5 Reasons Low-Carb Diets Don’t Work for Gestational Diabetes.

It’s so common for pregnant women with Gestational Diabetes to be instructed to start a low-carb diet to manage Gestational Diabetes but here are 5 reasons low-carb diets don’t work for Gestational Diabetes:

1. Increases fasting blood sugars: Your body’s main source of energy comes from carbohydrates. If you are on a low-carb diet, you’re not getting the energy your body needs to function. When you don’t get enough carbohydrate during the day your body will dump extra glucose out overnight. The technical name for this is gluconeogenesis (making new glucose). Gluconeogenesis is the process of your liver converting stored fat and protein into glucose. This process typically happens overnight or as you wake up in the morning. So, if you’re looking to lower your fasting blood sugar, you need to start eating carb during the day!
   (get more info on lowering your fasting blood sugar here.)
2. Leads to constipation: Eliminating carbs from your diet can increase your likelihood of becoming constipated and we know that can already be tough in pregnancy! Taking carbohydrates out of your meals and snacks also removes fiber (and so many other important nutrients)! Fiber is key for keeping constipation at bay during pregnancy. The kicker is that you actually need MORE fiber each day in pregnancy (28 g/day in pregnancy). That means if you’re on a low-carb diet, it’s almost impossible to meet your daily fiber needs!
3. Decreases energy but increases mental fog: Your brain is depending on carbohydrate to think and do all of the many tasks you complete in a day. On top of that, exercise and physical activity require your muscles to use glucose (broken down carbohydrate). Taking away carbs from your diet will not only decrease your energy levels, but also create brain fog. Who wants to feel even more run-down in pregnancy?!
4. Carbs keep blood sugar consistent all day: Going too long without eating carbohydrates will cause your blood sugar to dip too low and then rebound high. The process of gluconeogenesis happens overnight if you eat low carb all day BUT it can also happen during the day as well. Eating carbohydrates consistently throughout the day tells your body that you don’t need any extra glucose, which keeps blood sugars stable!
5. You are growing a human: Somehow it seems like this point gets lost in Gestational Diabetes education. You need carbohydrate all of the time, but especially when you’re pregnant! In the 2nd trimester, your calorie needs increase to an additional 340 calories/day. In the 3rd trimester, calorie needs increase to an additional 450 calories/day. When you eliminate carbs, you also eliminate calories! Your baby needs calories and carbohydrate to grow and develop in a healthy way!

So, the next time somebody tells you that you can’t eat bread, you can tell them 5 reasons low-carb diets don’t work for Gestational Diabetes!

If you are unsure HOW to add more carb to your diet, I can help! I will teach you WHAT and HOW to eat for balanced blood sugars in pregnancy so you can grow a healthy baby! Grab The Better Blood Sugar Course and start feeling confident in your food choices today!

xo,

Leslee