Related Experiment Videos
Dietary regulation for 'gestational diabetes'
1Fetal Centre, Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Trust, Crown Street, Liverpool, UK, L8 7SS. swalki@yahoo.com
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 5, 2000
Summary
Primary dietary therapy for gestational diabetes shows no significant impact on fetal growth or delivery method. More research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness in managing impaired glucose metabolism during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Impaired glucose metabolism during pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- Primary dietary therapy is a common management approach for diabetes in pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of primary dietary therapy on fetal growth and neonatal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register for randomized trials.
- Included trials comparing primary dietary therapy to no specific treatment in pregnant women with abnormal glucose tolerance tests.
- Assessed trial quality.
Main Results:
- Four studies with 612 women were included; trials were small and of variable quality.
- No significant differences were found in rates of macrosomia (birthweight > 4000g) or cesarean deliveries between dietary therapy and no specific treatment groups.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence is insufficient to determine the effectiveness of primary dietary therapy for managing impaired glucose metabolism in pregnancy.
- Further high-quality research is required to establish the role of dietary interventions in gestational diabetes.