Textbook Problem

Susan is a 19-year-old “meat-and-potatoes” type eater who rarely consumes vegetables, fruits, or dairy products. She likes monosyllabic vegetables (beans, corn, and peas), bananas and oranges, and chocolate milk. She generally consumes one of these vegetables and fruits each day, and always has a glass of chocolate milk. Susan consumes sweetened iced tea throughout the day, and twice a week she eats rice with meat rather than potatoes. She finds this type of diet satisfying and rarely consumes foods other than those mentioned.

  Her first 17 weeks of pregnancy were uneventful. At week 18 she was found to have proteinuria. By week 22, her blood pressure had increased to 150/100 mm Hg, and she was diagnosed with preeclampsia. Laboratory studies indicated that her blood glucose level was on the high side of normal and that she was insulin resistant. She was left to follow-up after her week 22 visit.

  A bit overweight prior to pregnancy, Susan did not gain weight and restricted her salt intake after mid-pregnancy. She believed these actions would help lower her weight and blood pressure. Although she was given a supply of prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements early in pregnancy, she rarely remembered to take them. Her baby, weighing 5 lb 5 oz (2380 g), was delivered by Cesarean section at week 36.

2.    Identify two other characteristics of her diet that are contraindicated for women with preeclampsia. Answers should be different than those for question 1.