What should people with gestational diabetes eat?

Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
Updated on April 20, 2025
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For patients with various types of diabetes, the general principle of dietary control is low salt, low fat, and a diabetes-specific diet. This means that fats and calories must be controlled. However, pregnancy is a special period that requires an adequate intake of nutrients to meet the needs of the fetus. Therefore, gestational diabetes should be managed based on one's nutritional status, and, after evaluating one's condition, sufficient high-quality protein should be supplemented. It is advisable not to consume fats, such as chicken, duck, fish, and meat, but cooking methods should be chosen carefully. Fish can be consumed steamed, and meat can be steamed or stewed, as these meats are sources of protein. However, soup should not be consumed as it is particularly high in fat. Additionally, foods like pig's feet or animal organs, which have high cholesterol levels, should be consumed in moderation. The overall principle is the same as for diabetes, but it is essential to ensure the pregnant woman's nutritional needs are met and that the fetal weight gradually increases as the pregnancy progresses. Of course, if insulin intervention is needed to some extent, insulin must be used to keep blood sugar levels within the required range.

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Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
1min 30sec home-news-image

What should people with gestational diabetes eat?

For patients with various types of diabetes, the general principle of dietary control is low salt, low fat, and a diabetes-specific diet. This means that fats and calories must be controlled. However, pregnancy is a special period that requires an adequate intake of nutrients to meet the needs of the fetus. Therefore, gestational diabetes should be managed based on one's nutritional status, and, after evaluating one's condition, sufficient high-quality protein should be supplemented. It is advisable not to consume fats, such as chicken, duck, fish, and meat, but cooking methods should be chosen carefully. Fish can be consumed steamed, and meat can be steamed or stewed, as these meats are sources of protein. However, soup should not be consumed as it is particularly high in fat. Additionally, foods like pig's feet or animal organs, which have high cholesterol levels, should be consumed in moderation. The overall principle is the same as for diabetes, but it is essential to ensure the pregnant woman's nutritional needs are met and that the fetal weight gradually increases as the pregnancy progresses. Of course, if insulin intervention is needed to some extent, insulin must be used to keep blood sugar levels within the required range.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
50sec home-news-image

Does gestational diabetes require hospitalization?

Patients with gestational diabetes who initially have adequate blood sugar control do not need to be hospitalized; however, those with poor blood sugar control require further hospitalization for observation and treatment. In addition to diet and exercise, medication control such as insulin therapy is currently recommended for managing blood sugar in gestational diabetes. Insulin therapy must be used under strict medical supervision to avoid hypoglycemia. Since both high and low blood sugar levels can have a dual impact on pregnant women and fetuses, the need for hospitalization for patients with gestational diabetes mainly depends on their blood sugar levels.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
57sec home-news-image

Do you need insulin for gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes refers to the elevated blood glucose levels found during pregnancy. For patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes, we first need to control diet and exercise to manage blood sugar levels, maintaining fasting blood glucose between 4.0-5.3 mmol/L and postprandial (two hours after meals) blood glucose between 4.4-6.7 mmol/L. If blood sugar control can be achieved through diet and exercise, insulin treatment is not required. However, if blood sugar levels still do not meet the standards through diet and exercise, exceeding the figures mentioned earlier, insulin treatment is necessary. For patients receiving insulin treatment, it poses no harm to either the fetus or the mother. In fact, when blood sugar is well-controlled, it can actually reduce the risks associated with gestational diabetes.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
50sec home-news-image

Steps for Gestational Diabetes Testing

The screening steps for gestational diabetes involve, for most women, the recommendation to undergo a 75-gram glucose tolerance test at the hospital between 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. The method includes fasting blood draw, consuming 75 grams of glucose, and monitoring blood sugar levels one hour and two hours after glucose intake, to determine the presence of gestational diabetes. However, for pregnant women at high risk for diabetes, it is recommended to complete the 75-gram glucose tolerance test early in pregnancy to detect gestational diabetes early and initiate treatment promptly to reduce the risks to both the fetus and the mother.

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Written by Chen Li Ping
Endocrinology
47sec home-news-image

Does gestational diabetes cause itching in the vulva?

During gestational diabetes, white blood cells have various functional defects, reduced chemotaxis, phagocytic action, and bactericidal activity. This can easily lead to infections during pregnancy or childbirth, and even develop into sepsis, often caused by bacteria or fungi. Therefore, when blood sugar is not controlled in gestational diabetes, there may be symptoms like vulvar itching, or even infections of the urinary or reproductive systems. If the infection is not further treated, it may cause preterm birth, or even septic shock. Therefore, in gestational diabetes, it is crucial to actively control blood sugar and prevent infections.