Dietary Guidance for Gestational Diabetes

Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
Updated on August 31, 2024
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The dietary principles for gestational diabetes are consistent with those for non-pregnant diabetes. Firstly, the total daily caloric intake should be balanced, with carbohydrates accounting for 50%-60%, proteins for 15%-20%, and fats for 20%-30%. The overall principle is to eat smaller, more frequent meals, ideally adding two to three snacks to the three main meals per day. Common foods primarily include milk, proteins, egg whites, and fruits. Then, generally maintain the level of diet before pregnancy without overly restricting it. It is advisable to consume a significant amount of vegetables, no less than 500 grams daily, to supplement vitamins and fiber.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
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Can pregnant women with gestational diabetes eat dragon fruit?

For patients with gestational diabetes, it is permissible to eat dragon fruit. Since dragon fruit contains relatively low sugar levels, it can be consumed. However, it should not be eaten in excess, as excessive consumption can still lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels. In the treatment of gestational diabetes, we should not cause the pregnant woman's weight to decrease, hence a low-calorie treatment is not advocated. Generally, the total calories are calculated based on standard weight, approximately 30 to 35 kcal per kilogram of body weight per day. Sugars should make up about 50%, proteins 20%-25%, and fats 25%-30%. It is best to divide these into three main meals and three snacks, adjusting the proportion and calorie content of the diet according to body type. Therefore, patients with gestational diabetes can eat dragon fruit, and it can be consumed as a snack between main meals.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
1min 17sec home-news-image

Can pregnant women with gestational diabetes eat pumpkin?

The general principle for dietary control in patients with gestational diabetes is to manage total calorie intake and to eat smaller, more frequent meals. Eating five to six meals a day can not only help control blood sugar levels but also reduce the occurrence of hypoglycemia. Additionally, it is important for patients with gestational diabetes to eat less of foods that can rapidly increase blood sugar levels, as well as those high in sugar, starch, and fat content since these can easily convert into glucose, causing a rise in blood sugar. Pumpkin, for example, is a food high in carbohydrates and should be consumed in limited quantities. However, this does not mean it cannot be eaten at all. For patients with gestational diabetes, if pumpkin is consumed, it is necessary to reduce the intake of staple foods and rice, treating the pumpkin as a staple food substitute to maintain a balance of total calories and to prevent significant fluctuations in blood sugar, thus keeping it stable.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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Gestational diabetes symptoms

Gestational diabetes refers to the onset or first-time detection of varying degrees of hyperglycemia during pregnancy, including pre-pregnancy unrecognized glucose intolerance and diabetes. Typical clinical symptoms of gestational diabetes include polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, or recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. If the pregnant woman's weight is greater than or equal to 90 kilograms, and the current pregnancy is complicated by excessive amniotic fluid or macrosomia, there is also a high suspicion of gestational diabetes. In severe cases or those with poor blood sugar control, not only is there an increased risk of preterm labor but also miscarriage, and in severe cases, ketoacidosis may occur.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
1min 23sec home-news-image

Can gestational diabetes be inherited by the baby?

Gestational diabetes refers to hyperglycemia that starts or is first identified during pregnancy, including previously undiagnosed glucose intolerance and diabetes before pregnancy. Although most patients’ blood sugar levels may return to normal after delivery, whether or not it normalizes postpartum, it is considered gestational diabetes. The harm during pregnancy endangers the health of both the fetus and the mother. The effects on offspring mainly manifest in the following ways: First, it increases the risk of complications such as fetal intrauterine death and congenital anomalies. Second, the risk of giving birth to a large baby is increased. Third, the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia, jaundice, polycythemia, and hypocalcemia increases. Fourth, the risk of obesity, glucose intolerance, and diabetes increases during adolescence and young adulthood. Therefore, while gestational diabetes is not inherited by the baby, it does increase the risk of obesity, glucose intolerance, and diabetes in the baby during adolescence or young adulthood.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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Gestational diabetes standard values

Standards for gestational diabetes, so what is gestational diabetes? It refers to diabetes that either develops during pregnancy or is first detected at this stage, presenting varying degrees of hyperglycemia, including previously unrecognized glucose intolerance or diabetes prior to pregnancy. Pregnancies in known diabetic patients are not included in this category, and may also be referred to as diabetes complicating pregnancy. So, how is gestational diabetes diagnosed? We can conduct a 75g anhydrous glucose tolerance test, where a fasting blood glucose greater than or equal to 5.1 mmol/L, and blood glucose greater than 10 mmol/L one hour after, meets the criteria to diagnose gestational diabetes.