Nutritional Models In Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance that occurs exclusively during pregnancy, diagnosed through an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy, in women who did not have pre-existing diabetes. If left untreated, GDM can lead to both short- and long-term complications such as delivery complications, large-for-gestational-age infants, and the development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in both mother and child. The cornerstone of treatment is lifestyle modifications, including physical activity and dietary adjustments. The dietary model followed by women with GDM aims to support fetal growth, maintain fasting blood glucose (FBG) and postprandial glucose (PPG) levels within target ranges, ensure appropriate weight gain based on pre-pregnancy body weight, and provide sufficient macro and micronutrients for both the fetus and the mother. The treatment of serum glucose fluctuations and hyperglycemic episodes is managed through medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and exercise. There is currently no consensus on a specific dietary model for women with GDM. Different national organizations offer varying recommendations for macronutrient distribution. The Turkish Endocrinology and Metabolism Society (TEMD) recommends Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet as healthy eating models for all individuals with diabetes. This review examines the effects of different dietary models applied to pregnant women with GDM.