Calories for Diabetes, PCOS and Pregnancy: How UltraFit360 Sets Your Targets

Medical note: this page explains how our app sets numbers. It is general guidance, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, have diabetes or PCOS, or take any medicine, check your targets with your doctor or a registered dietitian.

A deficit is the wrong advice in the second trimester^[1], and a high-carb split is a hard start if you manage blood sugar^[2]. So since 29 October 2026, UltraFit360 adjusts your targets for the conditions you tell it about. Here is every rule, why we chose it, and the exact numbers the app gives for example profiles.

How the Base Number Is Calculated

Every adult target starts with the same four steps.

1. BMR (calories at rest). We use the Mifflin-St Jeor equation (Mifflin et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1990)^[3]. For women: 10 × weight in kg + 6.25 × height in cm − 5 × age − 161. For men the last number is +5 instead.
2. TDEE (maintenance calories). BMR times your activity level: 1.2 sedentary, 1.375 light (1–3 days a week), 1.55 moderate (3–5 days), 1.725 very active (6–7 days), 1.9 for athletes or physical jobs. These are the standard multipliers most calculators use with BMR equations; they do not come from a single study.
3. Deficit, if you want to lose weight. Your chosen pace in kg per week × 7,700 ÷ 7. So 0.5 kg a week is a 550 kcal daily deficit. 7,700 kcal per kg is a rough rule, and real weight loss slows over time, so treat any goal date as an estimate^[4]. Keeping the deficit between 300 and 1,100 kcal is our default.
4. Floors. We never go below 1,200 kcal for women or 1,500 kcal for men, the low end of the weight-loss diets in the US obesity guideline^[5]. Never more than 40% below your TDEE is our own default. If your BMI is under 17, which the WHO calls moderate thinness^[6], we set maintenance, not a deficit.

When you are losing weight, protein is 2.2 g per kg (capped at 35% of calories), fat is 0.9 g per kg (0.8 if the deficit is over 500 kcal) and carbs fill the rest, with a minimum of 50 g. At maintenance, protein is 1.8 g per kg and fat 1.0 g per kg. Protein's benefit for muscle levels off around 1.6 g per kg, with an upper limit near 2.2 g^[7], and higher intakes can help keep muscle in a deficit^[8]. The fat amounts and the 50 g carb minimum are our defaults; 50 g is below the 130 g adult carb RDA^[9], but it rarely applies.

Example, no condition: a 30-year-old woman, 70 kg, 160 cm, light activity, losing 0.5 kg a week. BMR 1,389, TDEE 1,909. Target 1,359 kcal, 118 g protein, 102 g carbs, 52 g fat. Run your own on the calorie calculator and protein calculator.

After any condition rule, carbs never drop below 50 g, and fat stays between the higher of 0.7 g/kg or 20% of calories, and 45%. The 20% is the bottom of the adult fat range of 20–35% of calories^[9]; the 0.7 g/kg and 45% limits are our defaults.

Pregnancy: Trimester by Trimester

The rule. In the first trimester there is no deficit: your target is at least your maintenance calories. In the second and third trimesters it is maintenance plus 350 kcal, never a deficit. Throughout pregnancy, protein is at least 1.1 g per kg and carbs at least 175 g.

Why. The +350 kcal comes from ICMR-NIN's Nutrient Requirements for Indians (2020), which adds 350 kcal a day in the second and third trimesters^[10]. The 1.1 g/kg protein and 175 g carb minimums are the US Institute of Medicine's Dietary Reference Intakes for pregnancy, which also add no extra energy in the first trimester^[9]. Pregnancy is not the time to lose weight: the goal is healthy weight gain, and the right amount depends on your BMI before pregnancy^[1].

Worked example. A 29-year-old woman, 60 kg, 160 cm, light activity. BMR 1,294, TDEE 1,779.

• Trimester 1: 1,779 kcal, 108 g protein, 201 g carbs, 60 g fat.
• Trimester 2, even though she had asked to lose 0.5 kg a week: 2,129 kcal, 132 g protein, 278 g carbs, 54 g fat.

350 kcal is roughly one roti, a katori of dal and a bowl of curd^[11]; no need to "eat for two". The app moves you to the next trimester every 13 weeks on its own, and after week 40 treats you as postpartum for a year.

Breastfeeding

The rule. Your goal calories plus 500 kcal, never lower than your maintenance + 500 − 550, and never below 1,800 kcal a day. Macros follow the normal defaults.

