Who Needs a Gestational Diabetes Meal Plan?

Statistics have shown that roughly five percent of pregnant women may develop gestational diabetes, a condition in which a woman who doesn’t suffer from diabetes, suddenly becomes diabetic during and usually in the second half of her pregnancy.

When something like this happens, blood sugar monitoring should be done regularly to avoid any complications that may arise during labor.

How Effective is a Gestational Diabetes Meal Plan?

When a woman develops mild gestational diabetes, it is important that a proper diabetic meal plan is implemented with the help of a professional nutritionist to help control blood sugar levels. If the diabetes is allowed to progress into a stronger condition, insulin therapy may need to be introduced to help lower blood sugar levels.

How do you Design a Great Gestational Diabetes Meal Plan?

There is tons of information on designing a diabetic meal plan, but you should always take care to make sure that you get a balanced combination of carbohydrates, protein, minerals, and vitamins.

Because it’s not only you that is being affected by Gestational diabetes, but also your unborn baby, you should really seek out professional help to make sure that you are both getting all of the nutrients you need, while keeping your blood sugar levels in check at the same time.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

A good majority of the time, there are no symptoms, or very mild. These can include:

Weight loss – even though you are eating more!
Blurred vision
Nausea and vomiting
Increased thirst and Urination
Increased infections, particularly of the bladder and vagina.
Fatigue
Raised blood sugar, which will generally stabilize after the birth

Causes of Gestational Diabetes.

If you are carrying extra weight prior to becoming pregnant
If you have a family history of Diabetes Type 2
If you fall into the category of ‘Pre-Diabetes’ which is raised Blood Sugar, but not high enough to be classed ‘Diabetic’ (Read More about Pre-Diabetes)
Women over the age of 25 are more at risk.
If you have previously given birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.
If you have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
If you are a Pacific Islander, Hispanic, African American or American Indian.
You have given birth to a stillborn baby in the past.

A Sample Diabetes Meal Plan

If you are brainstorming for ideas for the meal plan, here are some tips:

Breakfast
Get yourself some starchy vegetables along with whole wheat bread, drink some milk to get a good intake of protein. If you want, you may also add a bagel spread with a teaspoon of jam.

Lunch
You can grab a sandwich made with whole wheat bread with two ounces of protein-rich meat, such as roasted turkey, lean roast beef, or fresh tuna. You can use a tablespoon of salad dressing or mayonnaise along with your sandwich for flavor. Finally, add a cup of nonfat yogurt or some milk to get your dairy requirement for this meal.

Dinner
You may want to get more protein and having some grilled chicken or salmon (approximately three ounces) would be a great start. Next, you’ll want to get your carbohydrate of choice, with suggestions of either a cup of pasta or large baked potato and to this add a cup of steamed asparagus or some tossed salad with low-fat salad dressing.

Lastly, for dessert, you can enjoy a cup of fresh apricots, melons, or other fruit.

Snacks!
If you feel hungry, you may want to get some snacks like whole wheat crackers or tortilla chips to help tide you over between meals. If you choose to go this route, just remember to keep the snacks small, so that your gestational diabetes meal plan is effective while at the same time enjoyable!

Bayer Glucose Meters Review

Bayer glucose meters are produced by Bayer Health Care Company, a leader in the development of diabetes monitoring devices.

These devices include home blood glucose meters for caregivers and diabetes patients as well as a wide range of industrial products for healthcare professionals. Bayer Health Care has dominated the United State market for blood glucose meters since launching its first glucometer in the ’80s.

Bayer Contour Next EZ Glucose Meter

Since its launch, the Contour Next EZ has been a very popular self-testing tool among diabetics. This home blood glucose testing device is used by diabetes patients to monitor their blood glucose levels.

It is designed to measure blood glucose levels ranging between 20 and 600 mg/dL and it offers high levels of accuracy. Scientific studies show that it ranks among the most accurate and reliable glucose meters on the market.

