nuhahyearlyLaunch pricing - Get £50 off!nuhahyearlyGestational diabetes affects 4 to 5 in every 100 UK pregnancies. It is diagnosed via a glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks. Diet is the first line of treatment, focusing on complex carbohydrates and regular meals. If diet alone is not enough, metformin or insulin may be needed. Most people go on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby with the right support.
During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that make it harder for insulin to do its job. Your pancreas normally compensates by producing more insulin, but if it cannot keep up, blood sugar levels rise. This is not caused by eating too much sugar. It is a hormonal and metabolic response to pregnancy.
You are more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you have a BMI of 30 or above, have had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, have a family origin that is South Asian, Black Caribbean, or Middle Eastern, or have previously had a baby weighing 4.5kg or more.
If you have any of these risk factors, you will be offered a glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks.
The oral glucose tolerance test involves fasting overnight, having a blood sample taken, drinking a glucose solution, then having a second blood sample taken two hours later. You are diagnosed if your fasting glucose is 5.6 mmol/L or above, or your two-hour glucose is 7.8 mmol/L or above.
You will be referred to a specialist diabetes in pregnancy team. Your care will include learning to monitor your blood sugar at home, dietary guidance from a specialist dietitian, more frequent antenatal appointments, additional ultrasound scans to monitor your baby's growth, and discussion about delivery timing and options.
Diet is the first line of treatment. Key principles include eating regular meals and snacks, choosing complex carbohydrates that release energy slowly (wholegrain bread, brown rice, oats, sweet potatoes, lentils), pairing carbohydrates with protein or healthy fats, watching portion sizes of starchy foods, choosing whole fruit over fruit juice, and being cautious with hidden sugars.
Your dietitian will create a personalised plan based on your preferences, cultural foods, and lifestyle.
If blood sugar levels remain above target despite dietary changes, the usual first option is metformin. If metformin alone does not control levels, insulin injections may be recommended. Neither metformin nor insulin will harm your baby.
Unmanaged gestational diabetes can cause the baby to grow larger than average, which can complicate delivery. It can also lead to low blood sugar in the baby after birth and a slightly higher chance of jaundice. With good management, most people have a straightforward pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Many hospitals recommend induction between 38 and 40 weeks depending on how well controlled your blood sugar is, whether you are on insulin, and your baby's estimated size.
For most people, blood sugar levels return to normal once the placenta is delivered. You will be asked to have a fasting blood test at your 6-week postnatal check. Having gestational diabetes does mean you have a higher lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The NHS recommends an annual HbA1c blood test going forward.
Milestones, partner sharing, notes, photos, and a curated essentials guide. Free, no app to install.
Get Started Free© 2026 Nuhah. All rights reserved.