# Diet for gestational diabetes

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-for-gestational-diabetes/450279>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 22, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-for-gestational-diabetes/450279 "2008-05-22T19:58:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-for-gestational-diabetes/450279/1 "2008-05-22T19:58:21Z")

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What are some recommended foods to eat and foods to avoid for a person diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Initial testing has indicated that my wife has it, but we will not be going in to the doctor for approximately one week. I would like to know what steps we should go ahead and start implementing now.

I have looked on a few websites and have not seen anything that gives a very good do/do not eat list.

[http://www.diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp](http://www.diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp)

> **[Gestational Diabetes](https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/gestational-diabetes)**
>
> Gestational diabetes is diabetes that happens during pregnancy. Learn more about the causes, risks, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.

> **[Gestational diabetes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestational_diabetes#Treatment)**
>
> Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a woman without diabetes develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes generally results in few symptoms; however, it increases the risk of pre-eclampsia, depression, and of needing a Caesarean section. Babies born to mothers with poorly treated gestational diabetes are at increased risk of macrosomia, of having hypoglycemia after birth, and of jaundice. If untreated, diabetes can also result in stillbirth. Long Gestational di...

For a few other points that may be of note:  
i) she was not overweight prior to being pregnant;  
ii) she has gained weight at slightly less than the ranges considered normal during pregnancy;  
iii) she has a family history of diabetes;  
iv) she is pregnant for the first time;  
v) she is 29 weeks pregnant.

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**Author:** ![50million](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/9fc348/32.png) [@50million](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/50million)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-for-gestational-diabetes/450279/2 "2008-05-22T20:01:31Z")

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IANAD, and all that, but my wife also had gestational diabetes (aka “the suga”) in her first pregnancy (but not the second). She basically went on the Atkins Diet and it worked well for her. Before she was diagnosed she almost passed out a couple of times after eating high carbohydrate meals. After switching to mostly protien she was fine.

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-for-gestational-diabetes/450279/3 "2008-05-22T20:17:32Z")

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This is not the place for such answers and/or questions.

Her personal doctor should make the recommendations and/or refer her to a dietician. There are way too many variables.

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**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-for-gestational-diabetes/450279/4 "2008-05-22T20:25:32Z")

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Here is something perhaps a bit more comprehensive from the NIH.

[http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/gest\_diabetes/](http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/gest_diabetes/)

Even this brochure emphasizes the need to work with your health care provider. Don’t wait a week. The doctor’s office should have an on-call nurse, or your health insurance may have a nurse hotline. Best wishes to your family.

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**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-for-gestational-diabetes/450279/5 "2008-05-22T20:31:34Z")

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[QUOTE=Philster]  
This is not the place for such answers and/or questions.

Her personal doctor should make the recommendations and/or refer her to a dietician. There are way too many variables.  
[/QUOTE]

The initial tests have indicated that she may have it. The doctors have scheduled the secondary tests for next week. I am obviously not looking for any replacement for the doctor’s advice. Simply, I am looking for general suggestions regarding diet that is commonly recommended for people with gestational diabetes prior to the doctor’s appointment.