Background

Pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) poses significant risks for both mothers and their infants, including macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycemia. Nutrition management is a key component of prenatal diabetes care, yet its real-world effectiveness in Asian clinical settings remains underexplored.

Study Overview

This retrospective study analyzed electronic medical charts from a tertiary medical center to assess how individualized nutrition counseling influenced dietary behavior, glycemic control, and neonatal outcomes in women with PGDM. Participants received structured dietary guidance provided by registered dietitians as part of multidisciplinary prenatal care.

Main Findings

After counseling, participants demonstrated marked improvements in dietary balance and nutrient intake. Consumption of vegetables, dairy products, and whole grains increased significantly, aligning more closely with national dietary guidelines.
Glycemic control also improved: both fasting and postprandial glucose levels decreased following dietary intervention, suggesting enhanced adherence to meal planning and carbohydrate distribution.

Importantly, positive changes in maternal nutrition were associated with better neonatal outcomes. The incidence of large-for-gestational-age infants and neonatal hypoglycemia declined among women who followed nutrition recommendations consistently. These findings highlight the clinical value of personalized nutrition counseling as a non-pharmacological approach to optimize pregnancy management in women with preexisting diabetes.

Implications for Practice

This study emphasizes that nutrition counseling should be an integral part of routine prenatal care for women with PGDM. Early referral to dietitians allows timely dietary modification and supports multidisciplinary coordination among obstetricians, endocrinologists, and nutrition professionals.

Beyond glycemic control, improving maternal diet quality contributes to healthier birth outcomes and long-term metabolic benefits for both mother and child. Our findings provide evidence-based support for the implementation of structured nutrition services in tertiary hospitals and diabetes-in-pregnancy clinics across Asia.

Reference

Read the full article in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth