Question
During pregnancy, gestational diabetes is present, and the fetus is smaller than usual, and the pregnant woman’s abdomen is also smaller. The doctor diagnoses it as developmental delay, and the patient is worried that controlling diet may affect fetal development. How should it be handled?
Answer
If gestational diabetes is not well controlled, it may lead to macrosomia or developmental abnormalities in the fetus, which is caused by the mother’s high blood sugar. Patients should follow the doctor’s instructions to control blood sugar levels, and it is a misconception that if the fetus is small, blood sugar should not be controlled. It is recommended to improve diet by consuming less food that raises blood sugar and more nutritious food that does not raise blood sugar, which can still meet the fetus’s growth needs. It is suggested to limit daily staple food intake to no more than two ounces and to increase intake of vegetables, lean meat, and high-quality protein. Control blood sugar levels to be less than 6.0 before meals but greater than 4.0, and less than 7.2 two hours after meals. As long as it remains within this range, eating more will not be harmful.