Eating a Diet High in Fiber Helps Prevent Gestational Diabetes

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Dietary fiber intake, dietary glycemic load, and the risk for gestational diabetes mellitus, by C. Zhang and colleagues. Diabetes Care 29:2223-2230, 2006.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Gestational diabetes is one of the most common complications of pregnancy.

Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood glucose levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes often results in high-birthweight babies and makes women more likely to get type 2 diabetes later in life.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

There have been many studies that have shown how one’s diet can affect one’s risk for getting type 2 diabetes. However, only a few studies have looked at how a woman’s diet affects her risk for getting gestational diabetes.

Many studies have shown that diets high in fiber (through cereal, fruits, and vegetables) help people keep weight off and lead healthier lives. The researchers wanted to look at whether dietary fiber intake and glycemic load were related to a woman’s risk for getting gestational diabetes.

“Dietary glycemic load” refers to the amount of carbohydrates one eats and whether those carbs are easy to digest. A low-glycemic-load diet, one that contains carbs that are easy to digest, is better at helping dieters keep weight off. Low-glycemic-load foods include prunes, barley, beans, apples, and other foods.

How was the study done?

The researchers reviewed the responses to questionnaires of more than 13,000 women who took part in the Nurses’ Health Study II. This study was established in 1989. As part of this study, more than 100,000 women respond to mailed questionnaires related to health, diet, and lifestyle every two years.

What did the researchers find?

Women who ate a high-fiber diet prior to becoming pregnant were less likely to get gestational diabetes. Specifically, every 10 grams of total daily fiber intake reduced the risk of gestational diabetes by 26%.

The study also found that women who ate high-glycemic-load diets and low-dietary-fiber diets were twice as likely to get gestational diabetes.

What are the limitations to the study?

The study relied on “self-reports” (responses to questionnaires), which can occasionally result in inaccurate information from a responder.

What are the implications of the study?

Women who eat a high-fiber diet (fruit, cold breakfast cereal, and dark bread) prior to becoming pregnant are less likely to get gestational diabetes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Gestational Diabetes

Nutrition and Recipes

Gestational Diabetes: What to Expect, 5th Edition