simple carbohydrates are more readily available than complex carbohydrates, insulin resistance is unnecessary and potentially dangerous during pregnancy.

What Are the Risks of Gestational Diabetes?

Uncontrolled eating habits may increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes. The placenta produces certain hormones within the uterus. These hormones are responsible for the formation of cells in pregnant women’s bodies. Pregnant women may be less sensitive to insulin’s effects resulting in high blood sugar levels. Weight gain or loss can occur suddenly during gestational diabetes which may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Untreated gestational diabetes can have negative consequences for both the mother and the baby, including

• Preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth
• Macrosomia (being born large at birth)
• Shoulder dystocia
• Hypoglycemia
• Jaundice
• Higher Body Mass Index
• Obesity

So, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels during pregnancy is critical for a healthy pregnancy and delivery and the baby’s long-term health! Now let us talk about the natural remedies for managing gestational diabetes.

7 Natural Ways to Treat Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, her body’s use of insulin changes. Insulin is required to convert blood glucose into energy. To provide more glucose to the fetus, the body becomes slightly resistant to insulin.

Like every other complication in the human body, even gestational has to be properly cared for. The most effective way to cure it is to follow a proper and healthy gestational diabetes diet. This diet should include every nutrient available in the proper proportions.

1. Avoid Junk Food

Pregnant women must take special care to avoid all forms of junk food. Most of them are harmful to the baby’s health because they are high in chemicals and artificial elements. So, turn away the junk like burgers, pizzas, and various types of pasta. Stock up on healthy foods like yogurt, tofu, eggs, fish, leafy greens, whole grains, and nuts to balance your diet.

2. Eat Healthy Carbohydrates

The body requires carbohydrates in a few different forms. Carbohydrates are often regarded as something that should avoid entirely in the diet. Complex carbohydrates do not cause your blood glucose to fluctuate excessively, and thus they can be consumed if you have gestational diabetes. As a result, you should include green leafy vegetables, oats, lentils, milk, okra, quinoa, and other nutritious foods in your diet.

3. Get Plenty of Sleep

Expectant mothers should sleep at least eight hours per night in the summer and nine hours per night in the winter, with naps as needed. Short sleep cycles can raise blood sugar levels and cause cells to lose insulin sensitivity, increasing the risk of diabetes. Sleep deprivation can also cause sugar cravings and increase the consumption of sweets and starches. If you have insomnia, consult your doctor about natural remedies and sleep hygiene strategies such as avoiding electronics before bed, sleeping in complete darkness, and avoiding sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.

4. Manage Stress

Many diseases in humans are caused by stress. Diabetes, especially gestational diabetes, is no exception. Increased cortisol levels in the body can negatively affect both the mother and the child. Stress can also cause the child to be born prematurely, which may be harmful to their health in the future. As a result, stress management is critical when you are pregnant. You can manage stress by practicing meditation or yoga. It is also vital to get a good night’s sleep. You will have serious health problems if you do not get enough sleep at night. If you are having trouble sleeping, you should see a doctor.

5. Stay Active

Exercise helps prevent and reverse gestational diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels, making cells more sensitive to insulin, reducing inflammation, and increasing serotonin levels, which help to avoid food cravings. It also lowers the risk of newborn baby obesity, aids in preventing preeclampsia, and improves cardiovascular function, blood pressure, fitness, and self-image. It treats lower back pain, constipation, bloating, fatigue, and insomnia. Moderate-intensity, low-impact activities such as swimming, water aerobics, brisk walking, and cycling are ideal for pregnant women.

6. Include Protein Diet

Protein is a vital nutrient that everyone requires. Protein from food aids in the breakdown of carbohydrates that the body can use for improved energy production. It is recommended to include one protein food whenever you consume carbohydrate-containing food. Not only will your digestion improve as a result of this, but so will your metabolism.

7. Cinnamon Tea

Incorporating cinnamon tea into your diet is another natural way to treat diabetes. The spice is highly beneficial in managing and stabilizing blood glucose levels. Not only that, but cinnamon is known to lower triglyceride levels and bad cholesterol levels, which aids in the treatment of gestational diabetes. It also aids in increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. When pregnant, you should drink at least one cup of cinnamon tea per day.

These are some natural remedies for managing gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

Diet Plan

A healthy balanced diet is the most effective way to manage and prevent gestational diabetes. You do not need to count calories or measure out each serving. Instead, you should become more aware of when and how much food your body requires. This will keep you getting blood sugar spikes and dips.

Pregnancy is a stressful condition in and of itself. The situation worsens when it is complicated by gestational diabetes.

A well-balanced diet combined with regular exercise can help control it to some extent. In most cases, a change in diet and regular exercise are sufficient to control pregnancy-related diabetes permanently with a nutritious and well-balanced diet.

Let’s look at some foods you shouldn’t eat if you have diabetes.

Foods To Avoid with Gestational Diabetes

Although determining which foods your body can tolerate can be difficult, it gives you more freedom, which is good. Be gentle with yourself as you work it out.

Here are some of the foods not to eat with diabetes that contain high carbs and are either nutritionally empty or low fiber.

• Sugary drinks
• Juices
• Dried, canned or packaged fruit
• Refined sugar
• Pastries
• Baked foods (desserts, bagels, donuts, etc.)
• Granola
• White grains – flour, bread, rice, pasta, tortillas

These are some things to avoid, but there are many food options you can incorporate into your diet to help yourself and your baby.

Our Take

Gestational diabetes, while only a temporary condition, is extremely dangerous. Greater changes can occur with continued healthy choices. However, being informed and taking early steps to help prevent gestational diabetes can help you avoid blood sugar problems during and after pregnancy.

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FAQ’s

How to prevent gestational diabetes?

Avoiding junk foods, sugary drinks, canned and processed foods can help you avoid gestational diabetes.

How to manage gestational diabetes?

Many women with gestational diabetes can control their blood glucose levels by eating healthy and staying physically active.

How to reduce gestational diabetes?

You can reduce gestational diabetes by regularly monitoring your diabetes, eating healthy foods, exercising daily, and not drinking or smoking.

How to reduce gestational diabetes naturally?

To reduce the risk of developing diabetes, one should eat a diet high in protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and low GI foods and manage stress and stay active.

How to get rid of gestational diabetes at home?

The first effective way to treat gestational diabetes is through regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Consult your doctor about how to gain weight safely during pregnancy

Are there any alternatives to sugar for gestational diabetes?

Yes. Natural sweeteners can provide nutrients and therefore boost health. Many sugar substitutes are healthy and tasty alternatives to refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners.

How does exercise help with gestational diabetes?

Exercise helps prevent and reverse gestational diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels, making cells more sensitive to insulin, reducing inflammation, and increasing serotonin levels, which help to avoid food cravings

How to keep your blood sugar in control during pregnancy?

Maintain a healthy weight before pregnancy, manage your stress and stay active. Regular exercise is recommended before, during, and after pregnancy. Moderate exercise, such as a brisk walk for 30 minutes per day, can help you keep your blood sugar in check.

What can a woman do to prevent gestational diabetes?

Women can prevent gestational diabetes in pregnancy by getting enough exercise and changing their diet.

How long does it take to get rid of gestational diabetes?

A balanced diet combined with daily exercise can significantly lower blood sugar levels in just two to three weeks.