QuestionAlthough I do eat lots of fruits and veggies during the day, and always try to add extra protein with low-fat meats and cheeses, I take daily prenatal and calcium supplements, and I do drink lots of water...I still find myself eating A LOT of junk food. I find myself eating the equivalent of a candy bar per day, and sometimes also add to that gummy candies and such. I'm 26 weeks pregnant, and will be tested in the next two weeks for gestational diabetes. However, I'm just curious - can eating too much sugar cause gestational diabetes, or other problems during my pregnancy? I realise weight gain is a side effect if too many calories are consumed daily, but my main concern is making sure my child isn't getting too much sugar as well. I'm trying to now make a mental note to cut back. But, has the harm already been done?
AnswerGestational diabetes is due to insulin intolerance, not too much sugar intake. Eating too much candy or carbohydrates can cause you to gain too much weight during pregnancy, not diabetes. We would like you to gain a total of 30lbs during the pregnancy. At each visit, you really should not have gained more than 4lbs. The baby is not getting too much sugar. However, whatever the glucose in your blood stream is, so is the glucose in the baby's bloodstream. The danger in too high glucose is that, while your pancreas can get rid of the glucose, the baby's pancreas has to work harder to remove the glucose. It can do that. However, when it is born and there is a sudden drop in the glucose in the baby's blood (because you are not loading it with glucose), the baby develops "hypoglycemia" which can cause problems. Be patient and wait to see what your one-hour glucose test is at 28 weeks. If it is less than 140, you need not worry at all. If it is higher, you will be sent for a 3 hours glucose tolerance test. If that shows gestational diabetes, you will be given a diet that will control your glucose. don't worry.
