My Experience With Gestational Diabetes
If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, please don’t blame yourself.
That was one of my first thoughts when I was diagnosed during my first pregnancy. I felt so bad about myself and guilty. I loved sweets, so I wondered if eating them had caused my gestational diabetes.
Later, I learned that gestational diabetes isn’t simply caused by eating too much sugar. Pregnancy can change the way the body responds to insulin, and sometimes the body cannot keep blood sugar within the range set by your healthcare team.
I had gestational diabetes during both of my pregnancies. In both pregnancies, I managed it with food, some activity, and regular blood sugar monitoring. I didn’t need insulin.
But my experience was not perfect all the time.
Some meals gave me readings that were within my target range, while other readings surprised me. I learned that what worked for me didn’t necessarily work in exactly the same way for someone else.
Below, I am sharing my own experience with gestational diabetes and what worked for me. This is not a guide to managing gestational diabetes, but simply what I learned from having it twice.
How I Found Out I Had Gestational Diabetes
During my first pregnancy, after struggling with nausea and other symptoms, I finally started feeling better and was able to enjoy some fresh air during my second trimester.
But within a few weeks, my doctor scheduled my glucose tolerance test at around 19 weeks.
I was given a large cup of glucose drink. The midwife told me to drink it slowly over about five minutes.
Honestly, I liked the taste because I have a sweet tooth and I love sweets.
After one hour, they took my blood for the test. I was told that if everything was normal, I wouldn’t receive a call.
But within three days, I got a call.
They told me that one of my glucose test results was high. It was only one point above the limit, but because of that, I needed to have another test.
For the second test, they took my blood while I was fasting first. Then I had to drink a more concentrated glucose drink.
This time, I really disliked it because it tasted extremely sweet.
They checked my blood again after I drank it, including another blood test an hour later.
That was when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
The Blood Sugar Testing Was a Shock
After that, my gynaecologist referred me to the diabetes team.
They explained gestational diabetes to me and gave me a blood glucose meter, along with a book where I could record what I ate and my blood sugar readings.
At first, the number of checks really scared me.
I was checking my blood sugar literally seven times a day:
- Fasting, before breakfast
- One hour after breakfast
- Before lunch
- One hour after lunch
- Before dinner
- One hour after dinner
- Before going to sleep
Honestly, I cried when I thought about pricking my fingers so many times every day.
The diabetes team scheduled my next appointment in two weeks. They explained that we would see how my blood sugar readings were with food and lifestyle changes. If those changes were not enough to keep my readings within the target range, medication might be needed.
At that point, I was really hoping that I could manage everything with food and lifestyle changes.
My Sister Helped Me a Lot
My sister had also experienced gestational diabetes during her pregnancy, so she became a huge source of support for me.
She suggested foods that had worked well for her and helped me understand how to make my meals more balanced.
I was learning everything for the first time during my pregnancy, but I didn’t have to figure everything out by myself.
Having someone in my family who had already gone through gestational diabetes made me feel less alone.
I Started Noting What I Ate Along With My Readings
Writing down both my meals and my blood sugar readings helped me understand my gestational diabetes better.
Instead of completely stopping carbohydrates, I started paying attention to what happened after different meals.
I noticed that some meals worked well for me, while other meals gave me higher readings than I expected.
I tried to include protein, fibre, and a sensible amount of carbohydrates rather than cutting carbohydrates out completely.
My readings were not perfect every day either.
Sometimes, honestly, I didn’t understand why my reading was high after a particular meal.
That taught me something important: my food diary and glucose readings were personal information about how my body was responding. They helped me understand what worked for me, rather than deciding that certain foods were simply “good” or “bad” for everyone.
What I Ate During My Gestational Diabetes
Please keep in mind that everything I am sharing below is based on my personal experience.
I am sharing it because when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I would have found it helpful to see what a real mother actually ate instead of only reading a list of foods.
What worked for me may not work in the same way for someone else. I also didn’t assume that a food was automatically good or bad for my blood sugar. I looked at my own readings and learned from them.
Breakfast
In both of my pregnancies, once I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I tried to include protein, fibre, carbohydrates, and healthy fats in my meals.
One of my usual breakfasts was:
- 2 slices of flaxseed or whole-wheat bread
- Avocado spread
- 1 small slice of cheese
- 2-egg omelette cooked with a little clarified butter
- A little salt and pepper
I found this breakfast very filling. After one hour, my blood sugar reading was within my target range.
