In Debby’s case, because she had gestational diabetes during her first pregnancy, she was tested earlier when she got pregnant the second time – at around two to three months, she said.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES GO A LONG WAY
The majority of pregnant women are able to manage gestational diabetes through modifying their lifestyle, said Prof Tan. This includes both dietary changes and regular exercise such as a 30-minute walk after meals.
As a rule of thumb, Kellie Kong, a dietitian at KKH, recommends avoiding sugar, and sweet foods and beverages, as well as fried and oily food.
When consuming carbohydrate-containing food, she recommends choosing wholegrains, pulses (the dried seed of the legume plant, such as chickpeas), fresh fruits and non-starchy vegetables as these foods are higher in fibre and help to delay the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, she said.