Last Updated on 7 March 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is the most common complication during pregnancy. (1) GDM may affect about 17% of all pregnancies (2) more stringent testing increases the number of women diagnosed. Most women will be asymptomatic and won’t present with signs of Diabetes, although some may have the classic characters, including polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyphagia (extreme hunger) and polyuria (excessive urination). (3)
Gaining a better understanding of Gestational Diabetes is essential for women who may be surprised by their diagnosis. Many hope to manage the condition naturally with diet and lifestyle changes, which is possible in many instances. Naturopathy offers management of GDM to support a healthy pregnancy at every stage and beyond into better postnatal outcomes for both mother and child.
Risk Factors for the Development of GDM
Some of the predisposing factors for developing gestational diabetes are:(3), (4) (5)
- Advanced age (over 40 years)
- Family history and personal history of previous GDM
- Obesity (six times more common)
- Uncontrolled weight gain during pregnancy
Risk Factors once Diagnosed with GDM
GDM carries a small but potentially significant risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, (6) and long-term risks for the infant, including (1) (6) (7) (8)
- macrosomia (excessive birth weight)
- increased chance of surgical intervention during labour
- perinatal hypoglycaemia, which can damage vital organs
- increased risk for chronic diseases later in life
- risk of obesity and glucose intolerance
During pregnancy and in the longer term, GDM is associated with higher risks for the mother, including (1) (7) (9)
- hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia
- higher chance of vaginal and urinary infections while pregnant
- increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases
- two-thirds of women will go on to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the years following pregnancy
The role of Naturopathy in addressing GDM
Naturopathy offers a preventative approach during preconception care and during pregnancy with a high-quality diet helping to reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes. (3) For women diagnosed during their pregnancy, the key areas that a Naturopath will address include dietary and lifestyle recommendations with the added support of nutritional prescription.
Dietary and lifestyle recommendations
Nutritional management is the cornerstone of treatment for GDM (6), and women with GDM often report feeling more motivated to eat well to control their blood sugars and avoid medication. Typical dietary advice may include implementing a low GI diet associated with better postprandial (post-meal) blood glucose results in pregnant women. (7) One study concluded that a higher protein, lower carbohydrate meal, especially at breakfast, can also result in lower postprandial blood glucose values in GDM. (10)
While there are general guidelines to follow, naturopathy encourages a personalised approach to diet as best practice.
Exercise is another key area to incorporate since there is an association between a decrease in physical activity during pregnancy and the development of GDM. (7) Regular low or moderate-intensity physical activity has been shown to (7)
- reduce both fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels
- reduce the insulin requirement in GDM
Nutritional prescription
There are many nutrients indicated for blood sugar regulation as well as a healthy pregnancy. Studies show that deficiencies in selenium, zinc and B vitamins can influence the development of GDM. (7) A good quality prenatal vitamin covers some of these requirements, while some nutrients may need to be prescribed at therapeutic doses to support GDM.
Vitamin D has a positive influence on insulin production and offers protection against gestational diabetes (3), with findings also suggesting that vitamin D deficiency in the first trimester may significantly increase the risk of developing GDM. (7) (11)
Pregnancy is a necessary time to seek advice before taking vitamins and minerals, and blood tests may also be helpful in identifying any key problem areas of deficiency.
Guidance for GDM
The benefits of seeing a Naturopath to help manage GDM extend to many other aspects of a pregnancy journey. Women receiving lifestyle interventions were found to be less likely to have postnatal depression and were more likely to achieve postpartum weight goals. (12) Getting guidance for GDM with a natural healthcare practitioner can provide the extra tools and support women may seek and make a real difference in the mother and baby’s health.
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