drink wholesome makes the best protein shakes for gestational diabetes.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Basically, your body breaks down the food you eat into sugar (glucose), and releases it into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar rises, your pancreas releases insulin, which pushes the sugar from your bloodstream into your cells where it is used for energy. People with diabetes do not make enough insulin or cannot use it effectively. When there is not enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, this can lead to serious health problems.
During pregnancy, your body makes more hormones and experiences other changes, such as weight gain. These changes cause your cells to use insulin less effectively, and can cause insulin resistance. All pregnant women experience some degree of insulin resistance during pregnancy, but some women have insulin resistance even before they get pregnant. They therefore start pregnancy with an increased need for insulin, and are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
Are protein shakes good for gestational diabetes?
If you have gestational diabetes, the foods that you eat can have a huge effect on your blood sugar levels. Protein powders are no exception. You should therefore avoid protein supplements with lots of simple carbohydrates like sugar as they can trigger blood sugar spikes. Naturally occurring sugars like those found in fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are safe to eat. According to recent research, there is no link between natural sugar and diabetes since these types of sugar are digested and absorbed more slowly, and are therefore less likely to cause blood sugar spikes.
You should also be wary of protein supplements sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Several studies have shown that artificial sweeteners may increase cravings toward sugary and sweet foods, which can lead to binging and feelings of withdrawal. Other studies have associated artificial sweeteners with a higher risk of glucose intolerance, which is a precursor for pre-diabetes and diabetes.
Finally, you should also choose a protein supplement made with minimally-processed real foods. Most protein supplements are made with protein concentrates and isolates*, foods stripped of everything but the protein. They are listed on the ingredient list as “pea protein” and “whey protein” as opposed to “peas” and “whey.” I will not go into the details, but protein concentrates and isolates can cause hyperinsulinemia (abnormally high levels of insulin). While high-protein, low-carb foods like these are low on the glycemic index, they can still measure high on the insulin index. In other words, while protein concentrates and isolates do not spike blood sugar the way that most carbohydrates do, they can still result in an insulin spike. This is because protein has an insulinotropic effect (it promotes insulin secretion).