New study links pregnancy diet to type 1 diabetes risk in kids

What a new study suggests about pregnancy diet and type 1 diabetes—and why it’s not about being perfect

Credit: Canva / Motherly

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about having the tools to make informed choices.

Table of Contents

It’s not about being perfect—it’s about having the tools to make informed choices.

When you’re pregnant, it can feel like everything comes with a warning label. And now, a new study adds another layer to the conversation—this time linking a mom’s diet during pregnancy to the risk of type 1 diabetes in her child.

But before this sparks anxiety over your last bite of pizza or bowl of pasta, let’s take a breath—and break down what this research actually means for you and your baby. Because while the study’s findings are significant, they aren’t meant to shame—they’re meant to empower.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about having the tools to make informed choices.

What the study found

Researchers behind a large-scale Danish study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, analyzed data from more than 67,000 mother-child pairs over a 17-year period. They discovered that when pregnant women ate diets higher in inflammation-promoting foods—like processed meats, sugary drinks, and refined carbs—their children were observed to have a 16% higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes for every one-point increase in the diet’s inflammatory score. This does not mean the diet caused diabetes, only that a pattern was observed.

This dietary score, called the EDII (Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index), was calculated using food frequency questionnaires filled out around 25 weeks into pregnancy.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition—often diagnosed in childhood—where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s insulin-producing cells. While genetics play a role, the rising number of cases in developed countries suggests that environmental factors, including prenatal exposures, may also be at play.

The study also found that high gluten intake and maternal smoking during mid-pregnancy were independently associated with increased diabetes risk in children—pointing to this stage of pregnancy as a potentially critical window for fetal immune development.

What exactly is an “inflammatory” diet?

“Inflammatory” doesn’t just mean sugary foods. In this study, higher EDII scores were associated with frequent intake of:

Processed or red meats
Refined grains (like white bread and pastries)
Fried foods
Sugary beverages
Foods containing trans fats

In contrast, lower EDII scores—indicating a more anti-inflammatory diet—were linked to greater consumption of:

Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables
Garlic and tomatoes
Fruits and whole grains
Coffee and tea

These food patterns closely resemble the Mediterranean diet, long celebrated for its role in supporting heart health and reducing chronic inflammation.

What this means for real-life moms

It’s easy to read a study like this and feel an onslaught of food guilt. But here’s the reality: this isn’t about moral judgment—it’s about informed awareness.

It’s also important to remember that many parents whose children develop type 1 diabetes followed healthy or typical diets. Autoimmune conditions are complex, and no one decision during pregnancy can guarantee or prevent an outcome.”

Importantly, the researchers emphasized that their findings are observational—meaning they show associations, not direct cause-and-effect. Still, the patterns were strong enough to suggest that diet during mid-pregnancy may have a meaningful influence on the developing immune system.

So what can you do with this information? You don’t need to toss your cravings out the window or obsess over every ingredient. Instead, you can take small, sustainable steps that feel good to you and your body.

Simple shifts that can support a healthy pregnancy

If you’re pregnant (or planning to be), consider these realistic, non-restrictive shifts:

Add before you subtract. Focus on including more fiber-rich, whole foods before worrying about cutting things out.
Make swaps where it feels easy. Choose brown rice or quinoa instead of white rice; opt for olive oil instead of butter when you can.
Don’t stress over every meal. It’s what you do most of the time—not all of the time—that matters.
Small shifts count. If access to fresh produce or high-quality ingredients is limited, know that every small shift still counts. Frozen vegetables, canned beans, or even simple substitutions like whole-grain bread are powerful steps.
Ask for support. A registered dietitian or your OB-GYN can help you personalize your approach based on your cravings, health needs, and energy levels.

The bottom line

This study doesn’t mean that every food decision during pregnancy needs to be scrutinized or optimized. It means that we’re learning more—and that knowledge can be powerful. Especially when it comes from a place of support, not shame.

By understanding how inflammation works and how certain foods may influence a child’s risk of developing autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes, moms can feel more confident making the choices that are right for them.

If you’re learning this after your pregnancy—or after a diagnosis—it’s never too late to apply that knowledge in ways that support your child or future pregnancies. Growth is a sign of strength, not regret.

Because you deserve to feel informed, supported—and never judged—for doing the best you can with the knowledge you have.

Source: