Research
Macro partitioning
Adherence to Mediterranean (MedDiet) or DASH dietary patterns is associated with a 15–38% reduction in the relative risk of developing GDM.
Adopting a Mediterranean or DASH-style diet before pregnancy can lower your risk of gestational diabetes by 15-38%. Focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and olive oil, while limiting red meat and processed foods.
GoodSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Diets such as Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and Alternate Healthy Eating Index diet (AHEI) were associated with 15–38% reduced relative risk of GDM.
Why this rating
Based on systematic review of observational studies; dietary studies were too diverse for meta-analysis, but consistent trends were observed.
Source
Associations of Diet and Physical Activity with Risk for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jovana Mijatovic et al. · Nutrients · 2018
DOI 10.3390/nu10060698
Meta-analysis · 40 studiesCited 315×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Engaging in any physical activity before pregnancy is associated with a 30% reduction in the odds of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to no activity.Good
- Engaging in more than 90 minutes per week of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) before pregnancy is associated with a 46% reduction in the odds of developing GDM.Good
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