title: Dietary regulation for 'gestational diabetes'.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired glucose metabolism in pregnancy may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Primary dietary therapy is used in the management of diabetes, including gestational diabetes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this review was to assess the effects of primary dietary therapy in women identified as having gestational diabetes on fetal growth and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  I searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised trials of primary dietary therapy compared with no specific treatment in pregnant women with abnormal glucose tolerance test results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trial quality was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four studies involving 612 women were included. Trials were small and of variable quality. No differences were detected between primary dietary therapy and no primary dietary therapy for birthweight greater than 4000 grams (odds ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 1.35) or caesarean deliveries (odds ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 1.44).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is not enough evidence to evaluate the use of primary dietary therapy for women who show impaired glucose metabolism during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Centre, Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Trust, Crown Street, Liverpool, UK, L8 7SS. swalki@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Walkinshaw
mesh_terms: D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome