A Q and A on Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes: straight answers to the questions people actually ask, with the figures behind them.
High blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in someone who did not have diabetes before.
Key takeaways
- Usual screening time: 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy
- ADA glucose targets in pregnancy: fasting under 95 mg/dL; under 140 mg/dL one hour or under 120 mg/dL two hours after meals, unless your team sets others
- Most useful single change: Follow the eating plan your care team or a registered dietitian gives you, spreading carbohydrates through the day.
- Commonest mistake: Skipping meals to keep numbers down, which can cause low blood sugar.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
High blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in someone who did not have diabetes before.
Why does it matter?
Unmanaged, it raises the chance of a large baby, a cesarean birth, low blood sugar in the newborn and high blood pressure in pregnancy, and it signals a higher risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.
Usual screening time for Gestational Diabetes?
24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy.
ADA glucose targets in pregnancy for Gestational Diabetes?
Fasting under 95 mg/dL; under 140 mg/dL one hour or under 120 mg/dL two hours after meals, unless your team sets others.
Testing after birth for Gestational Diabetes?
A glucose test at 4 to 12 weeks postpartum.
Long-term follow-up for Gestational Diabetes?
Diabetes screening at least every 3 years.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Follow the eating plan your care team or a registered dietitian gives you, spreading carbohydrates through the day.
What is the most common mistake?
Skipping meals to keep numbers down, which can cause low blood sugar.
When should I see a doctor?
Call your care team if your readings stay above your targets, or if you are very thirsty, urinating much more than usual or feel shaky and sweaty. Call 911 if you become confused, cannot stay awake, have a seizure or are unable to treat a low blood sugar.
More questions, answered
Did I cause gestational diabetes by eating sugar?
No. Gestational diabetes is driven by pregnancy hormones and how your body responds to insulin, influenced by genetics and other factors. Diet is a powerful tool for managing it, but eating sweets before diagnosis did not cause it.
Do I have to cut out carbohydrates?
No. You and your baby need carbohydrates. The aim is the right amount at each meal, spread through the day, and choosing slower-digesting sources. Very low-carbohydrate diets are not recommended in pregnancy without guidance.
Will my baby have diabetes?
Babies are not born with diabetes because of gestational diabetes. They may have low blood sugar briefly after birth and may have a higher risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life, which healthy habits can help reduce.
Can I still have a vaginal birth?
Many people with gestational diabetes have vaginal births. The chance of cesarean birth is higher if the baby is very large. Your team will discuss timing and the best approach based on your blood sugar control and the baby's growth.
Is breastfeeding still possible?
Yes, and it is encouraged. Feeding soon after birth helps stabilize the baby's blood sugar, and breastfeeding is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes for the parent. Some people choose to express colostrum in late pregnancy; ask your team whether this is appropriate for you.
Why is the urine test not enough to diagnose it?
Sugar can appear in urine during normal pregnancy because the kidneys handle glucose differently, and it may be absent even when blood sugar is high. Blood tests are needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Related topics
- Type 2 Diabetes: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Diabetes)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Vaccination in Pregnancy (Vaccinations)
- Listeria in Pregnancy: What Published Guidance Supports (Food Safety)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Diabetes and the Kidneys (Kidney Health)
Where to go next
- Gestational Diabetes: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Gestational Diabetes, Explained Without the Jargon
- Gestational Diabetes — the reference entry
- Pregnancy and Postpartum: The Complete Guide
- What the Guidance Really Says About Preeclampsia Warning Signs
- Vaccines During Pregnancy: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
Call your care team if your readings stay above your targets, or if you are very thirsty, urinating much more than usual or feel shaky and sweaty. Call 911 if you become confused, cannot stay awake, have a seizure or are unable to treat a low blood sugar.
Where this comes from
- CDC — Gestational Diabetes
- American Diabetes Association — Standards of Care in Diabetes
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases — Gestational Diabetes
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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