But I didn’t assume that because these foods were nutritious, my blood sugar would automatically be within my target range. I checked my reading and kept learning from my own patterns.
Mid-Morning
I am a coffee lover, so I didn’t want to stop drinking coffee completely. Following my doctor’s recommendation, I reduced the amount and had a small cup of coffee without sugar.
Along with my coffee, I usually had around 10–15 soaked almonds and sometimes 2–3 walnuts.
I recorded my blood sugar afterwards, and these combinations generally worked well for me.
Lunch
For lunch, I tried to include protein, fibre, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
My usual lunch plate included:
- A small serving of quinoa or bulgur
- Sometimes around half a cup of rice
- Chicken, salmon, or lentils
- Greek yoghurt
- Steamed beans, carrots, broccoli, or cucumber
My readings were usually within my target range after this meal.
Evening Snacks
My snacks changed depending on how hungry I was.
Some of the things I had were:
- Roasted peanuts
- Crackers
- Roasted moong beans
- A boiled egg
- A small apple with peanuts
- Half a banana with peanuts
- Watermelon
I didn’t completely stop eating fruit. Instead, I tried to include at least some fruit in my day and paid attention to how my blood sugar responded.
I also completely stopped sugary drinks during this time.
Dinner
For dinner, I often had:
- A 2–3 egg omelette
- A chicken roll with more chicken and a thin wrap
- Sometimes the same type of meal as lunch, such as quinoa with chicken
- Greek yoghurt
- Vegetables
I tried to keep my dinner filling enough so that I wouldn’t feel hungry again soon afterwards.
Before Bed
Before going to sleep, I often had a small cup of milk.
It helped me feel less hungry during the night.
If I did feel hungry in the middle of the night, I kept some roasted peanuts, almonds, or crackers beside my bed so I had something available.
I also tried to walk after every meal. Even a short walk became part of my daily routine during both of my pregnancies.
Some Foods Worked for Me and Some Didn’t
I also noticed that I could eat something one day and get a reading that was within my target range, but then have a slightly different meal another day and see a higher number.
Sometimes, I didn’t even understand why my reading was high.
Whenever that happened, I started looking back at what I had done that day:
- What did I eat?
- How much did I eat?
- Did I have enough protein with the meal?
- Did I walk after eating?
I didn’t always find an obvious reason, but looking back at my meals and readings helped me understand my own patterns.
If you notice higher readings continuing for two or three days, my suggestion is not to try to diagnose the reason yourself. Contact your diabetes team and ask for their advice.
My blood sugar readings were there to help me understand what was happening, not to make me panic every time I saw a higher number.
Pregnancy Cravings Were Still Hard
Pregnancy cravings were honestly one of the hardest parts for me while I had gestational diabetes.
Some days, I suddenly really wanted something sweet.
Even my husband used to tell me not to completely suppress my cravings. His advice was basically to have a small amount rather than feeling like I could never enjoy anything.
Sometimes, I did have a little something sweet. And yes, sometimes I saw a higher blood sugar reading afterwards than I wanted.
Again, I would feel guilty.
But I slowly learned that gestational diabetes was something I needed to manage, not a reason to punish myself.
I was trying to learn what worked for my body while also getting through pregnancy. I didn’t need to feel guilty every time something didn’t go exactly as planned.
Walking Became Part of My Routine
I also started walking after each meal.
When I felt well enough, I would walk around for about 15–20 minutes after eating, sometimes just around the house.
I noticed that, for me, moving after meals seemed to help with my blood sugar readings.
But as I got closer to the end of my pregnancy, I became much more tired and sometimes couldn’t manage a longer walk.
On those days, I would walk for around 5–10 minutes instead.
I didn’t try to force myself when I was too tired. I just tried to keep some movement after my meals whenever I felt well enough.
My First Pregnancy Was Closely Monitored
During my pregnancy, there were times when my blood sugar readings were higher than I expected, especially when I had strong cravings and couldn’t always control what I wanted to eat.
Most of my fasting readings were within my target range, and my readings after breakfast were also usually within range. I noticed that I had more difficulty after dinner, when my readings sometimes went a few points above my target.
During my appointments, my ultrasounds were reassuring, and I was told that everything looked good.
My doctor also explained that an occasional higher reading can happen, but if I started seeing higher readings repeatedly, I should let them know rather than ignoring it.
