While pregnant: Once diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will need to work with your provider to create an individualized treatment plan to promote a healthy pregnancy and reduce the risk of complications for you and your child. Your plan might include regular exercise, nutrition counseling, regular blood sugar monitoring, healthy weight gain during pregnancy, and frequent follow-ups with your healthcare team during and after pregnancy.
Postpartum: Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of preterm labor, birth injury from delivering a large baby, birth by C-section, high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia), gestational diabetes in future pregnancies, and developing type 2 diabetes after delivery or later in life. Work with your healthcare team to create a postpartum plan to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors. It is recommended you test for diabetes six weeks after your baby is born, and then every 1-3 years or as advised by your provider.