How to control diet in gestational diabetes

Written by Chen Kai
Endocrinology
Updated on December 10, 2024
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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.

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Gestational diabetes standard values

The screening for gestational diabetes should be conducted between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. This includes a 75g glucose test, where 75 grams of anhydrous glucose is dissolved in water and consumed within five minutes on an empty stomach. This test monitors fasting blood sugar, blood sugar one hour after the meal, and blood sugar two hours after the meal. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made if any of the following criteria are met or exceeded: fasting blood sugar is greater than or equal to 5.1 mmol/L, blood sugar one hour after the meal is greater than or equal to 10 mmol/L, and blood sugar two hours after the meal is greater than or equal to 8.5 mmol/L.

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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.

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Gestational diabetes screening time

The screening time for gestational diabetes refers to all pregnant women undergoing a 75-gram glucose tolerance test between 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy to measure blood sugar levels and determine the presence of gestational diabetes. However, for pregnant women at high risk, including those with a history of gestational diabetes, delivery of a large fetus, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, a family history of diabetes, positive urinary glucose in early pregnancy, or unexplained recurrent miscarriages, fetal malformations, stillbirths, or even a history of childbirth with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, blood sugar should be monitored as early as possible to understand the situation.

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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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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.