Moms-to-be who develop gestational diabetes aren't destined to have high blood sugar levels later in life, according to new research.

In the United States, approximately 5 percent of women who do not have diabetes before becoming pregnant are diagnosed with the condition while they're expecting. This raises their risk of developing type 2 diabetes up to sevenfold. A new study published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine finds that women who adjust their diet after birth can dramatically lower their risk.

Researchers looked at health and lifestyle data from more than four thousand women who developed gestational diabetes between 1991 and 2001. Every 4 years, participants filled out questionnaires about their food intake. 491 women later developed type 2 diabetes but those who followed heart healthy eating plans significantly lowered their risk compared to those who did not.

Women who followed a Mediterranean-style Diet were 40% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes and participants who followed the DASH diet were 46% less likely to develop diabetes. Both of these diets include plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as poultry, seafood and nuts.

For more information on the DASH diet, head to the National Institutes of Health website (http://www.nih.gov/) and search DASH.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with the information you need to protect your health.