nutrients-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Recent Advances in Nutritional Management of Gestational Diabetes: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Practice

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition in Women".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2026 | Viewed by 792

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Endocrinology, National University Hospital, University Medicine Cluster, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Interests: pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, in particular related to insulin resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a common condition that affects about 14% of pregnancies worldwide, although some regions have prevalence rates as high as 40%. Differences in screening and diagnostic methods may contribute to this significant variation in prevalence. GDM is not a benign condition; it can lead to various adverse outcomes for both the mother and the child. For fetuses, it leads to a higher risk of preterm birth, macrosomia, sudden intrauterine death, and fetal distress. For newborns, it poses a higher risk of respiratory distress and of hypoglycemia immediately after birth, as well as increasing the risk of developing childhood obesity and diabetes in the future. For mothers, the risks include preeclampsia, a higher chance of cesarean delivery, and an increased probability of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the future. There is an urgent need to focus on preventive prenatal and postnatal care in order to avoid the onset of GDM during gestation and to prevent diabetes after childbirth in women who have had GDM. Medical nutritional therapy is the primary approach to managing GDM, and this type of therapy should include optimizing the health of women who are planning to get pregnant and improving their metabolic health after delivery, along with aiding in weight management and encouraging physical activity. This Special Issue invites experts in the field of GDM to share their insights into the latest advancements in understanding of the condition’s pathophysiology, and to explore how these insights can aid in the development of effective nutritional intervention strategies.

Dr. Chin Meng Khoo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • medical nutrition therapy
  • gestation diabetes
  • glycemic index and load
  • nutrient-dense food
  • lean protein
  • healthy fats
  • meal planning
  • insulin resistance
  • beta-cell function
  • supplements

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 778 KB  
Article
Nutritionist-Guided Video Intervention Improves Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Reduces the Rate of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Clinical Trial
by Rocío Martín-O’Connor, Ana M. Ramos-Levi, Ricardo Saviron-Cornudella, Bricia López-Plaza, Angélica Larrad-Sainz, Ana Barabash, Clara Marcuello-Foncillas, Inés Jiménez-Varas, Angel Diaz-Perez, Paz de Miguel, Miguel A. Rubio-Herrera, Pilar Matía-Martín and Alfonso L. Calle-Pascual
Nutrients 2025, 17(22), 3533; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223533 - 12 Nov 2025
Viewed by 608
Abstract
Aims: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents an increasing global challenge. Mediterranean diet interventions have proven benefits, but their implementation is limited by the absence of nutritionists in many public health systems. This study aimed to evaluate whether a video intervention guided by a [...] Read more.
Aims: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents an increasing global challenge. Mediterranean diet interventions have proven benefits, but their implementation is limited by the absence of nutritionists in many public health systems. This study aimed to evaluate whether a video intervention guided by a nutritionist could increase compliance to Mediterranean diet and reduce the incidence of GDM and adverse maternal–neonatal outcomes. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 1750 consecutive pregnant women were allocated (1:1) to standard care (verbal, printed advice) or to a video designed by a nutritionist promoting a Mediterranean and physical activity. The primary outcome was the incidence of GDM; secondary outcomes included other pregnancy-related complications. Dietary adherence was assessed using the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score. Results: The experimental group increased their MEDAS score from baseline to GDM screening (mean difference (95% CI) 0.41 (0.23; 0.60); p < 0.001), mainly through greater extra virgin olive oil and nut intake and lower consumption of juices and confectionery. GDM incidence declined from 25.1% to 20.7% (p = 0.025), with significant reductions in gestational hypertension, episiotomy and neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Conclusions: Nutritionist-guided video intervention improves adherence to Mediterranean diet and reduces GDM incidence and adverse outcomes. This low-cost, scalable approach may help overcome structural limitations in public health systems. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop