What to eat after gestational diabetes

Written by Xu Dong Dong
Endocrinology
Updated on June 22, 2025
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Patients with gestational diabetes should also pay attention to diet management after childbirth, avoiding overly greasy foods. Do not consume high-fat or high-sugar foods, and avoid porridge. A light diet is recommended, including frequent consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, and high-quality proteins. You can eat up to one pound of vegetables a day, primarily green leafy vegetables. For fruits, it's suggested to choose those with a low glycemic index and low sugar content, such as apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, grapefruits, oranges, etc. Protein intake can also be appropriately increased by consuming more lean meats, fish, shrimp, eggs, and drinking more milk, while regularly monitoring blood glucose levels. Most patients with gestational diabetes experience a decrease in blood glucose levels after childbirth, and dietary adjustments can be made based on blood glucose readings.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
1min 7sec home-news-image

Gestational diabetes manifestations

Gestational diabetes refers to hyperglycemia that either develops or is first identified during pregnancy, including previously unrecognized glucose intolerance and diabetes prior to pregnancy. Typical symptoms of gestational diabetes include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger, or recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. High vigilance for gestational diabetes is warranted if the pregnant woman weighs over 90 kilograms, or if the current pregnancy is complicated by excessive amniotic fluid or a macrosomic fetus. The danger of this condition is that, in severe cases or where blood sugar control is poor, it can easily lead to miscarriage and preterm birth, as well as infections, and in severe cases, may lead to ketoacidosis. Treatment involves two aspects: one is dietary control, and for patients who cannot control their diet effectively, insulin treatment can be used. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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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 Zhang Chun Yun
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What to eat for a snack when hungry during gestational diabetes?

If you are hungry with gestational diabetes, you can eat some sugar-free biscuits, or some foods specified within the range of the doctor's medical orders. However, it is important to remember that dietary control is very crucial for diabetes patients, particularly during pregnancy. Some pregnant women with gestational diabetes may only need dietary control to maintain normal blood glucose levels, but it is also essential to ensure the nutrition of the mother and fetus, maintain normal blood sugar levels, prevent ketoacidosis, maintain normal weight, prevent weight gain, and control the blood sugar level under 8 mmol/L one hour after meals. In addition, it is necessary to supplement with calcium, folic acid, and iron daily, specifically according to the doctor's medical orders.

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Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
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Are there many people with gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is increasingly common now as living standards improve, and there is more attention on pregnant women from their families. Often, out of fear of malnutrition during pregnancy, there is a tendency to over-nourish and overeat, leading to significant weight gain around the 24th to 26th weeks of pregnancy. Upon examination, it is discovered that their blood sugar levels are elevated, indicating gestational diabetes. Although gestational diabetes is becoming more widespread, the blood sugar levels are usually not extremely high. Therefore, such patients can often manage their condition through diet control and encouraging appropriate exercise for pregnant women. Thus, pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes should not be overly stressed psychologically.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
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Impact of gestational diabetes on the fetus and pregnant women

The effects of gestational diabetes on the mother mainly include an increased risk of miscarriage, concurrent conditions such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, as well as the potential for diabetic ketoacidosis. The presence of a large fetus can lead to difficult labor, damage to the birth canal, prolonged surgical delivery, and an increased likelihood of postpartum hemorrhage. Additionally, women with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing the condition again in future pregnancies. In terms of long-term effects, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes significantly increases after experiencing gestational diabetes. For the fetus, the impacts of gestational diabetes primarily manifest as an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage, congenital anomalies, and abnormal development. There is also a heightened risk of hyperinsulinemia, which can even affect the proper development and maturity of the fetal lungs, leading to delays. After birth, conditions such as hypoglycemia and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome are more likely to occur. In the long term, offspring of women with gestational diabetes are at higher risk for glucose intolerance, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. These conditions significantly increase the risks to the cardiovascular system and can affect neuromotor development.