On Nutrition: Diabetes in pregnancy

Barbara Intermill, Tribune News Service on Oct 3, 2025

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It’s not an easy diagnosis to hear when you’re pregnant. With less than 12 weeks to go in her pregnancy, a woman I know shared that a test had revealed she has gestational diabetes — diabetes that is diagnosed during pregnancy.

“My main concern is for her,” she said as she tearfully touched her growing belly.

I tried to comfort this mom with a few facts. Yes, it’s scary but gestational diabetes (GDM) is very controllable. And, I told her, it wasn’t her fault.

This condition affects up to 9% of pregnancies in the U.S. each year, according to the American Diabetes Association. And it is largely due to changes in a mom’s hormones during the last stages of pregnancy. That’s why tests to determine this condition are usually done between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy.

Some women are at higher risk, however. Being overweight, having a family history of type 2 diabetes or having given birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds increases one’s chances to develop GDM. Moms over the age of 35 and those of African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native American or Pacific Islander descent also carry a higher risk.

The most important goal for a successful pregnancy with this condition is to keep blood sugars in a normal range. That means blood glucose levels must be checked often while following a careful diet and being as active as the pregnant state allows.

Here’s the tricky part. Most fetal growth takes place during the last weeks of pregnancy. So mom must continue to consume essential nutrients and still maintain normal levels of glucose (sugar) in her blood.

Sound complicated? Nutrition professionals with special training in diabetes care are out there. Just ask your doc for a referral.

In general, most women will need to eat smaller, more frequent meals and limit the amount of sugars and starches (carbohydrates) they eat at any one time. Carbs should not be eliminated entirely though! Foods like fruit, whole grain breads and cereals, yogurt and milk are rich in necessary nutrients needed during pregnancy.

Pregnant moms with this condition also need to load up on nutrient-rich non-starchy veggies such as asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce and leafy greens, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, yellow squash and zucchini.

Protein at each meal is especially important for baby building. That includes foods such as chicken, turkey, eggs, fish, lean beef, pork, cheese, tofu and peanut butter, dried beans and lentils. (Watch the serving size of these last two as they also contain carbs.)

As you might expect, the most difficult time to get this diagnosis may be now, as the holidays approach. Take courage, dear ladies. This too shall pass. And your bright little cherub will one day thank you for the care you have taken during this critical time of pregnancy.