gestational diabetes

This is such a stupid question, but I guess it won't be my last - and it's not my first.

Anyway, does your diet truly affect your chance of obtaining gestational diabetes during pregnancy? I'm asking because I've had nothing but a sweet tooth the past 2 months and am convinced this will come back to haunt me. I have read up on it, and it seems as if it might not affect it, it's one of those "if you're susceptible, you're susceptible" but I'm not convinced. I eat pretty well, but at work, it seems as if I cannot get through a day without having some sort of candy.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Re: gestational diabetes

I am thinking that I will have the same issue, since I am craving sugar like mad!! I looked GD up in my 'Your Pregnancy
Week by Week' book and here's what they wrote as the reasons for GD to occur:

"We believe GD occurs for two reasons. One is the mother's body produces less insulin dueing pregnancy. The second is the mother's body can't use the insulin effectively. Both situations result in high blood sugar levels. Risk factors for developing GD include:
- over 30 yrs old
- obesity
- GD in previous pregnancy
- previously ave birth to a baby who weighed over 9 and 1/2 pounds
- previously had a stillborn baby
- being Black/African American, Latina/Hispanic, Asian, Native American or Pacific Islander

* A woman's weight when she was born may also be an indicator of her chances of developing GD. One study showed women who were in the bottom 10th percentile of weight when they were born were 3 to 4 times more likely to develop GD during pregnancy."

Interesting stuff. A lot of the risk factors apply to me so I am sure eating a lot of sugar will not help the situation. But if eating sugar is the only factor... I don't think that the risk for developing GD is that high. HTH

Edit for spelling

Message edited 4/25/2008 7:34:05 AM.

Re: gestational diabetes

No eating lots of sugar is not going to givie you GD. My friend ate bags of jolly ranchers and starbursts when she was preggo and she did not have GD.

It has to do with how your body breaks down the foods you are eating and processes the sugars. Also if you are over weight when you get pregnant you run a chance of getting GD, not saying that you will definetely get it if you were over weight.

I didn't eat much sweets when I was preggo w/Hayley and I had GD.

Re: gestational diabetes

Thanks ladies, the info is very helpful!

Re: gestational diabetes

I don't believe that is one of the risk factors!! And I ate sour patch watermelons all the time in the first trimester...it was the only thing that made the MS feel better!

Re: gestational diabetes

absolutely not. I know it sounds like it would be logical, but it doesn't actually contribute to GD.

Re: gestational diabetes

Re: gestational diabetes

I ate a lot of candy while pregnant - even before- -and I didn;t get gestational diabetes.

Re: gestational diabetes