Improved Glucose Tolerance in Gestational Diabetic Women on a Low Fat, High Unrefined Carbohydrate Diet

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Abstract
Summary: In a randomized cross-over study 5 gestational diabetic women were tested on a low fat, high unrefined carbohydrate (HC) diet and a low carbohydrate (LC) diet for a period of 4 days each. Glucose tolerance was shown to be significantly improved on the HC diet compared to the LC diet (p <0.05). Urinary glucose output was 50% lower on the HC diet (1.3 ±pM 1.1 mmol/d) than on the LC diet (2.6 ±pM 3.0 mmol/d), although this difference was not statistically significant. Fasting free fatty acid levels were significantly lower on the HC diet (HC 590 ±pM 270 μmol/1, LC 690 ±pM 270 μmol/1; p <0.02); as were the fasting cholestrol levels (HC 5.9 ±pM 1.1 mmol/1, LC 6.3 ±pM 1.1 mmoi/I; p <0.01). Fasting plasma glucose, 2 h postprandial plasma glucose, and fasting plasma triglyceride levels did not differ on the 2 diets. These pilot study results suggest that diets low in fat and high in unrefined carbohydrate content are beneficial to the management of women with gestational diabetes.