A comparison between the diets of pregnant diabetic women and pregnant non-diabetic women

In order to assess the effect of dietary advice for pregnant diabetic women, the habitual dietary intake of 8 pregnant diabetic women was assessed by 7-day weighed food records. These results were compared with records from 8 non-diabetic women, matched for age and gestation. Despite intense personalized dietetic advice to the diabetic women, there were no statistically significant differences in macro-nutrient intake between the two groups. The diabetic women were encouraged to increase their carbohydrate intake slightly, but failed to achieve current British Diabetic Association dietary recommendations with respect to percent energy from carbohydrate (41 ± 5 (± SE)(range 29–47)%, BDA recommendation >50%) and percentage from fat 43 ± 6 (33–51)%, BDA recommendation <30%). Intake of bread and cereals was increased in the diabetic women, but increases in complex carbohydrates were insufficient to compensate for a reduced intake of high-sugar foods. Intakes of energy from simple sugars were significantly lower (p < 0–05) in the diabetic group (12 ± 2 (5–20)%) than in the non-diabetic group (21 ± 2 (12–28)%). There was no detectable difference in sources of fats in the diet between the two groups.