What is the first treatment for gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes means blood glucose is higher than recommended during pregnancy. A diabetes or maternity team may help you spread carbohydrate-containing foods across meals and snacks, choose fibre-rich foods, and include suitable movement. The aim is steady glucose while providing enough energy and nutrients for pregnancy.

You may check glucose at specified times, such as after waking and after meals. The team looks at the pattern rather than one isolated result. If food, activity and monitoring do not keep readings within your agreed range, medicine such as insulin may be discussed. Do not change doses or skip meals without advice.

Record glucose readings, meals, activity and any symptoms in the format your maternity team requests. Keep antenatal appointments so your health and the baby's growth can be followed. A glucose tolerance test may be used to assess blood sugar during pregnancy, while a growth scan can check the baby's development when your clinician recommends it.

Ask for help if nausea, shift work, cultural foods or limited appetite makes the plan hard to follow. A workable plan should reflect your routine and pregnancy needs, not require you to miss meals or exercise beyond what is safe for you.

Contact your maternity team if readings repeatedly exceed your agreed range, you cannot keep fluids down, or you feel unusually thirsty, weak or unwell. Seek urgent maternity help for reduced fetal movement, severe vomiting, fainting, confusion, breathing difficulty or severe abdominal pain.

What glucose targets should I use, and when should I test? Which foods and activities suit my pregnancy? When would medicine be added, and how will my baby's growth be monitored?