The evaluation of dietary intervention on the blood glucose level of gestational diabetes mellitus pregnant women

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a complicated syndrome during pregnancy and screening is important because early therapy can prevent much of the associated perinatal morbidity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of dietary intervention on the blood glucose level of GDM pregnant women and the growth condition of neonates. Three hundred thirty-two pregnant women between the 24(th) and 28(th) week of gestation, who were attending the antenatal clinic were screened using a 50 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Those who had a 1-h plasma glucose greater than 135 mg/dL subsequently underwent a 3-h 100g OGTT. Seventeen (5.4%) of the 332 women were diagnosed as GDM. Eleven GDM women had conducted dietary intervention to manage the blood glucose level. There was a progressive increase in screening plasma glucose levels and a significantly higher incidence of GDM with increasing maternal age and body mass index (BMI). After dietary intervention, the blood glucose level decreased significantly, urinary sugar and ketone level also decreased. The body weight for gestational age of neonates was decreased and kept within normal range for the dietary-intervention group. These results reemphasize the importance of screening of GDM and the dietary control of GDM, especially in BMI > 24 or >30 year-old pregnant woman.