During pregnancy, women’s metabolism changes. This can temporarily raise their blood sugar levels. When certain levels are exceeded, the woman is diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Being extremely overweight, having diabetic relatives, and having diabetes in a previous pregnancy are all risk factors.
Some women can avoid gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) by getting enough exercise and making dietary changes. However, it is unclear whether this prevents complications during pregnancy and childbirth. A healthy, all-around diet that reduces inflammation in the body lowers the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, according to a new study.
Obesity is a major risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus, and an increasing number of pregnant women are overweight or obese. Obesity and the onset of gestational diabetes mellitus are both influenced by dietary habits.
The mother-child study, which took place at the University of Turku and Turku University Hospital in Finland, looked at the relationship between dietary intake and the onset of gestational diabetes in 351 overweight or obese women.
It’s especially important to eat vegetables, fruit, berries, and wholegrain products, as well as unsaturated fats. These nutrients and foods lower body inflammation and, as a result, the risk of gestational diabetes. Our findings show that eating a healthy diet early in pregnancy reduces the risk of gestational diabetes.
Lotta Pajunen
The nutrient intake of the women was calculated using food diaries, and two dietary patterns, a healthier and an unhealthier dietary pattern, were identified. In addition, a diet quality index was used to describe the overall quality of the diet in comparison to what was recommended, and a dietary inflammatory index was used to describe the inflammatory potential.
“Our findings show that eating a healthy diet early in pregnancy reduces the risk of gestational diabetes,” says first author Lotta Pajunen of the University of Turku’s Institute of Biomedicine.
During pregnancy, women are generally advised to eat a well-balanced diet. This means eating a diverse diet rather than a lot of the same type of food, so the baby gets all the nutrients he or she requires. Most women can simply rely on their appetite and do not require a special diet.
According to the research so far, only women who are overweight or obese benefit from dietary changes. They can reduce their risk of gestational diabetes by making dietary changes with the assistance of a professional dietitian or nutritionist. Dietary changes can help them control their blood sugar levels and gain less weight during pregnancy. In women who have a normal weight, dietary changes don’t have a preventive effect.
Diet that increases body’s inflammation heightens the risk of gestational diabetes
A higher dietary inflammatory index, defined as a diet that raises low-grade inflammatory markers in the body, was also linked to an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus, according to the study. Furthermore, a higher intake of fat, particularly saturated fat, was linked to gestational diabetes. This is significant because saturated fat consumption is known to increase inflammation in the body.
The study employed a number of methods to investigate dietary intake during early pregnancy. These studies found that a health-promoting diet is associated with a lower risk of developing gestational diabetes.
According to research, dietary supplements containing myo-inositol may lower the risk of gestational diabetes. One possible explanation for this potential effect is that myo-inositol improves the efficiency of insulin. However, it is unclear whether taking myo-inositol supplements can also reduce the risk of the potential consequences of gestational diabetes, such as birth complications. From the first trimester of pregnancy until the birth of their child, the women in the studies took 2 g of myo-inositol once a day. The majority of them were obese.
“It’s especially important to eat vegetables, fruit, berries, and wholegrain products, as well as unsaturated fats. These nutrients and foods lower body inflammation and, as a result, the risk of gestational diabetes. Mothers who are overweight or obese prior to pregnancy would most likely benefit from dietary advice during the first trimester” Associate Professor in Nutrition Kirsi Laitinen of the University of Turku, who is also the PI of the study’s Early Nutrition and Health research group, says.
