How to eat after giving birth for gestational diabetes

Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
Updated on May 12, 2025
00:00
00:00

Patients with gestational diabetes need to be careful with their diet even after giving birth, during the period known in Chinese tradition as "sitting the month." During this time, it is customary for Chinese women to consume large amounts of animal protein, including soups that are believed to help with milk production. However, patients with gestational diabetes should still control their intake, opting for low-fat and low-salt options. Traditional dishes like pig's trotters stewed with soybeans, which are high in fat, are not recommended for patients, as their effectiveness in promoting milk production is minimal. After childbirth, patients can instead focus on consuming high-quality proteins such as lean meats and milk, which are encouraged.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Dong Dong
Endocrinology
42sec home-news-image

Can you eat melon seeds with gestational diabetes?

Patients with gestational diabetes can eat sunflower seeds, but the amount must be controlled and should not be excessive. Each serving should be a small handful, as sunflower seeds contain a high amount of fat. Consuming too much can lead to increased blood sugar and lipids, which is not conducive to controlling blood sugar. When eating sunflower seeds, try to choose plain raw or roasted sunflower seeds, and avoid those with sweet flavors or other heavy flavorings added. Patients with gestational diabetes can also eat nuts in moderation, but the amount should be controlled to about the equivalent of two large walnuts per day, and it is best to consume them between meals.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
1min 2sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
1min 10sec home-news-image

How to control gestational diabetes

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Dong Dong
Endocrinology
46sec home-news-image

Can you eat cherries if you have gestational diabetes?

Patients with gestational diabetes can eat cherries. Cherries have a relatively low sugar content and glycemic index, so eating them will not cause significant fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Additionally, cherries are rich in trace elements, particularly high in iron content, and consuming cherries can help supplement iron. Patients with gestational diabetes can eat cherries in moderation, but they should not consume too much at once, and it is recommended to eat between meals. There are also other fruits with low glycemic indices that patients with gestational diabetes can eat appropriately, such as apples, peaches, pears, oranges, and grapefruits.