What's on this page
- Eating well for gestational diabetes
- Eating well for your pregnancy
- Understanding carbohydrates
- Choosing carbohydrates
- Eating regular meals and snacks
- What about other foods?
- Choosing healthy fats
- Putting together a healthy meal
- Planning healthy snacks
- What to drink?
- Balancing food and blood glucose levels
- Healthy pregnancy weight gain
- Who can help you?
Eating well
Eating well for gestational diabetes
To eat well for gestational diabetes:
Choose the foods you need for good nutrition in pregnancy
Choose the right amount and type of carbohydrate foods at meals and snacks
Limit foods and drinks high in sugar
Eat regular meals and snacks, spread out over the day
Choose healthy fats
Sarah's story
Sonya's story
Understanding gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is type of diabetes that can happen during pregnancy. It is diagnosed when the blood glucose level is above the healthy range for pregnancy.
Facts
Diabetes is a condition where there is high glucose in your blood.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can happen in pregnancy.
Some pregnancy hormones reduce how well insulin works.
It usually develops around weeks 24 to 28 of pregnancy but can happen earlier.
For most women, diabetes goes away after the baby is born.
Gestational diabetes can happen to anyone, it is not your fault.
Getting the support you need
Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes can be a shock but remember you are not alone. Looking after gestational diabetes is a team effort.
Your health professionals can support you to manage your blood glucose levels, stay active and eat well so you can reduce the risk of health problems for you and your baby.
Your partner, family and friends can also support you. Let them know how you feel so they can help you. Sharing information can help them learn more about gestational diabetes and how it is managed. It is a good idea to suggest how they can help you in practical ways.
Who can help you
Managing gestational diabetes is a team effort involving you, your partner, your family, and your health professionals. The health professionals that you see might vary depending on your needs, where you live and the services in your local area. Your health professionals will work with you to help you keep your blood glucose levels in the target range and manage pregnancy weight gain. Here are some of the health professionals who can help.
Your General Practitioner (GP)
Your regular doctor who can support your general medical care during pregnancy and after your baby is born
An endocrinologist
A specialist doctor who can provide medical care to help you manage gestational diabetes
A diabetes educator or nurse practitioner
A specialist nurse or midwife who will help you and your family learn how to check (monitor) and manage your blood glucose levels
A dietitian
A health professional who will help you with a healthy eating plan for your pregnancy
An obstetrician
A specialist doctor who can provide medical care for your pregnancy and birth
A midwife
A health professional who will provide support, care, and advice during pregnancy, labor, and after your baby is born
A physiotherapist or exercise physiologist
A health professional who may help you prepare for the birth process and advise on exercise during and after pregnancy
Blood glucose monitoring
Checking blood glucose (blood glucose monitoring or self-monitoring) is an important part of managing gestational diabetes.
Watch
- How to check your blood glucose levels
- How to use a lancing device
Checking your blood glucose levels can help you to:
Understand the effect of food and physical activity on your blood glucose levels
Know when to get advice from your health professionals
Develop confidence in managing your gestational diabetes
Eating well
Eating the right balance of healthy foods can help to keep your blood glucose levels in the target range. Eating well also provides nutrition for you and your growing baby. This will support a healthy pregnancy weight gain.
What's on this page
- Eating well for gestational diabetes
- Eating well for your pregnancy
- Understanding carbohydrates
- Choosing carbohydrates
- Eating regular meals and snacks
- What about other foods?
- Choosing healthy fats
- Putting together a healthy meal
- Planning healthy snacks
- What to drink?
- Balancing food and blood glucose levels
- Healthy pregnancy weight gain
- Who can help you?
Eating well for gestational diabetes
To eat well for gestational diabetes:
Choose the foods you need for good nutrition in pregnancy
Choose the right amount and type of carbohydrate foods at meals and snacks
Limit foods and drinks high in sugar
Eat regular meals and snacks, spread out over the day
Choose healthy fats
Physical activity
Being active during your pregnancy will have benefits for your health and wellbeing.
Physical activity can help you manage your blood glucose levels and pregnancy weight gain, as well as keep you fit to prepare for the birth of your baby. It also has other benefits, such as helping with heartburn, constipation, and lower back pain. Being active can help you sleep better and improve your emotional wellbeing.
Many types of physical activity are suitable during pregnancy, but it is important to talk to your doctor before starting or continuing any form of physical activity while you are pregnant.
There are a range of activities that may be suitable during pregnancy
- Physical activity is anything that gets you moving.
- As your pregnancy progresses, you may find that some activities are more suitable than others.
Swimming
Brisk walking
Stationary cycling
Prenatal exercise classes
Light resistance exercise
Aqua fitness classes
Pelvic floor exercises
Other activities
Your emotional wellbeing
It is common to feel many different emotions when you find out you have gestational diabetes. You may feel disbelief, worry, sadness, guilt, or disappointment. You may be feeling unsure about how gestational diabetes will affect your pregnancy and your baby.
Every woman’s experience with gestational diabetes is different. Your feelings at this time may not be the same as others. Remember, you are not alone. There is support available to you.
Your emotional wellbeing top tips
Talk to your health professionals. They can help you and let you know about available support.
Do something you enjoy every day.
Reach out to your partner, family and friends. Let them know how you are feeling and how they can help.
Medication
Sometimes, healthy eating and physical activity alone are not enough to keep your blood glucose levels in the target range. Your doctor may suggest medication to help manage gestational diabetes.
Blood glucose levels in the target range help to lower the risk of health problems for you and your baby.
Pregnancy, birth and your baby
As your pregnancy progresses, you will probably start thinking more about labour and the birth of your baby. You may be wondering how gestational diabetes might affect your birth plans and your baby’s health and wellbeing.
Your diabetes and maternity health professionals will work with you to help keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy, labour, and birth. Make sure you ask them as many questions as you need to. This will help you to be more prepared.
Your future health
Understanding the risks, staying healthy and planning for future pregnancies is the key to good health after a pregnancy with gestational diabetes.
Learn about the support that is available to help you.
