Serenity Mirabito, MSN, RN, OCN, is a published oncology nurse writer who advocates for those surviving and thriving with cancer.
Ana Maria Kausel, MD, is a double board-certified endocrinologist affiliated with Mount Sinai St. Luke's/Mount Sinai West in New York City.
Approximately 10% of people will get gestational diabetes, which is diabetes (high blood sugar) that’s diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. You won’t already have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes when diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which usually resolves after pregnancy.
Losing weight before becoming pregnant and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy can help prevent gestational diabetes.
This article will review ways to prevent gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
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The exact cause of gestational diabetes is not fully understood; however, several factors make some people more likely to get gestational diabetes than others. These include:
Although you may be unable to control some of these risks, there are ways to reduce your chances of getting gestational diabetes.
The first step in preventing gestational diabetes is getting healthy before you conceive. Pregnancy naturally causes some insulin resistance. However, if you start pregnancy overweight, you likely already have insulin resistance, increasing your risk for diabetes. Before you conceive, help prevent gestational diabetes by:
Talk to your healthcare provider about what weight is healthy for you. Creating a healthy lifestyle before you conceive will help you maintain that lifestyle during and after pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes starts to develop around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Early glucose testing is essential to you and the baby’s health. In addition, the sooner treatment is started, the better controlled gestational diabetes can be.
Unmanaged gestational diabetes can lead to macrosomia (large baby), resulting in a difficult or early delivery. Large infants are at risk for low blood sugar at birth, which may require intravenous (IV) glucose and special monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Additionally, the pregnant person and the baby are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Be sure to ask your healthcare provider when glucose testing is right for you during pregnancy.
Eating a balanced diet is one of the key components to preventing gestational diabetes. Recommendations for lowering blood sugar through diet include:
Studies show that women who increase their total daily fiber by 10 grams can reduce their risk of developing gestational diabetes by 26%. However, women who eat a low-fiber diet are twice as likely to get gestational diabetes.
If you want to prevent gestational diabetes, it's essential to limit sugar. People with gestational diabetes can't produce enough insulin to manage large amounts of glucose, which results in elevated blood sugar levels. One study found, drinking five or more servings of sugar-sweetened cola daily before pregnancy showed an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Limiting sweets and candy to small portions and sharing desserts with others can help reduce sugar intake without feeling deprived.
Exercise helps with weight loss and allows the muscles to utilize glucose, reducing blood sugar levels. Studies show that people who exercise before pregnancy have a reduced risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Working your way up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week is ideal (this equates to 30 minutes of exercise most days). During pregnancy, check with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise regimen. Exercise that helps prevent gestational diabetes includes:
You will need plenty of rest to exercise effectively, especially during pregnancy. One study found that pregnant women who sleep less than six hours nightly are more likely to have gestational diabetes. To improve sleep while pregnant, try developing a bedtime routine, such as:
Not everyone will be able to prevent gestational diabetes, but there are ways you can reduce the risk of developing the disease. First, get healthy before conceiving by losing weight, incorporating a well-balanced diet and exercise regimen in your routine, and eliminating smoking. Once pregnant, be sure to have your blood glucose testing done as prescribed and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Ensuring you get enough sleep can also help reduce your risk of gestational diabetes.
Babies born to people with gestational diabetes can have significant side effects, including developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Replacing sugar-sweetened foods and drinks with fresh fruits and vegetables, exercising, and practicing a healthy sleep routine can improve your chances of not developing the disease. Ask your healthcare provider for a referral to a dietician if you'd like more information on improving your health before becoming pregnant.
Gestational diabetes usually occurs around the 24th week of pregnancy.
Signs of gestational diabetes include increased thirst and urination, more fatigue than usual, and unintentional weight loss.
American Diabetes Association. Gestational diabetes.
Zhang C, Rawal S, Chong YS. Risk factors for gestational diabetes: Is prevention possible?. Diabetologia. 2016;59(7):1385-1390. doi:10.1007/s00125-016-3979-3
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gestational diabetes.
MedlinePlus. Gestational diabetes diet.
National Institutes of Health. Healthy pre-pregnancy diet and exercise may reduce risk of gestational diabetes.
American Diabetes Association. Anaerobic exercise and diabetes.
Reutrakulab, S., Anothaisintaweecd, T., Herring, S., et al. Short sleep duration and hyperglycemia in pregnancy: Aggregate and individual patient data meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2018;40:31-42. doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2017.09.003
Serenity Mirabito, MSN, RN, OCN, advocates for well-being, even in the midst of illness. She believes in arming her readers with the most current and trustworthy information leading to fully informed decision making.
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