Lowering the likelihood of gestational diabetes may be as simple as adding more fruits and vegetables to one’s daily diet. Simply eating fewer processed foods and more produce can make it much less likely a pregnant woman will develop type 2 diabetes, the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) has said.

Gestational diabetes typically occurs when a pregnant woman consumes high amounts of sugars, refined carbohydrates and fats. The pancreas becomes less and less able to process blood sugar, potentially leading to dangerously high blood-glucose levels.

Up to 8 percent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Expectant mothers who are overweight, African-American, Asian or over the age of 25 have the highest risk of developing the disorder.

To prevent the condition, the NDIC recommended that women eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as drinking plenty of water and consuming plenty of fiber.

A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has suggested that pregnant women may be screened for gestational diabetes using a system combining girth measurement and triglyceride counts.