Why. Making milk costs energy: about 640 kcal a day above pre-pregnancy needs with exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months. Part of that comes from fat stored during pregnancy, so gradual weight loss is expected^[12]. ICMR-NIN adds 600 kcal a day for the first six months and 520 kcal for months 7 to 12^[10]; the US reference adds about 500 kcal in the first six months^[9]. We add 500 and allow gentle loss: in a trial, a 500 kcal a day deficit plus exercise from four weeks after birth did not affect babies' growth^[13]. The 1,800 kcal floor and the 550 kcal limit are our own safety defaults, not guideline figures.

Worked example. A 31-year-old woman, 68 kg, 162 cm, sedentary, asking to lose 0.5 kg a week while breastfeeding. BMR 1,376, TDEE 1,651. Target 1,800 kcal, 149 g protein, 163 g carbs, 61 g fat. The floor applies here.

Postpartum, Not Breastfeeding

The rule. For the first year after birth, the deficit is at most 550 kcal a day, about 0.5 kg a week.

Why. We chose a gentler pace while you recover from birth. The 550 kcal cap is our default, at the gentle end of the 500–750 kcal a day deficit in the US obesity guideline^[5].

Worked example. The same woman, not breastfeeding, asking for 0.75 kg a week. Target 1,200 kcal, 105 g protein, 90 g carbs, 46 g fat: the deficit is capped, then the women's 1,200 kcal floor applies.

Trying to Conceive

The rule. The deficit is at most 550 kcal a day, however fast a pace you ask for.

Why. We keep a gentle deficit, so you can still lose weight before pregnancy if you want to. The 550 kcal cap is our default, at the gentle end of the 500–750 kcal a day range in the US obesity guideline^[5] and the PCOS guideline^[14].

Worked example. A 33-year-old woman, 75 kg, 165 cm, moderate activity, asking for 1 kg a week. BMR 1,455, TDEE 2,255. Her 1,100 kcal deficit is held to 550, so the target is 1,705 kcal, 149 g protein, 142 g carbs, 60 g fat.

Diabetes

The rule. Calories are worked out as usual. Carbs are capped at 40% of calories.

Why. The American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025 says there is no single ideal percentage of calories from carbohydrate, protein or fat, and that eating plans should be individualised^[15]. A 2019 consensus report in Diabetes Care adds that reducing overall carbohydrate has the most evidence for improving blood sugar^[2]. The 40% cap is our conservative default, a ceiling rather than a strict low-carb diet; it is not a guideline number.

Worked examples.

• A 45-year-old woman, 80 kg, 165 cm, sedentary, losing 0.5 kg a week. BMR 1,445, TDEE 1,734. Target 1,200 kcal, 105 g protein, 69 g carbs, 56 g fat.
• A 50-year-old man, 90 kg, 175 cm, moderate activity, losing 0.5 kg a week. BMR 1,748, TDEE 2,709. Target 2,159 kcal, 188 g protein, 189 g carbs, 72 g fat.

In both, carbs land under the cap. Spread them across the day, with dal, sabzi and a protein source at each meal. If you take fixed insulin doses, keeping carb timing and amounts consistent helps^[2]. Our Indian diabetes diet plan turns this into meals.

PCOS

The rule. Calories are worked out as usual. Protein is 2.2 g per kg (capped at 35% of calories) and carbs are capped at 35% of calories.

Why. The International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS (Teede et al., 2023) found no diet type better than another for PCOS. It advises a balanced diet, with an energy deficit if you want to lose weight, and notes that losing 5–10% of body weight improves symptoms^[16]. The 2018 version suggested a deficit of 30%, or 500–750 kcal a day^[14]. The 2.2 g/kg protein and 35% carb cap are our defaults: we chose a lower-carb, higher-protein split because many women find it filling and it fits a deficit. A balanced diet with the same calories is equally valid under the guideline.

Worked example. A 27-year-old woman, 72 kg, 158 cm, light activity, losing 0.5 kg a week. BMR 1,411, TDEE 1,940. Target 1,390 kcal, 121 g protein, 104 g carbs, 54 g fat.

See our PCOS diet plan for Indian women and the PCOS exercise guide.

PCOS and Diabetes Together

The rule. You get the PCOS protein target, and the lower of the two carb caps wins, so carbs stay at or below 35% of calories. Calories do not change.

How to Tell the App About a Condition

• During onboarding. The "Pregnancy or Postpartum" question asks: trimester 1, 2 or 3; postpartum and breastfeeding; postpartum and not breastfeeding; trying to conceive; or none. The "Chronic conditions" question includes diabetes and PCOS.
• Through the AI coach. Tell it in chat, for example "I'm 14 weeks pregnant". It shows every current condition plus the change, saves only after you confirm, and never removes a condition you did not ask it to remove.

