During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes. Some women might develop gestational diabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels become higher than normal during pregnancy. While it usually resolves after birth, keeping blood sugar within a healthy range during pregnancy is important for both the mother and the baby.
What Does the Research Say?
A recent study by Aarhus University and the Steno Diabetes Center in Aarhus investigated whether consuming whey protein before meals could help manage the rise in blood sugar that normally happens after eating. The study compared women with gestational diabetes and women with normal blood sugar control. By measuring blood glucose responses after meals and comparing whey protein to a placebo, the researchers were able to observe how whey protein influenced the body’s handling of glucose.
What Were the Results?
The study found that women who consumed whey protein before eating experienced lower increases in blood sugar after meals compared to when they did not. This effect was seen both in women with gestational diabetes and in those without it. Whey protein appeared to support the body’s natural insulin response, helping blood sugar levels rise more gradually after eating.
What Does This Mean for Pregnant Women?
Based on these findings, the researchers suggest that whey protein could be considered as part of a nutritional strategy to support blood sugar control during pregnancy, particularly for women with gestational diabetes.
As always, any dietary changes during pregnancy should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
If you are interested in learning more, you can read the full scientific article here.