Gestational diabetes mellitus and associated challenges from the perspective of nutrition science: A review article

Abstract

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) as the main metabolic disorder in pregnancy has had an increasing prevalence in recent years. Nowadays intrauterine metabolic condition is considered as a critical risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Evidence of fetal programming and its contribution as one of the evolutionary roots of human diseases provides a reason for improvements in controlling glucose metabolism in pregnant women, determining other nutrients, weight loss prior to pregnancy, having healthy diet, and preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is the initial treatment of GDM and obesity is a major challenge for dietary intervention during pregnancy consultations. Today, a high proportion of women are seen with high body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and higher weight gain during pregnancy. In this paper, we provide a brief review on dietary intake and dietary interventions in GDM from the perspective of nutrition science scrutinizing the physiopathology and etiology of the disease. é 2017, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.