Mediteranska prehrana i gestacijski dijabetes.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes diagnosed in the second or third trimester of pregnancy that is not overt diabetes and is a growing public health problem. About 21.1 million women (16.7%) have some form of hyperglycemia during pregnancy, of which 80.3% include gestational diabetes, 10.6% previously known type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and 9.1% diabetes type 1 and type 2 diagnosed during pregnancy. Medical nutritional therapy, together with physical activity and regular or frequent glycemia self-checks, is the basis of treatment of gestational diabetes with the aim of preventing complications for both mother and child. Research shows that plant-based diet can contribute to both prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes, through the effect of reducing gastric emptying, improving insulin sensitivity and increasing insulin secretion. Since pregnant women with gestational diabetes have elevated indicators of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP), the pronounced benefits of this type of diet are richness of antioxidants and immunomodulatory effects. High content of dietary fiber, low glycemic index and high proportion of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to saturated ones are additional benefits of this diet. The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and olive oil, is a dietary pattern that includes all of the above, and the key to its effectiveness is the synergy, the joint interaction between several different components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]