As a gestational diabetes intuitive eating dietitian, I understand the complexities and challenges that can come from a gestational diabetes diagnosis in pregnancy. However, I firmly believe that managing gestational diabetes doesn’t have to be solely about numbers and restrictions. It’s about nurturing your body and embracing a compassionate approach to your health, and you deserve to enjoy this journey fully. That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to a tool that can support you in your pregnancy: the Gestational Diabetes Tracking Sheet.
Click here to download and read on to learn more about why tracking is so important and how you can overcome common hurdles!
Table of Contents
Purpose of the Gestational Diabetes Tracking Sheet
Gestational diabetes tracking sheets serve multiple purposes, all aimed at supporting your health and well-being during pregnancy. Firstly, it’s designed to provide a comprehensive overview of your blood sugar levels over time, allowing you and your healthcare provider to monitor trends and make necessary adjustments to your management plan.
Secondly, it offers insight into how different foods and lifestyle factors impact your blood sugar levels, empowering you to make informed choices that support optimal health for you and your baby.
When might your provider recommend using the Gestational Diabetes Tracking Sheet? There are several scenarios where this tool can be incredibly beneficial:
- Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes: If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your healthcare provider will likely recommend regular monitoring of your blood sugar levels. The tracking sheet provides a structured way to record your meals, blood sugar readings, and other relevant information, helping you and your healthcare team assess how well your management plan is working and make necessary adjustments.
- History of High-Risk Factors: Even if you haven’t received a formal diagnosis of gestational diabetes, you may be considered at high risk based on factors such as a family history of diabetes or advanced maternal age. In such cases, your doctor may recommend proactive monitoring of your blood sugar levels using the tracking sheet to ensure early detection and intervention if needed.
- Concerns About Blood Sugar Control: If you’ve been struggling to keep your blood sugar levels within a goal range despite following dietary recommendations and lifestyle modifications, your healthcare provider may suggest using the tracking sheet to identify patterns and potential triggers contributing to fluctuations in your blood sugar levels.
- Gestational Diabetes Management Plan: Whether you’re managing gestational diabetes through diet and lifestyle changes alone or with the addition of insulin or other medications, the tracking sheet can be a valuable tool for monitoring your progress and adherence to your management plan. It allows you to track not only your blood sugar levels but also your dietary choices, physical activity, and medication use, providing a comprehensive view of your diabetes management.
Has your provider mentioned the gestational diabetes tracking sheet to you? Let me know in the comments of this blog!
Potential Struggles and Hurdles
While tracking your blood sugar levels can be beneficial, it’s not without its challenges. One common struggle can be the inconvenience of recording every meal and blood sugar reading. It may feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already juggling the demands of pregnancy and daily life.
It can also be easy to forget to track, particularly when you’re busy or distracted. However, these challenges are not insurmountable! By implementing strategies such as setting reminders, incorporating tracking into your daily routine, and seeking support from loved ones, you can overcome these hurdles and make tracking a more manageable part of your pregnancy journey. I always try to remind my clients that this is just a short-term situation, and it’s for the health of you and your baby! Reframing the inconvenience as another way to care for yourself can be a helpful way to look at it.
(Trust me, I know that still doesn’t make it “fun” but you will get through this!)
Holistic Perspective
Typical gestational diabetes tracking sheets tend to focus solely on foods and numbers, which as I’m sure you know can quickly become discouraging. As an intuitive eating gestational diabetes dietitian I am all about helping my clients see the bigger picture when it comes to their blood sugars.
The truth is, so much plays into your numbers beyond what you do and don’t eat.
A few other factors that can influence your fasting numbers beyond just what you eat:
- Sleep
- Stress
- Muscle activity
- Movement
- Genetics
- Hormones
Of course, working on nutrition can make a big impact, but it’s important to remember that you can be eating all the “right” things but if you’re stressed about work, trying to care for other young kids alongside yourself, struggling to get good sleep, and sitting at a computer all day, you may still struggle with your numbers.
We know that factors like inadequate sleep and high stress can influence blood sugar levels, so it’s crucial to address these aspects of your health alongside dietary choices. By adopting a holistic perspective, we can better understand the intricate relationship between our bodies and our environment, empowering us to make informed choices that promote overall wellness.
I’ve made it a point to go a little deeper on my gestational diabetes tracking sheet to help you really zoom out and see the big picture, while also tracking your numbers effectively.
Next Steps
If you’re looking for a more compassionate and positive tracking experience, I invite you to download my holistic GDM tracking sheet.
This comprehensive tool incorporates intuitive eating principles and holistic health practices, providing you with a supportive framework for managing gestational diabetes with grace and empowerment.
And if you’re looking for more hands-on support from a weight-inclusive dietitian, I would love to help. Through 1:1 virtual nutrition counseling, we can help you meet your blood sugar needs while also supporting a healthy mindset and relationship with food. Click here to book a free call with me to learn more.
Hi! I’m Emily.
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