Just In
- 9 hrs ago Heeramandi Screening: Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday, Rashmika Mandanna And Others Serve Finest Ethnic Style!
- 9 hrs ago From Alia Bhatt To Kriti Sanon, Korean Beauty Products That Bollywood Divas Swear By
- 12 hrs ago Exclusive: On World Malaria Day 2024, Dr Shares Danger Signs Parents Must Watch Out For In Child With Malaria
- 13 hrs ago Exclusive: Expert Debunks 5 Common Misconceptions About Expectant Mothers That You Need To Steer Clear From
Don't Miss
- News MEA Dismisses US Human Rights Report On Manipur As 'Biased And Misinformed'
- Movies Truth Behind Shruti Haasan & Santanu Hazarika's Break Up; Duo Living Separately After Unfollowing Each Other?
- Finance 1:5 & 1:2 Split, Rs 6/Sh Dividend: Fertilizer Stock Coming Up With 600% Payout; Record, Payment Dates Fixed
- Sports SRH vs RCB: 'Statpadder' Virat Kohli faces Fans Wrath after 118.3 Strike Rate
- Automobiles Royal Enfield Unveils Revolutionary Rentals & Tours Service: Check Out All Details Here
- Technology Elon Musk’s X Is Launching a TV App Similar to YouTube for Watching Videos
- Education AICTE introduces career portal for 3 million students, offering fully-sponsored trip to Silicon Valley
- Travel Escape to Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Darjeeling with IRCTC's Tour Package; Check Itinerary
Diwali, Diabetes And Pregnancy: Sweets And Recipes For Pregnant Women
Diwali is around the corner, and the festival of lights is not complete without an assemblage of sweets - from gulab jamun, gajar ka halwa to aam shrikhand, modak and more. While the sweets are an unavoidable part of Diwali, munching on them all day is not healthy, especially for people with diabetes. And if you are pregnant, then the precautions must be double-strong.
Pregnancy demands some extra care and concern. If you are a diabetic pregnant woman, you have to be more cautious. Diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes, which can increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defect, stillbirth, premature birth, and oversized baby [1][2].
For a diabetic pregnant woman, the blood sugar levels may increase drastically, and this can cause certain other issues both for the baby and the mother. That is, the hormone levels can make the blood sugar level rise when you are pregnant, raising the odds of having a complicated and high-risk pregnancy [3].
Do Stomach Sweatbands Really Help You Lose Weight?
Considering that the festival is almost here, you may be wondering what you can eat and not eat. We have created a list of foods that a diabetic pregnant woman can enjoy during this Diwali season.
Foods And Sweets Safe For Diabetic Pregnant Women
Experts point out that the extent to which diabetes patients can indulge in sweets during Diwali depends on their condition and the severity of the disease [4]. There are certain factors which affect the blood sugar levels during festival seasons as people tend to eat large serving size of food, including sweets, savoury and fried foods.
Doctors suggest that instead of using sugar, diabetic pregnant women can use artificial sweeteners (calorie-free); when used in moderation, most pregnant women can safely use the FDA approved sweeteners [5].
A diabetic pregnant woman can go ahead and try these sweets:
•
Kheer
•
Ragi
coconut
ladoo,
ragi
malpua,
ragi
barfi
(nachni)
•
Sandesh
•
Phirni
•
Apple
rabdi
•
Mixed
fruit
shrikhand
•
Diabetic-friendly
puran
poli
•
Broken
wheat
ladoo
(with
flax
seeds)
Foods And Sweets To Avoid For Diabetic Pregnant Women
Festival season, along with the colours and joy, elevates the level of adulteration in foods as well [6]. So, diabetic pregnant women should steer clear of the adulterated food products which might cause harm to them and their unborn child. Some common Diwali sweets to avoid are mentioned below:
•
Khoya
(may
contain
starch
and
paper).
•
Sweets
with
vark/varak
(the
thin
silver
on
barfis
and
other
sweets),
as
most
shops
may
not
use
the
best
quality
varak
and
could
be
aluminium
instead
of
silver
[7].
•
Ghee
sweets
may
contain
vanaspati
or
animal
fat
[8].
•
Packaged
juices
with
artificial
colouring,
thickeners,
emulsifiers.
•
Dried
fruits
because
there
have
been
reports
of
sellers
soaking
dry
fruits
in
acetic
acid
or
citric
acid
to
increase
their
size
[9].
•
Dried
fruits
can
also
have
artificial
colours
that
may
impact
the
unborn
foetus
and
induce
nausea
and
vomiting
[10].
•
Avoid
packaged
sweets
that
contain
fructose
syrup,
protein
isolates,
bulking
agents,
thickeners,
emulsifiers,
colourants
and
flavour
enhancers
[11].
The best and safest way is to make Diwali sweets at your home, so you may not have to worry about adulteration and the presence of harmful chemicals. Yes, it may be time-consuming, but it goes a long way in safeguarding you and your unborn child.
Diwali Recipes For Diabetic Pregnant Women
1. Sandesh
Ingredients
•
150
g
paneer/cottage
cheese
•
½
cup
khoya,
grated
•
Four
green
cardamoms,
crushed
•
Any
sugar
substitute
of
your
choice
•
A
large
pinch
of
kesar
(saffron)
•
Six
almonds,
nicely
chopped
Directions
•
Wash
the
paneer
and
cut
into
small
bite-size
cubes.
•
Soak
paneer
cubes
in
warm
milk
for
10
mins.
•
Once
the
paneer
turns
soft,
add
paneer
and
milk
in
the
blender
and
make
a
smooth
puree.
•
Pour
the
puree
into
a
non-stick
pan
and
keep
stirring
for
5-6
mins
on
low
flame.
•
After
that,
increase
the
flame
to
medium
and
keep
stirring
until
the
mixture
separates
from
the
pan.
•
Add
sugar-free
or
sugar
substitute
of
your
choice
and
cardamom
powder.
•
Cover
the
pan
and
let
it
cool
down
to
room
temperature.
•
Transfer
the
mixture
in
a
flat
plate
and
knead
the
mixture
with
palm
and
fingers.
•
Make
small
balls/laddus
of
your
choice.
Or
spread
it
evenly
on
a
plate
and
cut
into
squares
or
any
desired
shapes.
•
Enjoy
at
room
temperature.
2. Lauki Kheer
Ingredients
•
100
g
bottle
gourd
(lauki/doodhi)
•
5
g
ghee
•
Ten
almonds,
chopped
•
1l
low-fat
milk
•
1
tbsp
date
syrup
•
½
tsp
cardamom
powder
•
1
tsp
rose
water
Directions
•
Remove
the
seeds
and
grate
the
bottle
gourd.
•
In
a
deep
vessel,
boil
it
until
soft
(3-5
mins),
strain
and
then
squeeze
to
remove
excess
water.
•
Heat
ghee
in
a
pan,
add
almonds
and
sauté
till
lightly
browned.
•
Remove
the
excess
ghee
on
a
tissue
and
keep
aside.
•
Add
boiled
bottle
gourd
to
the
same
ghee,
cook
for
few
minutes
and
keep
aside.
•
In
a
separate
vessel,
boil
the
milk
and
simmer
till
it
is
reduced
to
three-fourths.
•
Now
add
the
sautéed
lauki
and
mix
well.
•
Add
the
date
syrup
and
cook
till
it
dissolves,
and
kheer
is
semi-thick.
•
Mix
in
green
cardamom
powder
and
rose
water.
3. Ragi-Oats Ladoo
Ingredients
•
1
½
cup
ragi
flour
•
1
cup
oats
flour
•
20
ripe
dates
(ripe)
•
½
cup
milk
•
1
tbsp
ghee
•
1
tsp
cardamom
powder
•
¼
cup
white
sesame
seeds
•
¼
cup
of
coconut
powder
Directions
•
Lightly
roast
oats
and
ragi,
let
it
cool
and
grind
it
well.
•
Take
15
dates,
clear
out
the
seeds
and
make
a
paste
of
it
after
adding
to
milk.
Repeat
this.
•
Dice
the
remaining
dates.
•
Roast
the
sesame
seeds
and
cashew
nuts.
•
Then,
put
some
ghee
in
the
pan
and
let
it
melt,
add
oats
flour,
and
roast
it.
Repeat
the
same
with
ragi
flour.
•
Mix
both
the
flour
and
add
the
remaining
ghee
to
it.
•
Add
dates
paste
to
the
flour
mixture.
•
Then,
add
stevia,
cardamom
powder
and
mix
well.
•
Allow
it
to
cool
down
for
about
10
mins,
add
the
diced
dates
and
make
small
balls
of
the
batter
into
ladoo.
Some Food Tips For Diabetic Pregnant Women During Diwali
•
Eat
less
often
and
avoid
large
quantities
in
one
go
to
avoid
indigestion
and
other
pregnancy
complication
[12].
•
If
you
are
eating
outside
food,
be
careful
about
food
hygiene.
•
Avoid
chocolate/flavoured
sweets
(caffeine
content).
•
Avoid
sweet,
fatty,
spicy,
and
deep-fried
foods.
•
Limit
the
use
of
sugar
substitute.
On A Final Note…
While it is time for happiness, sweets, and joy, make sure you restrict yourself from some of these sweets, not just for your health but also your baby's. Happy Diwali (in advance)!
[image source:freepik]
- healthExclusive: Expert Debunks 5 Common Misconceptions About Expectant Mothers That You Need To Steer Clear From
- healthSolar Eclipse 2024: Dos and Don'ts for Pregnant Women During Surya Grahan
- healthLunar Eclipse 2024: Dos And Don'ts For Pregnant Woman During Chandra Grahan
- fashionDeepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh Announce Pregnancy: 6 Maternity Outfit Ideas For The Modern Mom-to-Be
- healthLate Singer Sidhu Moose Wala's Mother Is Pregnant Through IVF, Know What It Is And How To Prepare For It
- insyncVirat Kohli And Anushka Sharma Name Their Baby Boy 'Akaay', Know What This Beautiful Name Means?
- pregnancy parentingMaternal Health Awareness Day 2024: 15 Foods That Boost Maternal Health
- pregnancy parentingFrom Contractions To Water Breaking: Knowing When It's Time For The Hospital During Pregnancy
- pregnancy parentingBirth Control Pills Can Affect This Primary Function In Women: Find Out What
- pregnancy parentingTwo Wombs, Four Hearts: US Mom's Extraordinary Double Uterus Pregnancy
- healthExclusive: A Pregnant Mom Can Posses These Maternal, Fetal Health Risks If Exposed To Air Pollution
- pregnancy parentingDelhi Air Pollution: Pregnant Women Must Follow These 4 Things!