How do “sugar moms” cope with dietary challenges during the Spring Festival!

Author: Tian Ce, head nurse at Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Xu Yan, nurse at Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Li Rui, deputy chief nurse, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Reviewer: He Shuli, deputy chief physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

In just over two months, the Spring Festival will be here. Naturally, there will be a lot of delicious food during the Spring Festival, including a variety of snacks, fruits, and "hard dishes". However, "diabetic mothers" should be careful about these high-fat and high-sugar foods! So, during the Spring Festival, "diabetic mothers" need to pay attention to what?

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Q: What challenges does diabetic mother face in dietary management during the Spring Festival?

A: During the Spring Festival, due to family gatherings and abundant food, blood sugar control may be challenged for diabetic mothers. Dietary changes may cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels, so special attention should be paid to dietary management.

Q: How should diabetic mothers cope with blood sugar challenges during the Spring Festival?

1. Change the cooking method: During the cooking process, we should try to reduce the intake of food such as frying, deep-frying and braising, and use more cooking methods such as baking, steaming and boiling. This will not only ensure the reduction of fat intake, but also reduce the risk of nutrient loss. This is very important for preventing "sugar mothers" from concurrently suffering from chronic cardiovascular diseases such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension. In addition, we should try to choose condiments without artificial sugars. Some people think that some condiments do not contain sugar, but in fact their sugar content is not low, such as chili sauce, oyster sauce, salad dressing, etc. Daily intake of these "invisible sugars" will be detrimental to the blood sugar control of "sugar mothers", and it is easy to cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, increasing the burden on the circulatory system.

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2. Control food intake: During the Spring Festival, the food on the table is tempting, but "sugar moms" need to control food intake. Try to avoid eating a lot and overeating. You can choose to spread food intake into several small meals a day and control the energy intake of each meal.

3. Control the amount and quality of carbohydrate intake: During the Spring Festival, traditional foods are often rich in carbohydrates, such as rice cakes and candies. "Sugar mothers" should try to avoid or reduce the intake of these foods. At the same time, pay attention to distributing carbohydrate intake in 3 small to moderate meals and 2 to 3 snacks according to the proportion of the whole day, and eat every 2 to 3 hours. Avoid or reduce the intake of sugary sweetened drinks and desserts. For pregnant women who like to eat sweets, natural sweeteners such as mogroside and stevia can be used in moderation. It is not recommended to use large amounts of artificially synthesized sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium, saccharin, and aspartame, so as not to increase the metabolic burden on the mother's liver and kidneys, and the impact on the fetus is still uncertain.

4. Reasonable dietary choices based on low GI (glycemic index) are an important aspect of gestational diabetes management: GI refers to the body's ability to respond to blood sugar (within a certain period of time) after ingesting food containing 50 grams of carbohydrates compared to white bread or glucose. In contrast, low-GI foods usually take longer to digest, have a lower absorption rate, do not have too much impact on blood sugar stability, and require relatively less insulin, which is conducive to blood sugar stability. Focus on low-GI foods and match them with medium-GI foods in small amounts. For example, in terms of staple foods, you can choose coarse grain rice (white rice, brown rice, black rice, buckwheat) with steamed potatoes, etc. In terms of fruit selection, it is recommended to choose low-sugar fruits and eat more fruits with lower GI, such as peaches, apples, and cherries.

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5. Eat protein in moderation: Protein is an important nutrient for "diabetic mothers" and can help stabilize blood sugar levels and provide adequate nutrition to the fetus. During the Spring Festival, you can increase your protein intake appropriately, such as lean meat, fish, beans and soy products, and it is advisable to consume 80 to 90 grams of protein per day.

6. Control fat intake: Foods during the Spring Festival often use a lot of fat. Diabetic patients should pay attention to foods with high fat content. Saturated fatty acid intake should not exceed 7% of total energy intake. Monounsaturated fatty acids such as olive oil, camellia oil, rapeseed oil, etc. should account for more than 1/3 of fat energy supply. At the same time, reduce the intake of trans fatty acids.

7. Take enough dietary fiber: It is recommended to take 25-30 grams of dietary fiber every day. You can choose more fiber-rich foods such as oatmeal, dry beans, fresh vegetables, mushrooms, algae, etc. These foods help control blood sugar levels and prevent blood sugar fluctuations.

Q: Can’t “sugar moms” eat snacks?

A: Choosing the right snacks can not only prevent the occurrence of hypoglycemia, but also control blood sugar levels. ① Choose unprocessed foods, such as fresh fruits and plain nuts, instead of processed foods, such as biscuits. ② Choose crude fiber foods, such as whole wheat bread instead of white bread, and whole grain rice instead of white rice. ③ When adding meals in the evening, choose snacks that are low in calories and have a sense of satiety, such as milk, oatmeal, etc. ④ Choose high-protein snacks, such as beef jerky, soy products, etc., to reduce carbohydrate intake. ⑤ Choose snacks with fewer additives to avoid additional sugar intake, thereby reducing fluctuations in blood sugar levels and helping to stabilize blood sugar control. You can check the ingredient list of the food to find out whether the snacks have added additional sugar and salt, and you can understand the nutritional ratio of the snacks through the nutritional composition table.

Q: In addition to diet, what else should "diabetic mothers" pay attention to?

A: Finally, the "diabetic mother" needs to measure the blood sugar level at a fixed point to ensure that the blood sugar is stable within a reasonable range. If the blood sugar level cannot meet the standard, it is necessary to combine medication to control blood sugar. In addition, the "diabetic mother" needs to continue to engage in moderate physical activities and maintain a good lifestyle during the Spring Festival. Moderate exercise can help control blood sugar levels and improve the body's metabolic function.

The Spring Festival is an important festival. We hope that "diabetic mothers" can pay attention to diet management and maintain good blood sugar control while enjoying delicious food. By regularly monitoring blood sugar levels, reasonably controlling dietary intake and choosing healthy foods, and engaging in appropriate physical activities, "diabetic mothers" can definitely spend a healthy and happy Spring Festival!