Treatments with Low Glycaemic Index Diets in Gestational Diabetes

Diet therapy, the cornerstone of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) management aims to promote adequate weight gain and ensure glycaemic control in the pregnant mother. Achievement of these maternal goals improves pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. The advocacy of low-GI foods is based on slower rate of carbohydrate absorption of these foods, which subsequently lowers postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses. Glycaemic load (GL), a concept that merges carbohydrate quality and quantity of foods, accurately predicts postprandial glycaemia for single foods or mixed meals. Low-GI/GL diets have shown to improve management of body weight, glycaemia and cardiovascular risks, especially in hyperinsulinaemic and insulin-resistant populations. A 15% reduction in dietary GI bestows clinically significant health benefits, and this magnitude of GI reduction is made possible by substituting usual high-GI staples with lower GI alternatives, while maintaining their prescribed serving size. In this review, we assess the evidence for the treatment of GDM, a condition closely associated with hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance, with low-GI/GL diets.