Gut Health and Gestational Diabetes

December 24, 2025 Women

Ana Sofia was pregnant again, and this time she wanted things to go differently. During her last pregnancy, she had gestational diabetes – a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. It wasn’t fun, and she was determined to avoid it this time.

Because she had gestational diabetes before and hadn’t lost the baby weight from her first pregnancy, Ana Sofia was already at higher risk. Her parents also had Type 2 diabetes, which made her chances even greater. But she had heard that the balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut can affect gestational diabetes, and she wanted to learn more.

She talked with her doctor who explained that a healthy gut can help support a healthy pregnancy – and may even lower the risk of getting gestational diabetes later on. Gut health in the first few months of pregnancy can make a difference later.

Together, they talked about what can affect gut health, such as:

Probiotic Pills vs. Foods:
What’s Better for Ana’s Gut?

When Ana Sofia asked about probiotic pills, her doctor said that research is still new. While probiotics might help increase the “good” bacteria in the gut, the best way to improve gut health is through food and healthy habits.

The good news? Many gut-friendly foods are WIC-approved!

Ana Sofia’s Plan for a Healthy Gut and Pregnancy

With her doctor’s help, Ana Sofia made a simple plan to stay healthy and reduce her risk of gestational diabetes:

Walk for 30 minutes every day
Eat smaller portions of carbs
Choose whole grains
Eat more fresh vegetables
Add probiotic and prebiotic foods to her meals
Avoid sugary drinks and desserts

Probiotic Foods (Add “Good” Bacteria)

Prebiotic Foods (Feed the “Good” Bacteria)

She also made sure to eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day.

Ana Sofia’s Plan for a Healthy Gut and Pregnancy

To make healthy eating easier, Ana Sofia found ways to plan ahead:

She cooked lentils and beans in her slow cooker and kept them ready to eat.
She used her WIC milk benefits to buy Greek yogurt and made overnight oats for work snacks.
She chopped onions and garlic on weekends and froze them to use later.
She switched from white bread and low-fiber cereals to whole grain and oat-based options using her WIC benefits.
She used her fruit and vegetable benefits to buy colorful produce like berries, apples, kale, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.

Ana’s Small Changes Lead to Big Results

By making small, steady changes, Ana Sofia kept her gut healthy and avoided gestational diabetes. She delivered a healthy baby girl and proved that past health problems don’t have to repeat themselves. With the right foods and habits, a healthy pregnancy is possible!

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Fructan and fructooligosaccharide food table.
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By Bridget Swinney, MS, RDN, LD