Diabetes Health in the News Podcast: Healthy Diet Reduces Blood Pressure Risks after Gestational Diabetes

June 8, 2016 Nadia Al-Samarrie

Gestational diabetes raises a woman’s risk of experiencing high blood pressure later in life. However, a new study completed at the National Institute of Health found that eating a healthy diet could reduce that risk.

This study tracked about 4,000 women with a history of gestational diabetes. Over a period of about 18 years, 1,069 women developed high blood pressure. Women that followed healthy diets were about 25% less likely to develop high blood pressure compared to those with unhealthy diets.

Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are the best options for women with a history of gestational diabetes. Foods that are high in antioxidants, ascorbic acid, vitamin K, and potassium are also believed to help blood vessels and the heart.

These findings were published in Hypertension on April 18, 2016.