Medical nutrition therapy (an individualized diet plan) is central to treating gestational diabetes and maintaining normal blood glucose levels.[1][2] No evidence supports any single diet as optimal, so people with gestational diabetes should receive nutrition counseling from a registered dietitian to tailor their diet towards specific needs and goals. This is important because a variety of dietary modifications might improve maternal and/or infant health (e.g., the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet).[2]
Diet may also affect a pregnant person’s risk for gestational diabetes. Observational studies find that a dietary pattern rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and fish, and low in red and processed meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy reduced the risk of developing gestational diabetes.[3][4][5][5]