Gestational Diabetes Diet with Preload® Balance

Healthy lifestyle

Most people are reluctant to take drugs, especially when there are healthier options. When it comes to managing gestational diabetes, adopting a healthy lifestyle can make a real difference. There are effective ways to stabilize blood sugar levels and support the body’s ability to manage insulin resistance, especially through a well-planned gestational diabetes diet and regular lifestyle changes.

What to eat with gestational diabetes?

You can influence your health and blood sugar levels by making a few simple lifestyle changes. It largely depends on your daily eating habits, physical activity, and how you structure your meals. To reduce high blood sugar levels both in the short and long term, there are three specific things you can do:

1. Eat at regular intervals
  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two to three planned snacks for gestational diabetes. This makes it easier to avoid unnecessary snacking. Choose healthy snacks for gestational diabetes between meals to maintain satiety and avoid blood sugar spikes. For those looking for options, Preload® Balance is an excellent choice as part of a gestational diabetes meal plan.
2. Eat your fill of healthy food
  Most of your meals should consist of fresh vegetables and high-fiber food. Follow the plate model and fill half the plate with vegetables. Choose whole grains as your first option and be mindful of portion sizes. Avoid sugar and other fast carbohydrates. Eat, for example, the whole apple instead of drinking apple juice. The apple contains fiber, while juice has a high concentration of sugar from several apples.
3. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day
  Remember that small movements matter and take the stairs instead of the elevator or use a standing desk if you work in an office. Avoid sitting still for extended periods. Additionally, structuring a personalized gestational diabetic meal plan can significantly help with blood sugar control while incorporating regular physical activity.

Medical nutrition therapy

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is a scientifically developed approach to support health through targeted nutrients instead of medication. It aims to prevent and manage health conditions by delivering key nutrients that influence metabolic processes. This therapy is the result of more than ten years of research conducted in Swedish and international laboratories.

Based on this method, we have developed Preload Balance therapy, designed to stabilize blood sugar levels and improve metabolic balance. By consuming a concentrated blend of natural nutrients before a meal, the body prepares for the rise in blood sugar, resulting in a more stable blood sugar response. This reduces the need for large insulin spikes and may lessen the reliance on medication. Hunger and satiety are core biological processes that regulate eating behavior. Hunger signals the need for food, while satiety indicates that the body has received enough nutrients and energy. There are two forms of satiety: immediate satiety during a meal, and lasting satiety between meals. Both are important in understanding how medical nutrition therapy positively influences food intake.

The first mechanism that contributes to satiety is the feeling of a full stomach. As the stomach expands during a meal, it sends signals to the central nervous system. Nutrients like fiber, protein, and fat slow gastric emptying, which enhances satiety and moderates the rise in blood sugar. Liquid foods, such as soda, empty the stomach faster and provide lower satiety than solid meals with similar energy content.

Another mechanism is the hormonal response triggered by food. Nutrients stimulate the release of various hormones that affect both our appetite and how nutrients are distributed throughout the body. The appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin is produced in the stomach and decreases after eating. The hormone leptin, formed in fat tissue, is released into the bloodstream to promote satiety.

When food passes into the duodenum, several hormones signal satiety to the brain’s appetite regulation centers. At the same time, the pancreas produces insulin, which controls blood sugar levels and influences hunger. As satiety hormone levels rise in the blood, the body receives the signal to reduce food intake.

By designing meals with the right nutrient composition, we can support natural satiety signals and help avoid overeating or consumption of fast carbohydrates. This is the principle behind Preload® Balance therapy.

By consuming a small amount of concentrated nutrients before eating, the body begins to feel full sooner. This slows down gastric emptying and leads to a more stable blood sugar response. Instead of sharp spikes, energy is released more gradually, reducing the need for large insulin releases and helping to manage insulin resistance.

A more stable blood sugar level means more consistent energy and fewer cravings between meals. In contrast, blood sugar fluctuations with high peaks and rapid drops often result in increased hunger and a strong desire for fast carbohydrates or sweets.

Another benefit of this “false start” in the satiety system is smaller and more balanced food portions. With Preload® Balance, people tend to crave healthier foods and are less drawn to high-sugar options, thanks to improved appetite control.