First Fork

Just diagnosed with gestational diabetes: the first week

Gestational diabetes is common, and managing it helps you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. In the first week you learn to check your blood sugar with a meter, keep a record, and change what you eat with help from your team. For many people, food and activity are enough; some need medicine as well.

Last reviewed 2026-10-20. Written by the First Fork team from the published guidelines listed below; not reviewed by a clinician. This page is not medical advice.

First, what it is

In pregnancy, hormones make it harder for insulin to work. With gestational diabetes, the body cannot make enough extra insulin, and blood sugar goes up.1 It affects 5 to 9 in 100 pregnancies in the US each year, and it often has no symptoms.2 The longer version: what is gestational diabetes.

What the first week looks like

StepWhat it means
The meterYou check your blood sugar from a small drop of blood, keep a record, and bring it to your visits.1 A printable log works.
When to checkThe ADA advises checks when you wake up (fasting) and after meals.3 Your clinic says whether after meals means 1 or 2 hours: when to check.
TargetsADA goals: fasting below 95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L), and below 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) 1 hour or below 120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L) 2 hours after a meal.3 Use the numbers your clinic gives you: targets.
FoodTreatment starts with a food plan, activity and weight advice. You still need carbs: the ADA gives a daily minimum of 175 grams of carbohydrate, 71 grams of protein and 28 grams of fiber in pregnancy.3 See what to eat.
MovingACOG advises at least 150 minutes of exercise a week, and a 10 to 15 minute walk after each meal can help blood sugar.1
VisitsYou have more prenatal visits than before, to check on you and the baby.1

Things that are normal

Will my baby be OK?

MedlinePlus says that with good blood sugar control, most pregnancies have good outcomes.4 The risks, and what lowers them: gestational diabetes risks for the baby.

Questions for your team

First Fork counts down the after-meal check from the first bite and checks each reading against the targets your clinic gave you.

After the birth

About half of people with gestational diabetes later get type 2 diabetes, so ask how often to have your blood sugar checked after the birth.2 See does gestational diabetes go away.

Questions

What should I do first after a gestational diabetes diagnosis?

Learn to check your blood sugar with a meter, keep a record for your visits, and change what you eat with help from your team. ACOG also advises regular exercise, such as a short walk after meals.

Will I need insulin?

Many people do not. The ADA says 70 to 85 in 100 people keep it in range with food and activity alone, depending on the group studied.

Can I still eat carbs with gestational diabetes?

Yes. The ADA gives a minimum of 175 grams of carbohydrate a day in pregnancy.

Should I lose weight after a gestational diabetes diagnosis?

No. The CDC says not to try to lose weight while you are pregnant. Ask your doctor how much weight to gain.

Sources

  1. ACOG. Gestational Diabetes (FAQ 177, reviewed April 2026). https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/gestational-diabetes
  2. CDC. Gestational Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/gestational-diabetes.html
  3. 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/
  4. MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine). Gestational diabetes. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000896.htm

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