How to control gestational diabetes

Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
Updated on December 15, 2024
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Gestational diabetes refers to the onset of diabetes during pregnancy, or the first detection of varying degrees of hyperglycemia, including glucose intolerance and diabetes that were not identified before pregnancy. The risks of gestational diabetes are more severe in patients with serious conditions or poor blood sugar control, as it can easily lead to miscarriage and preterm birth, infections, and in severe cases, ketoacidosis. So, how can gestational diabetes be controlled? It can be managed through dietary control and insulin treatment. Dietary control is crucial; the ideal dietary management aims to ensure and meet the caloric and nutritional needs during pregnancy while preventing hyperglycemia or ketosis due to starvation, ensuring normal fetal growth and development. For cases where dietary management is insufficient to control diabetes, insulin is the primary medication. (Please seek professional medical guidance before using any medication, and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
1min 7sec home-news-image

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 Li Ping
Endocrinology
59sec home-news-image

Will gestational diabetes get better?

Gestational diabetes refers to diabetes that appears or is diagnosed during pregnancy and is a distinct type of diabetes. Many women with gestational diabetes may see their blood sugar levels return to normal after delivery as insulin resistance diminishes. It is recommended to conduct an OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) screening six weeks after childbirth, as the majority of women with gestational diabetes will have normal fasting blood glucose or OGTT values at six weeks postpartum. Approximately 25% to 70% of women with gestational diabetes may develop diabetes again within 16 to 25 years after delivery. Therefore, it is essential to continue monitoring the patient's blood glucose postpartum and to screen early for diabetes.

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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 Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?

Diabetes during pregnancy, compared to diabetes outside of pregnancy, still presents symptoms such as polydipsia, polyphagia, and polyuria, but does not manifest as weight loss. Due to the increase in body weight from the enlarging uterus, fetus, and amniotic fluid during pregnancy, signs of weight loss are not evident. There are generally two types of diabetes in pregnancy. One is when diabetes pre-exists before pregnancy, which is termed diabetes mellitus with pregnancy; the other is when blood sugar levels were normal before pregnancy and diabetes develops during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes. Over 90% of pregnant women with diabetes have gestational diabetes. Those with gestational diabetes have abnormal glucose metabolism, but most can return to normal after childbirth; however, the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future increases.

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Written by Chen Kai
Endocrinology
39sec home-news-image

How to control diet in gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels found during pregnancy in individuals who did not previously have diabetes. Overall, dietary control for gestational diabetes is similar to that for typical diabetes patients. It involves avoiding high-calorie, high-sugar, and fried foods. It is advisable to consume more fruits and vegetables, as well as foods with a lower glycemic index. Increasing the intake of whole grains and mixed grains is recommended, while nuts such as peanuts and sunflower seeds should be limited. Foods should be steamed rather than boiled, and fried foods must be strictly avoided.