Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes mellitus that affects women who are pregnant usually mid-way during the pregnancy. Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate glucose levels in the blood. Glucose is the primary fuel used by cells for energy.


Cells in the body need insulin to convert the glucose into energy. When the body does not produce enough insulin or when some cells in the body do not respond to the insulin, diabetes mellitus results. Pregnancy is a period when a woman’s body undergoes a lot of changes in the hormone levels.


Some of these hormones have an adverse effect on the efficient use of insulin in the body. When this happens, the body normally steps up insulin production to compensate. Gestational diabetes results when a woman’s body is unable to keep up with the additional demand for insulin and blood sugar levels rise as a consequence.

A pregnant woman should check her gestational diabetes treatment options such as insulin as soon as she is diagnosed with diabetes. Depending on the patient’s medical history, weight, age and genetic factors, doctors can decide whether a pregnant woman falls into a high-risk category or an average-risk category. Patients in the high-risk category may be asked to undergo a test during their first visit to the gynecologist so that suitable measures aimed at preventing gestational diabetes may be advised. Even those who do not have a family history of diabetes, who are of normal weight and do not have glucose in their urine, may be asked to take the test between 24 to 28 weeks, if they are over the age of 25. Gestational diabetes diagnosis is important because elevated glucose levels in the blood may affect the growth and development of the fetus. Symptoms of gestational diabetes during pregnancy are not easy to spot as vomiting and nausea, frequent urination, and fatigue can be mistaken as those associated with pregnancy. Increased thirst, blurred vision, and weight loss despite eating normal food with a good appetite may point towards gestational diabetes.

For a pregnant woman who falls in the high-risk category, preventing gestational diabetes during pregnancy starts with a well-balanced diet and adequate exercise. Including a variety of foods in the diet and eating smaller meals more frequently rather than eating three large meals helps to regulate the sugar levels in the blood. Choice of foods, portion sizes, and meal timings all affect the levels of glucose in the blood. A gestational diabetes diet plan ensures that the pregnant woman gets adequate nutrients from food consumed and ensures sufficient fiber content in each meal to facilitate easy elimination of wastes from the body. Herbal remedies for diabetes (type 2) treatment are preferred in gestational diabetes treatment as natural products and herbs can help avoid unwanted side effects of medication. Popular among herbal remedies is the use of fenugreek seeds to treat diabetes. The seeds are soaked overnight in water and crushed in the morning and the strained juice is ingested. Similarly, bitter melon is found to be effective in gestational diabetes treatment. Water boiled with cinnamon for twenty minutes and strained is a natural spiced drink that doubles as an herbal remedy for diabetes type 2. A tablespoonful of the juice of the Indian gooseberry consumed on an empty stomach early in the morning for two months has been found to be effective in stimulating the secretion of insulin.

Herbal remedies for diabetes treatment include evening primrose oil, the herb gymnema sylvestre, and a decoction of bilberry leaves. Huckleberry is also said to be useful in stimulating insulin production in the pancreas. In addition to its beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol levels, garlic is also known to be helpful in reducing high blood sugar levels. Supplements of chromium picolinate when given over eight weeks to women with gestational diabetes has been reported to be effective in controlling blood sugar levels without any serious side effects. Vanadium, a trace element found in radish, dill, parsley, and wheat germ, is known to act like insulin and reduce blood glucose levels, though synthetic forms of vanadium can be toxic to humans.

Gestational diabetes treatment options include making healthy dietary changes to reduce blood sugar levels, while at the same time maintaining the required levels of nutrients in the body for the mother and the growing baby. Recipes for gestational diabetes patients focus on high protein, low fat, and low carbohydrate foods that can be served over five or six small meals spread through the day, rather than the regular three meals a day. Fiber-rich whole grains and vegetables are favored as they contain complex carbohydrates that are digested more slowly, thus helping to keep blood sugar levels more or less constant. Sweets, fried food, red meat high in fat, processed foods, and fast food must be avoided completely in a preventing gestational diabetes diet during pregnancy, as all of these could trigger off conditions like an increase in blood glucose levels soon after they are consumed.

In gestational diabetes treatment, insulin injections may be prescribed when blood glucose levels are not near normal levels even with exercise and a low carbohydrate diet. A pregnant woman needs to maintain a healthy level of weight gain as the baby grows and eat well-balanced meals that provide the growing fetus with all the essential nutrients. Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes just means that the pregnant woman has to monitor her blood glucose levels regularly using a glucometer. Diets for women with gestational diabetes should limit the proportion of calories she gets from saturated fats and simple carbohydrates. Exercise forms a very important part of the treatment of gestational diabetes. Walking, swimming, and any other non-strenuous exercise that is appropriate is recommended as it helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Even for those who are normal weight, exercising can be beneficial for preventing gestational diabetes.

The risks of gestational diabetes for the mother could be high blood pressure, a difficult delivery because of a large baby, or the need for a Caesarean section. For the baby, the risks could be premature birth, breathing distress, jaundice, and low blood sugar at birth. The goal of all treatment for gestational diabetes is to maintain blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible.