Newly Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes

You just received the phone call. You officially have been newly diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.

Ugh. The fear, stress, and overwhelm creeps in. What does this mean for my baby? Will this change my birth plan? Do I need to change my diet?

After being newly diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, you have so many questions that you just need the answers to, but you don’t know where to get the correct answers.

You may turn to Google (hello, rabbit hole!) or you may ask friends and family about their experiences. I get it, you need some sort of lifeline for this new condition that you know nothing about.

But I bet you’re finding tons of conflicting information on the internet and from friends. What do you use and what won’t work for you?

That’s where a registered dietitian comes in! As a registered dietitian who has been working with pregnant women since 2014 and with gestational diabetic women since 2019, I have some tips to get you started after being newly diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes!

1. Don’t panic: yes, this new diagnosis is scary but let me tell you that you CAN have a healthy pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby with gestational diabetes. I see it happen everyday!
2. Eat in a balanced way: in your search for information you may have been told to cut carbs out of your diet but let me stop you right there! Balancing blood sugars isn’t about depriving yourself of carb, it’s about learning how to portion and pair your carbs. Resist the urge to take all of the carbohydrates out of your daily diet, you and baby both need them right now!
3. Get a glucose meter: the meter you use does matter because some meters measure more accurately than others. Your insurance company will most likely provide a meter, if you can request a brand-I recommend the Contour meters, If they provide a different brand, you can always grab a Contour meter OTC at your local pharmacy or on Amazon Contour Meter.
4. Start tracking your food patterns: keeping track of your meals and snacks with corresponding blood sugars will allow you to pick up on trends that are working for you (or maybe not working so well). If you need help deciphering these trends, working closely with a gestational diabetic dietitian, like myself, will be a game changer for your blood sugar management.
5. Ask questions: as soon as you do get to see your provider, ask them questions! Ask questions like: Will this change my delivery plan? When do you consider medication if my blood sugars are high? Will I need additional testing during pregnancy? Are you sending a referral to an endocrinologist or an MFM provider to manage my gestational diabetes?

I know you have a lot on your mind right now but don’t forget that you can absolutely deliver a healthy baby with this diagnosis.

If need more support and guidance after being newly diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, click here.

xo,

Leslee