Ambulatory Care Nurse Certification Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Resource for Comprehensive Exam Success!

A pregnant patient diagnosed with gestational diabetes must carefully manage her dietary intake to maintain stable blood sugar levels while ensuring adequate nutrition for both herself and her developing baby. Increasing calorie intake can be appropriate under certain circumstances, particularly if the patient's dietary needs are not being met, or if the current intake is too low to support healthy fetal growth.

Increased calorie intake should focus on nutrient-dense foods, incorporating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and proteins. This approach ensures the mother and the fetus receive essential nutrients without causing spikes in blood sugar levels. It is crucial that any increase in calories be balanced and monitored closely, with guidance from healthcare professionals such as dietitians and obstetricians, to ensure that it aligns with managing gestational diabetes effectively.

The other options present actions that are generally not advisable or necessary. For instance, increasing insulin doses or decreasing them without medical supervision could lead to improper management of blood sugar. Conversely, decreasing calorie intake could result in inadequate nutrition for the mother and the fetus, potentially harming fetal development. Thus, focusing on a well-rounded approach to dietary management, including possibly increasing calorie intake in a controlled manner, is essential for managing gestational diabetes.