Key features and benefits – Bayer Contour Next EZ Glucose Meter

Beginner-friendly
No setup required and the glucose meter can be used right away
Large, clear to read display
“second chance sampling” test strips allow users to apply more blood to get an accurate reading and avoid wasting strips
Highly accurate and reliable
Compensates for interfering substances such as vitamin C
Tracks glucose values by making 30 days. 14 days and 7 days averages of measurements
Stores up to 480 blood glucose test results

The Bayer Contour Next EZ blood glucose meter is quick, straightforward accurate, and easy to use. Some of its outstanding advantages include its beginner friendliness and highly proven accuracy. The Contour Next Glucose Test Kit is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a complete, easy to use meter to start monitoring their blood glucose levels at home.

Moreover, it’s a user-friendly device that does not require syncing or coding as is the case with some meters on the market.

The results are displayed only 5 seconds after taking the test. Another important feature is the meter’s ability to store data. It also allows users to enter their usual blood glucose levels, making it easier to track and monitor changes.

Bayer Contour Test Strips

The test strips require only 0.6 microliters of blood to ensure the accuracy of test results. Moreover, the meter allows users to add a bit more blood and test again in case the blood used was not sufficient to obtain results. This is commonly known as “second chance sampling”, which saves you money by preventing wastage of test strips.

Blood glucose values are considered very low under 70 mg/dL and very high above 250 mg/dL. However, you should always discuss your personal blood glucose values with a medical professional. Your healthcare professional will also help you formulate a treatment plan to help you maintain your glucose level within the target range.

Bayer Contour Next One Bluetooth Glucose Meter

The Contour Next One is a great option if you are on a tight budget. However, users also need to pick up the additional tools necessary to use it.

Diabetes patients who have been using this glucose meter for a while already have a favored type of lancets and the test strips are remarkably cheap as well as easy to find. Users should allow a 60 second window period before applying blood the second time.

The main shortcoming of the Contour next one blood glucose meter is that it does not come with the necessary components of a complete glucose monitoring kit such as strips and lancets.

Therefore, users must pick up all the other supplies needed to use the device, making it an ideal choice for users who have their test kits put together. Thankfully, these supplies are readily available in most drug stores, and the cost is quite reasonable.

Key features and benefits – Contour Next One Glucose Meter

The monitor is quite cheap
Equipped with Bluetooth connectivity
Excellent accuracy
Smart light alerts users when their levels are off
No coding needed
Second chance sampling allows users to reapply blood to the test strip whenever the first sample is insufficient to produce test results
Test results can be easily transferred to Bluetooth-enabled devices
500 MB memory storage that can hold up to 800 test results

It is recommended that you use Contour Next strips only with the Contour Next One blood glucose meter. It’s an excellent option for tech-savvy users because it allows you to sync test results to the Contour Next app on your smartphone. This data can be easily shared with healthcare professionals for remote analysis. Moreover, it is equipped with a light that helps users see where test strips should be inserted, even in the dark.

Read about FDA approved blood glucose meters HERE!

The Precision Pro Glucose Meter

The Precision Pro Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System is designed for outside the body (in vitro) diagnostic use for measurement of D-glucose and ketone in capillary blood samples. The Precision Pro System is not designed to diagnose diabetes, but is rather meant for professional use and as an aid in determining and monitoring the effectiveness of various diabetes management programs.

Features of the Precision Pro Monitoring System:

Tests blood ketone and blood glucose levels all with the same system, using the Precision blood ketone test strips and Precision blood glucose test strips.
Simple icon-driving menu helps simplify blood sugar monitoring
Intuitive and simple set-up
Easy-to-view results
Offers the ability to easily scroll back and forth
No coding required
The test strips are neatly wrapped in foil to help prevent errors as a result of contamination

Key features and specifications – Precision Pro Glucose Meter

Easy data entry

Precision Pro Blood Glucose System allows you to choose between the alphanumeric keypad and built-in barcode scanner for data entry according to point-of-care policy. The system can be easily configured to accept operator identification, patient identification, comment code, test strip lot number and two text fields.

Patient ID Confirmation

The system can display useful information about the patient such as the patients name, gender, date of birth, and supporting patient identification procedure. For confirmation, the system can require entry of the patient’s year of birth.

