Gestational Diabetes and Keto: What You Need To Know

Does Keto aid in the treatment of gestational diabetes? Its a simple question, but simple questions dont always have simple answers. ?

In the beginning there isn't a lot of information regarding Keto during pregnancy. In other words, there isn't much information on Keto for women who are pregnant and have diabetes. ?

However, that doesn't mean that the low-carb diets won't work. They can help with other types of diabetes, and it's likely that they aid in gestational diabetes as well. ?

Let's take a dive into Keto to treat gestational diabetes later. Before that, let's look at the issue in the moment. ?

What Is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a complication that causes elevated levels of blood sugar (blood glucose) levels during the pregnancy. The higher levels of blood sugar known as hyperglycemia can cause a variety of problems for mother and baby. ?

The signs and symptoms manifest on short and long-term timescales. In the short-term gestational diabetes can increase the chance of miscarriage, birth defects and high blood pressure. seizures, pre-eclampsia, stillbirth as well as birth trauma and the rate of C-sections. ?

In the long run, approximately half of women suffering from gestational diabetes will develop the type 2 form of diabetes (a more persistent condition that is caused by glucose intolerance) between five and ten years after the birth. In the time after birth, both the mother and baby are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, overweight, as well as heart diseases. ?

To determine if you have gestational diabetes A doctor will most likely conduct a glucose test. As per the American Diabetes Association (ADA) women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes when her blood sugar is above 2 of these levels prior to and following the consumption of the glucose equivalent to 75 grams:

Pre-ingestion Fasting sugar of 92 mg/dLAt for 1 hour: 180 mg/dLAt two hours: 150 mg/dL

Other organizations use similar set of diagnostic criteria.

Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors

The ADA suggests screening for gestational diabetes prior to the time of pregnancy if any of the following signs are evident:

Obesity severe or a family background of Type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetesPolycystic Ovarian syndrome (PCOS)Glycosuria (sugar in the urine)

The ADA suggests waiting to screen up to weeks 24-28 gestation in these circumstances.

The woman is aged 25 or older. She is overweight prior to pregnancy. low glucose tolerance or a poor pregnancy outcome

In reality, there is no reason to believe that all women shouldn't be screened for the presence of gestational diabetes using a blood glucose monitor at home. It's easy, practical and affordable. ?

Tracking Blood Sugar for Gestational Diabetes

Monitoring blood sugar levels is the most important factor in managing gestational diabetes. With the help from modern technologies, it's easy to do. ?

Home-testing involves an insertion of a finger, inserting into the strip, and then a reading of the blood glucose. It's that easy. ?

A reliable and cost-effective device like the Keto-Mojo meters makes life simpler by storing your data in an app that can be used for long-term monitoring. The Keto-Mojo monitor also analyzes ketones, which is beneficial if you are experimenting on your Keto diet. It is also possible to sync your Keto-Mojo device to Carb Manager. Carb Manager app to effectively monitor your health indicators along the macros you've set.

Here are the suggested blood glucose targets for pregnant women:

Fasting glucose: At or below 95 mg/dL1hour after eating Between 130-140 mg/dL (or below)2 hours after eating: less than 120 mg/dL

What strategies can you employ to help to achieve (or surpass) these goals? Continue going. ?

Diet and Exercise for Gestational Diabetes

The primary goal of treatment in gestational diabetics is to maintain blood sugar levels within healthy limits. Another objective is to prevent unnecessary weight increase. To achieve both of these goals involves a healthy lifestyle, dietary interventions, and occasionally targeted medications. (Note make sure you talk to a physician regarding your treatment plan). ?

Let's begin with exercise. Evidence suggests that regular moderate to vigorous exercise during pregnancy may help to prevent gestational diabetes. Why? Because exercise boosts the insulin sensitivity (your blood sugar control hormone) which, in turn, helps to move glucose out of your bloodstream and into cells to be stored safely. ?

There isn't a lot of consensus on the most effective diet for people suffering from gestational diabetes. Based on the source you go to there are recommendations for calorie-restricted and high-carb diets moderate-carb diets, as well as low-carb diets. We'll talk about Keto for diabetes right now. ?

Can Low-Carb and Keto Diets Help With Gestational Diabetes?

Probably. The benefits of limiting carb intake are well documented to enhance glycemic control in overweight and diabetic populations. ?

The evidence for Keto to treat type 2 diabetes particularly convincing. In a study conducted by Virta Health the one-year supervised Keto diet reversed the effects of diabetes (as determined by the average levels of blood sugar) in 60 percent of 218 participants. Studies on Keto for diabetes have also found similar benefits to weight loss, lower blood sugar levels, lower triglycerides and lower LDL cholesterol levels, and increased insulin sensitivity.

The thing is that gestational diabetes is generally an occasional case of type 2 diabetes in pregnancy. Following pregnancy, it usually develops into a chronic condition.? ?

Why should we treat gestational diabetes by a low-risk treatment (aka the low-carb diet) that has been proven in studies to treat the effects of type 2 diabetes? It makes a lot of sense. ?

Certain doctors are concerned ketosis could be dangerous for pregnant women. However, most of the time, they aren't concerned about ketosis caused by nutrition but rather diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical condition that is characterized by extreme ketones.

To be clear, there's much we don't know about Keto to help with pregnancy. It is recommended to exercise caution.

A way to be cautious? Think about a diet with fewer carbs (~10-20 percent of calories are from carbs, approximately 50-100g of carbs daily) instead of strictly following a Keto diet. This could reduce the risk of elevated ketone levels as well as accidental calorie restriction, while offering benefits to metabolism.? ?

Eating to Prevent Gestational Diabetes

A healthy diet plan for gestational diabetes must be able to meet at minimum two requirements. It must:

Make sure you have enough protein, calories and micronutrients that support the growth and development of fetus. (Pregnancy can increase the daily energy requirements by around 300 calories, and the daily protein requirements by around 15 grams. See the following article to get a complete list of micronutrient requirements). Be mindful of processed carbohydrates (especially refined sugar) and processed foods to reduce blood sugar spikes

You can meet both of these requirements by eating a complete diet that includes fish, meat and healthy fats, as well as fruits with low sugar, and other vegetables. For insurance purposes take an early-life multivitamin. ?

It is also possible to try the low-carb or Keto diet to prevent diabetes. This means that sugary fruits and grains, potatoes, and other starchy food items are generally not on the menu. ?

However, don't be too rigid with your limits on carbs. If you aren't sure if something is right and objectively (blood work)consider increasing your carbs up to 50-100 grams daily. This is still a huge decrease from the typical American diet that includes 200-300 grams of carbohydrates per day.

The aim isn't to achieve an exact macro ratio. The aim is for both you or your kid to have the best health you can both now and in the future. ?

Frequently asked questions