When a condition changes your target, you see a one-line reason, such as "Adjusted for pregnancy: +350 kcal for your trimester." or "Adjusted for diabetes: carbs capped at 40%."

What the App Does Not Do

• It does not read your notes for conditions. Only conditions you tick or confirm count.
• It is not medical advice. These are starting targets, not treatment.
• Insulin, medication and high-risk pregnancy. If you take glucose-lowering medicine, or your pregnancy is high-risk (twins, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia), follow your doctor's plan over the app's numbers.
• Human coaches can override. A coach on UltraFit360 can still set your numbers by hand.
• Men: only the diabetes rule applies.
• Teens: under-18s get stricter teen limits, including at most 1.6 g per kg of protein. Our website calculators are for adults only.

All Conditions Compared

P = protein, C = carbs, F = fat, in grams. Profiles are described in each section above.

Sources

Numbers marked as our defaults are UltraFit360's own cautious choices within published ranges, not values from these sources.

1. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines. National Academies Press; 2009. doi.org/10.17226/12584
2. Evert AB, Dennison M, Gardner CD, et al. Nutrition Therapy for Adults With Diabetes or Prediabetes: A Consensus Report. Diabetes Care. 2019;42(5):731-754. doi.org/10.2337/dci19-0014
3. Mifflin MD, St Jeor ST, Hill LA, et al. A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;51(2):241-247. doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/51.2.241
4. Hall KD. What is the required energy deficit per unit weight loss? Int J Obes. 2008;32(3):573-576. doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803720
5. Jensen MD, Ryan DH, et al. 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS Guideline for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. Circulation. 2014;129(25 Suppl 2):S102-S138. doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.0000437739.71477.ee
6. World Health Organization. Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a WHO Expert Committee. WHO Technical Report Series 854. 1995. iris.who.int/handle/10665/37003
7. Morton RW, Murphy KT, McKellar SR, et al. A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(6):376-384. doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097608
8. Jäger R, Kerksick CM, Campbell BI, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:20. doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8
9. Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. National Academies Press; 2005. doi.org/10.17226/10490
10. ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition. Nutrient Requirements for Indians: Recommended Dietary Allowances and Estimated Average Requirements. 2020. www.nin.res.in/rdabook/brief_note.pdf
11. Longvah T, Ananthan R, Bhaskarachary K, Venkaiah K. Indian Food Composition Tables 2017. ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition.
12. Institute of Medicine. Nutrition During Lactation. National Academies Press; 1991. doi.org/10.17226/1577
13. Lovelady CA, Garner KE, Moreno KL, Williams JP. The effect of weight loss in overweight, lactating women on the growth of their infants. N Engl J Med. 2000;342(7):449-453. doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200002173420701
14. Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, et al. Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2018;33(9):1602-1618. doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dey256
15. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 5. Facilitating Positive Health Behaviors and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(Suppl 1). doi.org/10.2337/dc25-S005
16. Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, et al. Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2023;38(9):1655-1679. doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dead156

More in our nutrition guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many extra calories do I need in the second trimester?

About 350 kcal a day, per ICMR-NIN's Nutrient Requirements for Indians (2020), in both the second and third trimesters^[10]. UltraFit360 sets maintenance plus 350 kcal and never a deficit. The first trimester needs no extra calories^[9], but no deficit either.

How many carbs should a diabetic eat per day?

There is no single right number; the American Diabetes Association says it should be individualised^[15]. UltraFit360 caps carbs at 40% of calories as its own cautious default, so a 1,500 kcal target allows up to 150 g. On insulin or other glucose-lowering medicine, follow your doctor's plan.

Can I lose weight while breastfeeding?

Slow, gradual loss is usually fine: in a trial, a 500 kcal a day deficit plus exercise from four weeks after birth did not affect babies' growth^[13]. UltraFit360 adds 500 kcal to your goal calories and never goes below 1,800 kcal a day, our own safety floor, so any loss stays gentle.

Is a calorie deficit safe while trying to conceive?

UltraFit360 keeps a modest deficit but limits it to 550 kcal a day, however fast a pace you ask for. That cap is our default, at the gentle end of the 500–750 kcal range in the US obesity guideline^[5].

What macros are best for PCOS?

The 2023 international PCOS guideline found no diet type better than another^[16]. UltraFit360's default uses higher protein (2.2 g per kg, up to 35% of calories) and caps carbs at 35% of calories, because many women find it filling and it fits a deficit. A balanced diet with the same calories is equally valid.

Does the app change my numbers if I mention a condition in my notes?

No. Only conditions you select in onboarding or confirm with the AI coach in chat count. Free-text notes are not read for conditions.

General information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet or any medicine.