Data integrity

Precision Pro Blood Glucose meter offers many options to ensure that accurate data is collected. These include specifying the maximum and minimum length of the ID, verifying the barcode, restricting the number of barcodes that can be accepted. The system can also require repeated data entry on the keypad especially when you’re not using the barcode scanner. The system also keeps a record of the operator and patient data entry method (manual versus scanned) co help in identification and correction of errors.

Fast, simple testing

To perform tests on the system, you simply need to insert the test strip into the port, apply the sample and wait for results to be displayed. For convenience, the sample can be applied to either the end or top of test strips. The test only starts when the sample applied is adequate. This safeguard is meant to strip wastage, prevent errors, and unnecessary repeat tests.

Automatic calibration

You can automatically calibrate the system by simply scanning the barcode on test strips before use. This also allows the system to check the expiry date to ensure accurate and reliable test results.

QC Lock-out

Users can configure the system to require periodic testing and lock out the systems if tests are not performed using control solutions or if the tests are incomplete. QC tests results are usually displayed as pass or fail only in order to prevent testing while the system is in control test mode.

Operator management

Access to the system can be restricted to authorized or certified operators in order to prevent use by untrained users.

Result Storage

The Precision Pro Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System can store up to 1,000 control test results and 2,500 patient test results. It can also store 2 linearity panels and up to 20 proficiency test results. Moreover, users can automatically upload all stored data to the data management system. This requires an upload cable (optional), docking station (optional), or wirelessly in WiFi (optional) enabled facilities.

Network connectivity

The system can easily upload data wirelessly, via a docking station or cable. This offers an automated and simple way to manage multiple systems.

System components

The Precision Pro Blood Glucose Meter includes the following components:

Meter
Control solutions
Blood glucose test strips

Optional components for use with the system

Blood ketone test strips
Calibration verification controls
Abbot single use lancet
Docking station
Data management system
Carry case
FreeStyle isolation bags
Wireless set-up utility
Data upload cable

In addition to being used by patients to monitor their blood sugar level and the effectiveness of their diabetes management systems, Precision Pro Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System can also be used by doctors and other health care professionals. It is ideal for quantitative measurement of glucose in arterial, neonatal or venous whole blood ketone and blood sugar levels.

However, the sample should be used within 30 minutes upon collection. Precision Pro Blood Glucose Monitoring System is designed to help simplify point-of-care testing for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. It provides features that improve the reliability and efficiency of the testing process.

Read about the non invasive glucose meter HERE!

What is a Normal Blood Sugar Level?

The amount of sugar (glucose, measured in mg/dL) in the blood fluctuates throughout the day. Blood sugar levels usually depend upon what, how much and when you’ve eaten. Your levels can also change depending on your exercise regimen.

Depending on your treatment plan, your diabetes educator or doctor may recommend checking your blood glucose levels once a week or even up to 10 times a day. Rather than classifying blood sugar levels as being ‘normal’ or abnormal, you can think of them as being “at goal”, “in target” or “in range”.

Although the ADA (American Diabetes Association) provides clear guidelines for blood sugar goals for people living with diabetes, the goals usually vary depending on the time you’re checking your blood glucose.

Normal Blood Sugar:

Fasting normal blood sugar (before eating the first meal)

Normal fasting blood sugar level (no food for 8 hours) for a person without diabetes: 3.9-5.5 mmol/L (70-99 mg/dL)
American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendation for people with diabetes: 4.4-7.2 mmol/L (80-13 mg/dL)

Postprandial (Normal blood sugar two hours after meals)

Normal for people without diabetes: Lower than 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL)
American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendation for people with diabetes: Lower than 10.0mmol/L (180mg/dL)

HbA1c

Normal for people without diabetes: Lower than 5.7%
American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendation for people with diabetes: Lower than 7.0%

Blood Glucose Levels and Diabetes

what is a normal blood sugar levels — Blood Sugar Levels Chart

Most people who have been diagnosed with diabetes have wondered at some point what their blood sugar level should be.

