Can type 2 diabetes be prevented by following a vegetarian diet in 30-week pregnant women with gestational diabetes?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 29 years old and 30 weeks pregnant. I take prenatal iron gummies 325 mg, and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes last week. I visited a dietician today who told me that I needed to switch to a vegetarian diet or I would get type 2 DM after my delivery. I have currently cut down on taking refined sugars, sweets, etc. My fasting blood sugar levels were never above 90 mg/dL. My post-prandial levels are always below 95 mg/dL; occasionally, my levels come to 97 mg/dL. So was she correct to state that if I do not switch to a vegetarian diet after my baby is born, I am more likely to get type 2 DM?

Please give me your suggestions.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your query.

Gestational diabetes can be managed with good eating patterns. In case due to the baby's development and weight gain, even if you are prescribed insulin, you need not worry, as you will become normal after delivery. There is no evidence-based study that becoming vegetarian can prevent becoming diabetic. But I suggest you to reduce your weight after your delivery. And you can consider this an alarm that if you do not manage stress and maintain a healthy eating pattern in the future, you are at risk of getting diabetes.

I hope this has helped you out.

Take care.