In diabetes nutrition therapy for pregnancy, what percentage of daily calories should come from carbohydrates?

• A. 40 to 45%
• B. 10 to 15%
• C. 60 to 70%
• D. 25 to 30%

Answer: (A)

Focusing on how much of daily calories should come from carbohydrates in diabetes nutrition during pregnancy centers on balancing glucose control with fetal needs. Carbohydrates drive postprandial glucose, so keeping them at a moderate level helps prevent large glucose spikes after meals while still providing enough glucose for fetal development. If carbs were too low, ketosis can occur and energy for the fetus could be inadequate; if carbs were too high, glucose control becomes harder and can raise the risk of fetal overgrowth and other complications.

A carbohydrate target of 40-45% of total daily calories is commonly recommended because it provides steady, manageable glucose without overloading the system. For example, on a 2000 kcal/day plan, this means about 800-900 kcal from carbohydrates, roughly 200-225 grams of carbs per day, distributed evenly across meals and snacks to maintain stable blood glucose.

The remaining calories come from fats and proteins, chosen to support fetal health and maternal well-being while aligning with overall diabetes management goals.