Relationship between Plants and Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the leading concerns during pregnancy. It’s associated with heightened glucose levels, hypertension, inflammation, and neonatal complications among other issues. We’re conducting a systematic review assessing the relationship between plant-based diets, foods, and supplements and GDM. Diets high in animal products and refined carbohydrates (junk food) put individuals at higher risk of GDM, whereas diets high in plant foods and low in animal products have been shown to prevent as well as treat GDM. Given as many as 1 in 6 pregnant individuals worldwide are afflicted with GDM, providing easy-to-implement dietary modifications can improve maternal and child health, reducing healthcare system burden and improving the quality of life of those at risk. This image shows a pregnant woman on a mound of plant foods, which is keeping her safe from the hell that is diabetes. You can also see that the unhealthy foods are sinking in the lava and thus not a way to escape GDM. The image was created entirely in Blender, an open source CG application.