Specific dietary and physical activity advice

• Dietary advice following WHO recommendations for the general adult population (29–32):
• carbohydrates primarily from wholegrains, vegetables, fruits and pulses (legumes);
• at least 400 g vegetables daily; 25 g naturally occurring fibre daily;
• limitation of total fat intake to 30% of total energy intake, with fat consumed primarily unsaturated fatty acids and no more than 10% of total energy from saturated fats and no more than 1% of total energy intake form trans-fatty acids; and
• reduction of free sugars to less than 5–10% of daily intake.
• Physical activity advice following WHO recommendations for the general pregnant population (27):
• regular physical activity throughout pregnancy;
• 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity;
• incorporating resistance (muscle strengthening) exercise and stretching; and
• continuation of pre-pregnancy physical activity habits for women who, before pregnancy, were habitually engaged in vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or who were physically active. Individualization of advice
• Individualizing advice on diet, physical activity and weight management, based on each woman’s weight and/or glycaemic control, including specialized advice from a registered dietitian or exercise physiologist with expertise in diabetes during pregnancy, may be beneficial. Cultural tailoring of both dietary and physical activity advice is likely to improve uptake.
• Weight management is defined as achieving appropriate gestational weight gain in relation to the mother’s pre-pregnancy weight. WHO is developing gestational weight gain standards for the general pregnant population, which may also inform advice for women with diabetes on appropriate gestational weight gain during pregnancy