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Desserts, soda and sweet drinks with gestational diabetes

Regular soda, juice, sweet tea and sweetened coffee raise blood sugar quickly, and the ADA advises limiting sweetened foods and drinks in pregnancy. Water, sparkling water and unsweetened tea are the swaps every source here agrees on. Dessert can be a small, occasional portion counted as part of the carbohydrate in a meal, and ACOG puts moderate caffeine at under 200 mg a day.

Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Written by the First Fork team from the published guidelines listed below; not reviewed by a clinician. This page is not medical advice.

Why sweet drinks are the hardest part

Sugar, honey, syrup and agave are fast-acting carbohydrates that can raise blood sugar quickly. Soda, juice, sweetened tea and some sports drinks can hold about 10 teaspoons of sugar in one serving.1 The ADA's pregnancy guidance says simple carbohydrates give higher rises after meals, and that sweetened foods and drinks should be limited.2 MedlinePlus, in its gestational diabetes diet advice, names soda, candy and other sweets as foods that make blood sugar rise quickly.3

A sweet coffee drink belongs on the same list. The CDC names sweetened coffee and sweetened tea, together with soda, as drinks that can add a lot of simple carbohydrate.4

Drinks at a glance

DrinkWhat the sources say
Regular soda, sweet tea, sports drinks, juiceA lot of sugar; the ADA advises limiting sugar-sweetened drinks.5
Sweetened coffee drinksSimple carbohydrate; the CDC suggests ordering coffee with less sweetener.4
Water, sparkling water or seltzer, unsweetened teaZero-calorie choices the ADA names; water with fresh herbs or fruit in it is another.5
Diet soda and other zero-sugar drinksOn the ADA's zero-calorie list, but the sources do not agree on sweeteners (see below).5
Coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks with caffeineCount the caffeine: ACOG's moderate amount is under 200 mg a day (see below).6

The CDC also suggests sparkling water with a splash of juice, or half unsweetened and half sweet tea, as steps down from a sweet drink.4

Diet soda and sweeteners

The sources do not all say the same thing:

Ask your care team or dietitian whether diet drinks fit your plan, and check your blood sugar the first time you try one.

Caffeine

ACOG says moderate caffeine, less than 200 mg a day, does not appear to be a major factor in miscarriage or preterm birth.6 That is about the amount in one 12-ounce (about 355 mL) cup of coffee. Caffeine is also in tea, chocolate, energy drinks and soft drinks, and it can disturb sleep.8

Coffee can matter for blood sugar too. The CDC says some people's blood sugar is extra-sensitive to caffeine, even in coffee with no sweetener.7

Desserts

Sweets are something to limit, not something you can never have. MedlinePlus advises limiting how often you eat sweets and keeping the portion small; ask for extra spoons or forks and share a dessert.3

The CDC's diabetes advice for dessert: eat fewer carbs in the meal, then share one dessert.9 Fruit can be the dessert: the ADA suggests a small piece of fresh fruit or ½ cup of fruit salad.10 See fruit with gestational diabetes.

Read the label on "sugar free" sweets. "Sugar free" means no sugar, but the food can contain sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. "No added sugar" foods can still contain natural sugar. Check the total and added sugar on the Nutrition Facts label.1 Sugar-free sweets may still contain carbohydrate and calories.3

Your dietitian can show you how a dessert fits your plan. The ADA describes nutrition care for gestational diabetes as a plan made for you together with a dietitian.2

Test one change at a time

People react to the same food in different ways. The CDC's advice: when a food is new to you, check your blood sugar before and after to see how you respond.7 To learn from that check, change only one thing: the same meal, with only the drink or the dessert swapped. Then compare the reading after the meal with the targets your clinic gave you, checked at the time they asked for (see when to check after eating).

Write down each result. Your records help you and your care team decide whether your plan is working.11 First Fork checks each reading against the targets your clinic gave you.

If you take insulin, fast-acting sugar has a different job. The ADA treats low blood sugar, usually under 70 mg/dL, with 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate and a new check after 15 minutes.12 Follow the plan your team gave you for lows (see insulin for gestational diabetes).

Questions

Can I have dessert with gestational diabetes?

Sweets are something to limit, not something you can never have. Keep the portion small, eat fewer carbs in that meal, and check your blood sugar after it.

Is diet soda OK with gestational diabetes?

The ADA says sugar substitutes do not cause a large rise in blood sugar and lists diet soda as a zero-calorie drink. MedlinePlus says you may want to avoid artificial sweeteners, and the CDC says some studies show they can raise blood sugar. Ask your care team.

How much caffeine can I have while pregnant?

ACOG says moderate caffeine, less than 200 mg a day, does not appear to be a major factor in miscarriage or preterm birth. That is about one 12-ounce cup of coffee. Tea, chocolate, energy drinks and soft drinks also contain caffeine.

Why does a sweet coffee drink raise blood sugar?

Sweetened coffee adds simple carbohydrate, which raises blood sugar quickly. The CDC suggests ordering coffee with less sweetener.

What can I drink instead of soda?

Water, sparkling water or seltzer, unsweetened tea, or water with fresh herbs or fruit in it. The CDC also suggests sparkling water with a splash of juice.

Sources

  1. American Diabetes Association. Understanding Sugar Substitutes (patient handout, February 2026). https://professional.diabetes.org/sites/dpro/files/2026-02/ada26-nutrition-sugar-substitutes-02-19-26.pdf
  2. American Diabetes Association. 15. Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026. Diabetes Care 2026;49(Suppl. 1):S321. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12690181/
  3. MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine). Gestational diabetes diet (reviewed May 22, 2025). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007430.htm
  4. CDC. Choosing Healthy Carbs (May 15, 2024). https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/healthy-eating/choosing-healthy-carbs.html
  5. American Diabetes Association. 5 Ideas to Reduce Sugar in Your Diet (patient page). https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/weight-management/5-ideas-reduce-sugar-diet
  6. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 462: Moderate Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy (August 2010, reaffirmed 2026). https://www.acog.org/clinical/guidance/committee-opinion/2010/08/moderate-caffeine-consumption-during-pregnancy/
  7. CDC. 10 Surprising Things That Can Spike Your Blood Sugar (updated September 11, 2026). https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/living-with/10-things-that-spike-blood-sugar.html
  8. ACOG. How much coffee can I drink while I'm pregnant? (Ask ACOG, October 2020). https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/ask-acog/how-much-coffee-can-i-drink-while-pregnant
  9. CDC. Eating Out (May 15, 2024). https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/healthy-eating/eating-out.html
  10. American Diabetes Association. Fruit and Diabetes: Best Choices and Eating Tips (patient page). https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition/reading-food-labels/fruit
  11. NIDDK (US National Institutes of Health). Managing & Treating Gestational Diabetes. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/gestational/management-treatment
  12. American Diabetes Association. What You Need to Know About Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia). https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-care/hypoglycemia

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