An unbalanced diet combined with a sedentary lifestyle can cause harm to health, especially during pregnancy. In this way, both the mother and the baby can be harmed. In this sense, a recently published study pointed out that doing diet in early pregnancy reduces the risk of gestational diabetes.
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Due to the numerous physiological changes that occur in the woman's body during pregnancy, there is a greater propensity to the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) due to changes in hormones such as insulin, for example. However, in people who have a good diet, this propensity is lower.
The study was done in Finland and published in 2021 in the European Journal of Nutrition. The aim was to investigate the relationship between food intake and the development of GDM in 351 overweight or obese women.
The food intake pattern was calculated from food diaries. The data were divided into two groups, one having a healthy eating pattern and the other an unhealthy one. In addition, two indices were also made: one of diet quality and another of the inflammatory potential of food.
The results showed that a higher inflammatory index was related to a greater chance of developing GDM. In this sense, higher consumption of fats, especially saturated fats, was also positively related to an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Also according to the study, the most appropriate dietary pattern to promote maternal health during pregnancy should be varied, rich in greens, fruits, vegetables and whole foods. These foods have anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce inflammation and consequently prevent GDM.
Therefore, during pregnancy, it is recommended to consume foods such as lean meats, milk and derivatives, oats, chestnuts, almonds, legumes, leaves and fruits in general. On the other hand, the intake of sweets, refined flours and very fatty foods should be avoided.
Prenatal care is essential for the health of both the mother and the developing baby. In addition, nutritional assistance must also be provided in order to promote correct weight gain. during pregnancy and perform the recommended management in cases of mothers with overweight, obesity or diseases chronicles.