Although the responsibility of giving patients the answer to this question rests upon your doctor, physician, nurse practitioner or whoever diagnosed you, not every diabetes patient is given blood glucose goals.

In some cases, you might have been given your glucose goals a long time ago, and they have since been forgotten. However, this shouldn’t be cause for concern – we will discuss all that.

What is blood sugar, anyway?

Blood sugar (or glucose), is glucose that is in the blood. It mainly comes from the food we eat and the main contributors to blood sugar are foods that are rich in carbohydrates, such as fruit, pasta and bread. The cells in your body need sugar for energy in order to perform various functions such as breathing, moving, learning, and thinking. The brain is the body’s command center and it uses about 50% of the energy from blood sugar.

How do things go wrong?

The pancreas is responsible for releasing enzymes and hormones that metabolize food and help the body handle the high glucose levels. Insulin is the main hormone that helps manage blood glucose levels. This is where things can go awry. If your pancreas stops making insulin or doesn’t make enough of it, blood glucose levels can rise too high (type 1 diabetes). Another possible scenario is insulin resistance, where the cells have trouble using insulin properly. This is the main cause of type 2 diabetes.

High blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) can have a wide range of symptoms in the short term, including fatigue, frequent urination and weight loss. If untreated, serious complications can arise, such as ketoacidosis. In the long run (chronic high blood sugar levels), it can lead to more serious complications such as, heart disease, nerve damage, eye disease, as well as disease.

Measuring Blood Glucose Levels

Unless your blood glucose level is too high or too low, you may not always have the signs and symptoms of either low or high blood sugar. In fact, studies show that most people with type 2 diabetes rarely have the symptoms of high blood sugar. As a result, they may go undiagnosed for several years.

One of the best ways to know your blood sugar level is to check it using a glucose meter. The procedure is quite simple and straightforward. It involves doing a finger-stick with a lancet to draw a drop of blood onto the test strip and inserting it into the glucose meter for a reading.

An alternative way of knowing your blood glucose levels is by using a continuous glucose monitor. The continuous glucose monitor (CGM) reads glucose in the fluid stored between cells (interstitial fluid) approximately every 5 minutes.

While some doctors are able to provide patients with glucose meters free of charge, continuous glucose monitoring can be expensive, and is not covered by some health plans.

Therefore, it’s important to consult your health plan for clarification whether they have any “preferred” meters.

American Diabetes Association Diet Plan

Practical Food Guidelines for Diabetes

Post updated: 8th April 2023

Dietary advice for people living with diabetes is gradually changing as a result of modern scientific research. After several years of favoring low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, a study posted at the ADA (American Diabetes Association) Scientific Sessions reports that there are other diet options that give better cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes outcomes than the standard diet formerly recommended by the ADA.

Some of the practical eating patterns discussed include:

DASH Diet

The DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) diet was shown to reduce the risk of diabetes, lower blood pressure, and it helps people lose weight. One of the main advantages of the DASH diet is that it is practical and easy to follow.

A report shared in Diet Spectrum by Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Amy Campbell notes that besides being practical, the DASH eating pattern does not require any special supplements and foods, and it can also be followed by patients’ entire families.

Scientific studies have proven that the DASH diet helps reduce blood pressure more than traditional American diets. This diet is specifically designed to be low in total fat, cholesterol, and saturated fat, and rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium as well as fiber and protein.

A study published in the journal Diabetes Care shows that the DASH diet is highly effective in improving insulin sensitivity suggesting that this dietary plan can also help improve blood sugar control.

The DASH approach includes plenty of

vegetables,
whole grains, and fruits;
low-fat or fat-free milk and dairy products,
fish,
poultry,
lean meat,
and nuts.

Low Carb Diet

VLCDs (very-low-carb-diets) were found to reduce A1C (a blood test that measures average blood glucose over the previous 3 months), lower serum fat (triglycerides), give higher levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or “good cholesterol”), and reduced weight and blood pressure. A very low-carb diet is strict as it allows daily consumption of 20 to 50 grams only.

