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 you.
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
Steps to managing gestational diabetes
Managing gestational diabetes can help you to keep your blood glucose levels in the target range for a healthy pregnancy. Eating well and being active will also help you to manage your pregnancy weight gain. Remember, you are not expected to manage gestational diabetes alone. The steps to managing your gestational diabetes are:
Eating the right balance of health foods
When you have gestational diabetes, the right balance of healthy foods can help to keep your blood glucose levels in the target range, provide nutrition for you and your growing baby and help with a healthy pregnancy weight gain.
Doing regular physical activity
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.
Checking your blood glucose levels
Checking your blood glucose is an important part of managing gestational diabetes.
Your health professionals will give you advice on when to check your blood glucose level and what your target range should be.
Taking medication (if needed)
Sometimes, healthy eating and physical activity alone are not enough to keep blood glucose levels in the target range. Your doctor may suggest medication to help manage gestational diabetes.
Telling others about your diabetes
Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes can be a shock. You may experience many different feelings at this time. Your first reactions may be disbelief, sadness, worry or guilt. You may, or may not, want to discuss gestational diabetes with your family and friends. There is no right or wrong way to feel at this time.
Remember, it is not your fault. You did not cause gestational diabetes.
Helping family or friends understand
You may need to help your family and friends understand gestational diabetes, and let them know what help you need from them.
If you feel comfortable doing so, being open about gestational diabetes and what you need to do to manage it, will help your partner, friends and family know how they can support you.
It can help to let them know how you want them to be involved, and invite them to share their feelings too.
Asking for the right kind of support
Sometimes, friends and family members may offer advice that is not helpful and may even be harmful. Remember, the best advice will be from your health professionals. You may need to politely explain that you are following the advice of expert health professionals such as doctors, nurses, and dietitians.
If you are having problems coping and feel anxious, worried or overwhelmed, your health professionals can advise you about support services available to you locally.
Find out more
Myth-busting common beliefs about gestational diabetes
When you talk to your friends and family about your gestational diabetes, they might have some ideas about it that are not correct. Help them understand the facts so that they can better support you and your baby.
Myths
Facts
- Only women who are overweight get gestational diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes can affect women of any body weight.
- Gestational diabetes was caused by what I ate during pregnancy.
- There are many reasons that gestational diabetes develops. The foods you have eaten do not directly cause gestational diabetes. Making healthy food choices when you have gestational diabetes can help keep you and your baby healthy.
- Gestational diabetes always leads to having a large baby.
- While it is true that gestational diabetes can increase the risk of having a larger baby, you can reduce the risk by eating well, being active and managing your blood glucose levels.
- Gestational diabetes means you will get type 2 diabetes after pregnancy.
- While women who have had gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, you can reduce your risk by eating well, being active and aiming for a healthy weight.
Support in rural and remote areas
If you live in a rural or remote area, ask your doctor or health professional about what services are available to help you manage your gestational diabetes.
These services might include:
- shared care between local health services and a major hospital
- telehealth to link you and your local health professionals with specialist services.
Speak to a health professional
Speak to a health professional about support to help you manage your gestational diabetes.
Call the NDSS Helpline 1800 637 700 and ask to speak to a health professional about support to help you manage your gestational diabetes.
Go to healthdirect.gov.au to find a health professional or diabetes services in your area.
Find out more
Gestational diabetes information in languages other than English
Go to ndss.com.au to access a range of diabetes information to read, watch, download or listen to in languages other than English.
Call the NDSS Helpline 1800 637 700 and ask to speak to a health professional about gestational diabetes.
Do you need an interpreter to talk to the NDSS Helpline?
Call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. State your language. Wait to be connected to an interpreter, then ask for 1800 637 700.
Find out more on caring for yourself, and your baby, with gestational diabetes in languages other than English.
NDSS support for you
When you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you can register with the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). The NDSS is an Australian Government Initiative administered by Diabetes Australia.
Registering with the NDSS gives you access services, support and subsidised diabetes products to help manage your gestational diabetes. This includes:
- online and in-person programs
- resources such as fact sheets and videos
- subsidised products such as blood glucose monitoring strips.
