A Fiber-Rich Diet Decreases Risk for Gestational Diabetes

Women who eat more fiber have a lower risk of gestational diabetes than woman who don't get enough fiber in their diets.

• Gestational Diabetes

In a questionaire involving over 13,000 women, The Nurses' Health Study II, established in 1989, looked at the relationship between fiber consumption and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). During an eight year follow-up of over 13,000 women, researchers looked at not only how much fiber women ate but also the glycemic quality of the overall carb intake of the women before they became pregnant.

The higher the fiber content in food, the lower the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a measurement of the "blood glucose raising potential" of carbohydrates. For example, a white flour bagel will raise blood glucose levels higher than a whole grain bagel. Whole grain cereals, fruits and vegetables were the fiber-rich foods that were researched in the study.

• What is the Glycemic Index?
• Carbohydrates and Diabetes FAQ's
• Fiber and Diabetes

It was shown in the study that women who did eat more fiber and more low glycemic index foods in their daily diet did have a lower risk of developing gestational diabetes during their pregnancies. An exerpt from the study states, "Each 10-g/day increment in total fiber intake was associated with 26% (95% CI 9–49) reduction in risk; each 5-g/day increment in cereal or fruit fiber was associated with a 23% (9–36) or 26% (5–42) reduction, respectively. Dietary glycemic load was positively related to GDM risk."

What this means is, the more fiber you eat, in the form of whole grain cereals and fruits and vegetables, the less risk you have for gestational diabetes.

Photo by Brent Allison