Healthy living - eating right

Foods to avoid

There are certain foods that all pregnant women need to avoid, whether or not they have diabetes.

• Alcohol
• Liver and liver products
• Unpasteurised dairy products (e.g soft or blue cheese)
• Pre-cooked cold meats
• Uncooked eggs (Watch out, these can be hiding in a mousse or sauce!)

Food choices

In addition to avoiding potentially harmful foods, women wiht Type 1 diabetes have to choose carefully to maintain good control of blood glucose levels. Eating a healthy diet helps your baby to grow and develop too. The dietitian at your clinic will give you lots of advice on healthy food choices, and which foods you should avoid.

Include lots of:

• Starchy foods - starchy food such as bread and pasta should form the main part of your meals
• Slowly absorbed foods - particularly those containing soluble fibre like peas, beans, vegetables, fruit, lentils and oats. Soluble fibres slow down the rate at which you absorb the sugars in your food, making it easier to keep your levels steady
• High fibre foods - like bran cereals and wholemeal bread. They help to avoid constipation, which can be a problem for some pregnant women
• Protein rich foods - such as low fat dairy products, lean meat and fish are good building blocks for your baby's growth
• Fresh fruit and vegetables containing vitamins to keep you and your baby healthy