Blood sugar control during pregnancy is important for your health and the health of your baby. Carbohydrates in food turn into sugar (also called glucose) when digested. Glucose is important for you and your baby, but too much glucose in your blood can lead to problems! It is important to eat the right amount of carbohydrate and to choose healthy foods. Carbohydrates are found in rice, bread, fruits, vegetables, milk and yogurt so these food portions should be measured correctly. Sweets and desserts should be avoided if possible, as they may lead to high blood sugar levels.

3 MEALS AND 3 SNACKS

Eating too much at one time can cause your blood sugar to go too high. Eat smaller meals and have healthy snacks in between your meals. You have increased nutritional needs during your pregnancy and your baby is counting on you to provide balanced nutrition. So be responsible in what you are eating during pregnancy!

MEASURE STARCHY FOOD

You can include a starch choice at every meal, no problem. A reasonable serving size is about 1 cup of cooked brown rice, grain, wholemeal noodles, sweet potatoes or 2 pieces of wholegrain bread, per meal. Brown colour over white colour always!

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MILK EVERY DAY

Milk is healthy and it is an important source of calcium for yourself during pregnancy. Because it is a liquid, milk sugar is absorbed quickly. Having too much milk at one time can lead to high blood sugar. It is best to limit milk to one cup at a time. Drink it without adding any sugar!

BREAKFAST MATTERS

Blood sugar can be difficult to control in the morning because that is when pregnancy hormones are very strong! These hormones can cause your blood sugar levels to rise even before you start to eat. Dry cereals, fruits, and milk are not the best choices for breakfast because they are digested very quickly and can cause blood sugar levels to rise quickly. A breakfast of whole grains or proteins usually good.

ONLY SMALL PORTION OF FRUIT

Fruits are nutritious, but because they have natural sugars, eat only one serving at a time. A serving of fruit is one small piece of fruit, or half large fruit, or about 1 cup of mixed fruit. Avoid fruit that has been canned in syrup! Do not drink packed fruit juice too! Make your own fruit juice.

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