Gestational diabetes affects both the mother and the fetus. Therefore, “diet” is considered important. Pregnant women should receive 30-35 calories per kilogram of body weight per day (pre-pregnancy weight) and an additional 300 calories for the baby. An example menu for those requiring 1,800 kilocalories is as follows:
Appropriate Food Proportions in 1 Day
| Meal | Milk | Fruit | Vegetables | Rice | Meat | Fat |
| All day | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7.5 | 8 | 6 |
| Morning | – | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Morning snack | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Lunch | – | 1 | 1 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 |
| Afternoon | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – |
| Dinner | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Before bed | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
Example Foods for Each Meal
Breakfast, e.g., Chicken rice porridge
| Rice porridge | 4 | Ladle |
| Chicken meat | 4 | Tablespoons |
| Shiitake mushrooms | ¼ | Cup |
| Carrot | ¼ | Cup |
| Fried garlic | 2 | Teaspoons |
Morning snack, e.g., 1 small apple
Lunch, e.g., Steamed pork with rice, clear tofu soup with minced pork, fruit
| Brown steamed rice | 2.5 | Ladle |
| Steamed pork | 3 | Tablespoons |
| Kale | ¼ | Cup |
| Carrot | ¼ | Cup |
| Vegetable oil | 2 | Teaspoons |
| Soft tofu | ⅔ | Tube |
| Pork meat | 1 | Tablespoon |
| Napa cabbage | ½ | Cup |
| Guava | ½ | Fruit |
Afternoon snack, e.g., 1 glass of plain milk (240 ml) and 4 small crackers
Dinner, e.g., Steamed rice, shrimp and mixed vegetable soup, omelet, fruit
| Steamed rice | 2 | Ladle |
| Loofah | ¼ | Cup |
| Ivy gourd | ¼ | Cup |
| Baby corn | ¼ | Cup |
| Shrimp | 8 | 2-inch size |
| Egg | 1 | Piece |
| Vegetable oil | 2 | Teaspoons |
| Dragon fruit | 8 | Bite-sized pieces |
Before bed, e.g., 1 glass of plain milk (240 ml)
Smart choice means knowing the glycemic index (GI) of foods. Choose carbohydrates with a low GI, which results in slower sugar absorption into the bloodstream and less frequent hunger.
| GI | Low | Medium | High |
| Rice – Starch | Glass noodles, brown rice, whole wheat bread, oats | Egg noodles, corn, sweet potato, noodle sheets | Sticky rice, white rice, cornflakes, French fries, white bread, pumpkin |
| Fruit | Guava, dragon fruit, apple | Papaya, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple | Watermelon, dates |
| Milk | Yogurt with artificial sweetener, low-fat milk |
Smart counting means knowing how to count carbohydrates to choose appropriate food portions. Carbohydrate groups include rice/starch, fruit, vegetables, and milk. One carbohydrate unit of each group is equivalent to the following foods:
Rice – Starch 1 carb
- Steamed rice 1 ladle
- Bread 1 slice
- Egg noodles ⅔ cup
- Corn ½ cob
- Glass noodles 1 ladle
- Crackers 4-5 pieces
- Pumpkin 2 ladles
- Rice noodles 1 handful
- Wide rice noodles 1 ladle
- Potato ½ piece
- Sarim noodles 1 ladle
- Macaroni ⅔ cup
Milk 1 carb
- Plain milk 240 milliliters
- Milk powder 4 tablespoons
- Yogurt 1 cup
Vegetables 1 carb
- Starchy vegetables 3 ladles: long beans, sesbania, carrot, straw mushroom, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, water mimosa, kale, broccoli, raw papaya, onion
Fruit 1 carb
- Orange 1 piece
- Guava 1 piece
- Namwa banana 1 piece
- Apple 1 piece
- Kiwi 1 piece
- Ripe mango ½ medium piece
- Cantaloupe 8 bite-sized pieces
- Watermelon 8 bite-sized pieces
- Raw mango ½ large piece
- Longkong 8-9 pieces
- Rambutan 4 large pieces
- Dragon fruit 8 bite-sized pieces
- Pineapple 8 bite-sized pieces
- Papaya 8 bite-sized pieces
- Pomelo 2 large segments
- Apple juice 120 milliliters
- Orange juice 120 milliliters
- Guava juice 120 milliliters
- Grape juice 80 milliliters
Smart eating means knowing the principles of eating for pregnant women with diabetes:
- Sufficient energy and carbohydrate amounts matching body needs or insulin
- Eat 4 meals a day: 3 main meals + 2-3 snacks, avoiding frequent nibbling
- Control portion sizes of each meal to be similar, especially carbohydrates
- Eat all 5 food groups: rice, starch, meat, fat, vegetables, fruit
- Choose fresh fruits with low sweetness (low glycemic index), 2-3 servings per day, divided among meals
- Avoid sweets, sugary drinks, ice cream, dried fruit, fruit juice, soda, sweetened milk, and fermented milk
- Choose adequate protein sources, selecting high-quality proteins such as eggs, lean meat, tofu, and milk
- Ensure sufficient intake of important nutrients for pregnant women, including calcium found in milk, small fish, green leafy vegetables, and iron found in red meat, blood, and animal organs
- Avoid all alcoholic beverages
References:
1. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes 2017
2. Rujira Sammasut. Principles of Nutritional Therapy. 3rd edition. Prachinburi: Supat Printing, 2009
For more information, please contact
Nutrition Therapy Unit, Phyathai 2 Hospital
Phone 02-617-2444 ext. 3130 (8:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
