What should pregnant women with diabetes eat?

Written by Zhao Li Li

Obstetrics

Updated on April 25, 2025

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If a pregnant woman has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, it is still necessary to decide what food to eat based on the specific blood sugar levels. If the current blood sugar level is relatively stable, she can follow a diabetic diet, eat smaller meals more frequently, and consume more fresh fruits and vegetables. It's important to avoid foods that cause high blood sugar, and it is essential to walk or engage in appropriate exercise 30 minutes after eating to help metabolize the blood sugar. However, if the blood sugar remains high and does not decrease significantly, insulin might be needed to lower the blood sugar levels.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi

Endocrinology

51sec

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Diabetic foot prevention care

First of all, it's important to keep blood sugar under control. It's recommended that people with diabetes check their glycated hemoglobin every three months to see if their blood sugar levels meet the standards. Second, many patients suffer from diabetic foot due to severe diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Injuries such as stepping on a nail or accidental bumps may lead to infections. Therefore, it's suggested that patients with diabetes check their feet daily for any small wounds or ulcers, and if found, they should seek timely treatment from an endocrinology specialist. Third, using warm water for foot baths and treatments like local infrared lamp therapy are advised. It's important to ensure that the temperature is not too high, generally around 40 degrees Celsius, to avoid burning the skin.

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Written by Luo Han Ying

Endocrinology

1min 4sec

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Diabetes dietary taboo fruits

Many patients have a misconception after being diagnosed with diabetes; they think that fruits are sweet and they should avoid all fruits. This statement is half right—fruits are indeed sweet, but not all fruits are off-limits. Diabetes patients can still consume fruits, provided that they pay attention to the quantity and type of fruit they eat. First, let’s discuss the fruits that should not be eaten by diabetic patients, which are those high in simple sugars. Consuming these fruits can cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. Examples include dates, whether dry or fresh, longans, whether dry or fresh, lychees, whether dry or fresh, and bananas, which all have very high sugar content. These fruits are not recommended for diabetic patients; on the other hand, fruits like kiwis, cherries, kumquats, and grapefruits are generally suggested as suitable for diabetic patients.

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Written by Zhou Yan

Geriatrics

56sec

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Symptoms of diabetes in the elderly

Elderly diabetes often begins inconspicuously, lacking the typical symptoms of excessive thirst, urination, hunger, and weight loss. It can present with various complications such as diarrhea, constipation, urinary retention, limb numbness, skin itching, and shoulder joint pain. Elderly diabetics often have concurrent infections, particularly in the respiratory and urinary systems, as well as cholecystitis and skin infections. They may also suffer from ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemia syndrome, and coexist with multiple chronic diseases of old age such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. They require different types of medications and are susceptible to hypoglycemia, making timely diagnosis and treatment challenging. These are the symptoms of diabetes in the elderly.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi

Endocrinology

1min 2sec

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Causes of diabetic foot

The main causes of diabetic foot are as follows: The first one is poor blood sugar control in patients. Some patients have long neglected their blood sugar levels, leading to consistently high levels. The second cause is vascular disease in the lower limbs of the patient, including arteriosclerosis, with severe cases leading to occlusion and subsequent ulceration of the feet. The third reason is the presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients, which results in abnormal sensations or numbness in the feet. Many patients wearing new shoes or stepping on sharp objects inadvertently can lead to diabetic foot. The fourth cause is infection induced by patients who initially neglect minor foot injuries, or who improperly manage such injuries at home, leading to the development of diabetic foot. Therefore, we advise diabetics to maintain good control of their blood sugar and take timely measures to prevent diabetic foot.

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Written by Chen Li Ping

Endocrinology

1min 13sec

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What is gestational diabetes like?

Gestational diabetes refers to diabetes that appears during pregnancy, or is detected during pregnancy, or is an abnormal glucose tolerance of any degree. Gestational diabetes affects both the pregnant mother and the fetus. Although the mortality rate of pregnant women with gestational diabetes has significantly decreased, complications are still quite common. It may increase the rate of spontaneous miscarriages and preterm births for fetuses. Secondly, it can cause fetal or neonatal death, and intrauterine growth retardation. Thirdly, it leads to excessive amniotic fluid and macrosomia, and may result in neonatal polycythemia, fetal malformations, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal hypoglycemia, as well as neonatal hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. For the mother, it can lead to pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, infections during pregnancy or childbirth, and in severe cases, diabetic ketoacidosis.