Can pregnant women with gestational diabetes eat grapes?

Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
Updated on January 29, 2025
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Fruits are natural vitamins, and consuming fruits appropriately during pregnancy is extremely significant for supplementing vitamins, which can promote fetal growth.

Patients with gestational diabetes are not entirely forbidden from eating fruits; however, it's essential to control the intake of fruits, ideally between 100 to 150 grams per day. Grapes are not completely off-limits, but since grapes have a high sugar content, if consumed, the quantity should be controlled to avoid eating too much. Opting for fruits like kiwis and apples, which have lower sugar content, is a better choice for those with gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes can affect both the pregnant woman and the fetus. For the pregnant woman, it can increase the rate of miscarriages and is likely to complicate with gestational hypertension. Lowered immunity can lead to infections, particularly urinary and reproductive system infections, may cause excessive amniotic fluid, and increase the likelihood of difficult labor due to a larger baby. The impact on the fetus can lead to congenital disabilities, a significantly large baby, or restricted fetal growth, so it is crucial to control blood sugar levels during pregnancy. While ensuring the pregnant woman is not hungry, insulin can be used when necessary to maintain stable blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

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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 Xu Dong Dong
Endocrinology
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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.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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Gestational diabetes hazards

The hazards of gestational diabetes: So, what is gestational diabetes? It refers to the onset of varying degrees of hyperglycemia during pregnancy, or its first detection, including previously undetected glucose tolerance abnormalities and diabetes before pregnancy. However, pregnancies in diabetic patients are not included in this category, and should be referred to as diabetes complicating pregnancy. The main dangers of gestational diabetes are that it can jeopardize the health of both the fetus and the mother. The effects and hazards to offspring mainly manifest as an increased risk of fetal intrauterine death, congenital anomalies, and complications. There is also an increased risk of macrosomia, and an increased incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia, jaundice, polycythemia, and hypocalcemia. Additionally, the risk of obesity, glucose tolerance abnormalities, and diabetes significantly increases in offspring during adolescence or young adulthood.

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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 Kai
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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.