Eating potatoes slightly increases the risk of diabetes during pregnancy

The potatoes they are well known as a potassium rich food and vitamin C, among other properties. However, a recent study published this month in the journal British Medical Journal (BMJ) has just revealed that Women who regularly consume potatoes have a higher risk of diabetes during pregnancy.

Researchers have come to this conclusion after a ten-year study. In this period, scientists have studied the diet of 21,000 pregnant women. Of these, 845 developed diabetes during pregnancy. According to the authors of the work, it is noted that the consumption of potatoes (both wounded and baked or fried) is "Significantly related" to diabetes during pregnancy.


Potatoes, pregnancy and diabetes

The amount of potato consumed influences in effect, according to this study. In this way, women who take a boiled or baked potato a week, 237 milliliters of mashed potatoes or 113 grams of chips have a 20% higher chance of suffering these complications. The possibilities increase if the amount is increased: those that consume more than five of those rations a week run a risk 50% times higher.

The study notes how, "even though potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and some phytochemicals, can have negative effects on glucose metabolism, unlike other vegetables. "According to the authors, this is because potatoes contain large amounts of starch, which is quickly absorbed.


Based on these data, the authors of the report conclude recommending to replace potatoes with other vegetables, legumes or whole grains before pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of diabetes.

Diabetes in pregnancy

Diabetes in pregnancy is not very common. It is a disorder that usually affects only the four percent of pregnant women and, as a general rule, appears from the seventh month. This disease is accompanied by a high level of blood glucose, which makes it important to comply with the follow-up dictated by the doctor, as the symptoms usually go unnoticed and, hence, the high risk of adversely affecting the baby.

Women with gestational diabetes tend to have conception disorders, spontaneous abortions and a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus after childbirth.


For its part, the main risk to the baby is the increase in the probability of developing diabetes when reaching adulthood and have a tendency to obesity. In addition, it can cause a delay in growth, congenital malformations, a larger size than normal, premature birth and, in more severe cases, fetal death, as you can read in this article.

It may interest you:

- Diabetes, the disease of sweets

- What is gestational diabetes

- How to prevent diabetes after pregnancy

Video: Potatoes linked to pregnancy risk, study finds


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