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Menu planning for pregnant women with gestational diabetes – the necessity of a nutritionist

Gestational diabetes or diabetes of pregnancy is the diagnosis which is affecting an increasing number of pregnant women due to the recent introduction of new, more stringent criteria. Since in Croatia all pregnant women suffering from gestational diabetes are being recommended universal sample menu of 1800 kcal, this study included six pregnant women diagnosed with the above, with the aim to evaluate their nutritional status and to determine their individual energy and nutritional needs. Three-day food diary was used to analyse adherence to the recommended number of units of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) exchange list for diabetes. The aim of this study was to analyse the daily intake before and after the stated diagnosis and to examine the applicability of the method of linear optimization in individual menu planning for pregnant women with gestational diabetes. The results showed that the universal sample menu is inadequate for four of the six pregnant women whose energy demands are greater than 1800 kcal, and that none of the pregnant women did not consume the recommended number of units from the ADA exchange list. The menus made using linear optimisation are not in accordance with the recommended number of units of the ADA exchange list and therefore can not be used as a sample menu. This conclusions lead to the need for personalized menu optimization with a more appropriate optimization accounting for personal differences.

Gestational diabetes; Menu planning; Nutritionist

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