My first baby was born at 37 weeks and weighed 2.7 kg.
Her birth was not simple. After around 32 hours of labour, I ended up having an emergency C-section.
You can read the full story here: My First Baby Birth Story: From 37 Weeks to an Emergency C-Section.
My Second Pregnancy Started With Good News
In my second pregnancy, just like my first, I had my glucose tolerance test at around 19 weeks.
I already had it fixed in my mind that I might have gestational diabetes again.
After the test, I didn’t get a call for a week, so I called and asked about my results.
They told me that my reports were normal and that I had not been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
What??? I was surprised.
But because of my previous experience, I sometimes checked my blood sugar at home using the glucose meter I still had from my first pregnancy.
Around 24–25 weeks, I noticed that I was feeling very tired after some meals. Because of my previous experience with gestational diabetes, I started checking my blood sugar more regularly, especially after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Without waiting, I went to my gynaecologist, showed him my readings, and explained what I had noticed.
He scheduled another glucose tolerance test for me at around 25 weeks.
This time, as I had expected, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes again.
But I wasn’t disappointed.
In fact, I was glad that I had been paying attention and checking my readings. If I hadn’t checked, how would I have known that something had changed?
I Managed Gestational Diabetes Again Without Insulin
Just like in my first pregnancy, I followed a similar approach with my food choices, portion awareness, blood sugar monitoring, and regular movement such as walking.
I still had some difficult readings.
This time, my fasting readings were sometimes higher, especially during my third trimester, and I didn’t always understand why.
Instead of completely cutting out foods, I tried to pay attention to my portions, stay hydrated, and make my meals balanced. I continued checking my blood sugar and learning from my readings.
I managed my gestational diabetes without needing insulin during my second pregnancy as well.
My second delivery was a scheduled C-section. My baby girl was born weighing 3.2 kg.
After birth, she had some breathing difficulties and spent two days in the NICU. She also developed newborn jaundice.
You can read the full story here: My Second Birth Story: Planned C-Section, NICU Stay and Newborn Jaundice.
So, I had two C-sections, and both births were completely different experiences.
Going through both of them also taught me many things I wish I had known before having a C-section.
I have shared those lessons in my other article: What I Wish I Knew Before a C-Section: My Experience with Two C-Sections.
My Blood Sugar Was Back to Normal After Both Deliveries
After both of my C-sections, the hospital checked my blood sugar again. Both times, my readings were within the expected range, and the doctors told me everything was normal after delivery.
My doctor also explained that I would need to keep this in mind even though my blood sugar had returned to normal after delivery.
I was advised to keep paying attention to my health, stay active, and maintain a balanced diet.
Hearing that made me realise that gestational diabetes didn’t necessarily end with pregnancy for me. Even though my blood sugar returned to normal after both pregnancies, it was still something I needed to keep in mind for the future.
Final Thoughts
Having gestational diabetes during pregnancy does not mean that you ate too many sweets or that you did something wrong.
I initially felt guilty because I loved sweets and wondered if I had caused it myself. But I later learned that gestational diabetes is related to the hormonal changes of pregnancy, which can affect how the body responds to insulin and manages blood sugar.
My experience with gestational diabetes during both of my pregnancies was my own experience. It may not be the same for you.
The meals and food choices I shared above are simply what I ate and what I learned from my own blood sugar readings. They are not a treatment plan or a diet to follow during pregnancy.
If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, please don’t feel scared or blame yourself.
I know how overwhelming it can feel in the beginning. I was scared too, especially when I was told to check my blood sugar seven times a day.
But over time, I learned how to understand my own readings, make changes when needed, and work with my healthcare team.
And if you are going through it now, I hope sharing my experience helps you feel a little less alone.
Disclaimer
This article shares my personal experience with gestational diabetes during my two pregnancies. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for care from your doctor, midwife, diabetes specialist, or other healthcare professional.
Blood sugar targets, testing schedules, food recommendations, exercise advice, and treatment can vary from person to person and from one pregnancy to another.
Please follow the guidance and recommendations given by your own healthcare team.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Bhavana, a mom of two and the creator behind Happy Mama Ideas.
I write about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, baby care, and motherhood, sharing my own experiences along with practical information from trusted sources. My goal is to share the things I’ve learned as a mother in a way that feels honest, useful, and relatable.
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