LCDs (low-carb diets) which prescribe a daily intake of 20 to 40% of calories from carbohydrates, also show several benefits compared to the typical American diet (which generally includes about 45% carbs) or the previously recommended ADA diet (generally about 50% carbohydrates). Like the DASH diet, low carbs diets recommend vegetables, particularly non-starchy veggies such as cabbage, cucumber, cauliflower, cooked greens, salad greens, and broccoli.

Both dietary approaches approve a wide range of plant fats, including oils, nuts, avocados, and nut butter. However, unlike DASH, low-carb diets favor meats and animal fats. Both diets also approve protein usually in the form of fish, poultry, and lean meat, but disagree on cheese, eggs, and fattier meats.

Some low-carb diet plans include a wide range of vegetables and fruits such as berries. However, all avoid sugary and starchy foods such as potatoes, sweets, bread, rice, and pasta.

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Will a low-carb diet actually lower blood sugar?

Carbohydrates have been blamed for a wide range of issues including stomach aches, weight gain, and feeling draggy and tired. As a result, there are numerous websites and books dedicated to reducing carbs and making it easier to get started.

Low-carb diet plans such as South Beach, Atkins, Keto, and Paleo can be beneficial when it comes to lowering blood sugar and losing weight at the same time.

Although more and more studies are coming out of the never-ending low-carb debate, misconceptions about these plans are still abounding. Let’s explore some of the low-carbohydrate claims and whether the claims are falsehoods or facts

For instance, some people think that all carb foods are bad, which is a dangerous and misinformed assumption. Moreover, falling into the bad/good food mentality makes it hard to adopt a healthy diet. It’s essential to understand that all foods have their advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, some carb foods such as cake, candy, and soda, are not so healthy. However, other carb foods such as black beans, raspberries, sweet potatoes, and quinoa are highly nutritious. Refined carbs are the types of carbohydrates to limit, while unrefined carbs such as whole grains, fruit, legumes, and vegetables are good alternatives.

Vegan or Vegetarian Diets for Diabetics

Numerous studies have shown that diets that aim at eliminating or reducing animal products help lower LDL cholesterol and A1C, reduce the risk of diabetes, and promote weight loss. A vegetarian diet does not contain meat; vegan means eliminating all animal products from your diet such as lard and dairy. The American Diabetes Association has added these dietary options to its list of recommended practical diabetes diet plans.

Can the Mediterranean Diet Plan help with Diabetes?

The Mediterranean diet plan is one of the high-ranking diet plans for managing heart disease and diabetes as well. Just like the DASH diet plan, the Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, fish, vegetables, grains, nuts, beans, and olive oil.

The diet also encourages a small amount of red wine. The Mediterranean eating pattern lowers triglyceride and AIC levels and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The foods you eat on the Mediterranean diet can vary depending on your preference and the region you live in. Some of the key foods that you can incorporate in the Mediterranean diet include:

Fruits: Figs, dates, bananas, pears, oranges, grapes, berries, and dates.
Vegetables: Peppers, broccoli, spinach, eggplant, tomatoes, kale, and asparagus.
Whole grains: Whole wheat, corn, brown rice, oats, barley, and spelt.
Dairy: Cheese and yogurt.
Eggs: Quail, duck, and chicken eggs.
Poultry: Duck, chicken, and turkey
Fish: Crab, mackerel, trout, oysters, sardines, salmon, and shrimp
Nuts and seeds: Walnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame, pistachios, and almonds
Legumes: Peas, Beans, peanuts, lentils, and chickpeas.
Fats: Avocado oil, grape seed oil, avocado, olive oil, and olives.

Sweets and red meats are limited and beverages include a glass of red wine and water each day.

All diabetes patients can benefit from MNT (Medical Nutrition Therapy), meeting with dietitians to create practical meal plans. In most cases, improvements in A1C levels with Medical Nutritional Therapy are similar to or greater than what can be achieved with medication.

When choosing food to consume, this diet plan gives you a solid guideline that you can incorporate quite easily into your lifestyle.