How is gestational diabetes treated?

Treating gestational diabetes means taking steps to keep your blood glucose levels in a target range. You will learn how to control your blood glucose using

Using a meal plan will help keep your blood glucose in your target range.

• a meal plan
  
  
• physical activity
  
  
• insulin (if needed)

Meal Plan

You will talk with a dietitian or a diabetes educator who will design a meal plan to help you choose foods that are healthy for you and your baby. Using a meal plan will help keep your blood glucose in your target range. The plan will provide guidelines on which foods to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat. Choices, amounts, and timing are all important in keeping your blood glucose levels in your target range.

You may be advised to

• limit sweets
  
  
• eat three small meals and one to three snacks every day
  
  
• be careful about when and how much carbohydrate-rich food you eat; your meal plan will tell you when to eat carbohydrates and how much to eat at each meal and snack
  
  
• include fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain crackers, cereals, and bread in your meals

For more about meal planning, call the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse for a copy of What I Need to Know About Eating and Diabetes or you can read it online.

Physical Activity

Physical activity, such as walking and swimming, can help you reach your blood glucose targets. Talk with your health care team about the type of activity that is best for you. If you are already active, tell your health care team what you do.

Physical activity can help you reach your blood glucose targets.

Insulin

Some women with gestational diabetes need insulin, in addition to a meal plan and physical activity, to reach their blood glucose targets. If necessary, your health care team will show you how to give yourself insulin shots. Insulin is not harmful for your baby. It cannot move from your bloodstream to the baby's.

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/gestational/index.htm