Simply put:
Diabetes means the amount of sugar in your blood is too high.
Gestational (“in pregnancy”) implies that this happens during pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes is typically diagnosed between 24–28 weeks of pregnancy (end of 2nd trimester to the start of 3rd trimester).
The science
- The hormone (a chemical messenger) insulin lowers blood sugar when it is too high.
- If insulin is unable to do its job (this is called “insulin resistance”), sugar levels in your blood stay high.
- Excessive rises in blood sugar can lead to high blood pressure for mom, and too much sugar can be shared with baby. This sugar is stored as fat and, if not properly managed, can lead to a large baby (“macrosomia”).
What it means for my pregnancy
- Take a deep breath and know you aren’t alone in this journey. Explore the rest of our articles to learn about how to get started.
- Try syncing your glucometer with the Malama app and logging a meal (or log manually!).
- You can go over any questions you have about food with a nutritionist through our community of nutritionists specializing in prenatal care!
Understand your GTT
What do my glucose tolerance test (GTT) results mean?
Which test did you take?
Did you take the
two-step test?
It means you tested in two days:
First day: you drank the glucola and had your blood sugar levels checked after 1 hour.
Second day: you tested early morning (fasting) and tested more throughout the day, after drinking the glucola at regular intervals.
If two or more of your readings are high, you’ll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
*This chart shows the levels that ADA considers abnormal at each interval.
Did you take the
one-step test?
It means all your tests were done in the same day:
Your blood glucose was tested both before and after you drank the sweet drink.
If even one number is high, you will likely be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
*The two-step approach is the most common test, although your doctor decides which is best for you.
