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Gestational diabetes: what to know during pregnancy
Key takeaways
- Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar first found in pregnancy; it affects about 5–9% of US pregnancies (CDC).
- Most people are tested at 24–28 weeks; higher-risk people earlier.
- Common targets: fasting below 95 mg/dL, 1 hour after meals below 140, or 2 hours below 120 — your care team sets yours.
- It usually goes away after birth, but about half will later develop type 2 diabetes, so follow-up testing matters.
What is gestational diabetes?
During pregnancy, placental hormones make the body more resistant to insulin. Most people make extra insulin to compensate; when the pancreas can't keep up, blood sugar rises. Gestational diabetes usually has no symptoms, which is why routine screening is standard.
How it's tested
Most people are screened between 24 and 28 weeks. Two common approaches:
- Two-step: a 50 g glucose drink with a blood test 1 hour later; if high, a longer 100 g, 3-hour test follows.
- One-step: a 75 g, 2-hour glucose tolerance test after fasting. With this test, gestational diabetes is diagnosed if any value is at or above fasting 92 mg/dL, 1 hour 180 mg/dL, or 2 hours 153 mg/dL.
People with risk factors may be tested in the first trimester.
Risk factors
- Gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
- A previous baby weighing over 9 pounds
- Overweight before pregnancy
- Family history of type 2 diabetes
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Being African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
Blood sugar targets in pregnancy
| Time | Common target |
|---|---|
| Fasting | Below 95 mg/dL |
| 1 hour after a meal | Below 140 mg/dL |
| 2 hours after a meal | Below 120 mg/dL |
Targets based on American Diabetes Association guidance; your obstetric team may set different goals.
Treatment
Many people manage gestational diabetes with a meal plan, regular activity such as walking after meals, and checking glucose several times a day. If targets aren't met, insulin is the usual next step because it's safe in pregnancy. Keeping glucose in range lowers risks such as a very large baby, birth complications, and low blood sugar in the newborn.
After the baby is born
Gestational diabetes usually resolves after delivery. Because about half of people with gestational diabetes later develop type 2, get a glucose test 4–12 weeks after birth and regular checks afterward.
Cardivo makes it easy to log fasting and after-meal readings with tags and share a PDF with your care team. Cardivo is not a medical device and doesn't measure glucose with the camera.
This guide is general wellness education based on the public sources below. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Cardivo is not a medical device. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
When are you tested for gestational diabetes?
Usually between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. People with risk factors may be tested earlier.
What are normal blood sugar levels for gestational diabetes?
Common targets are below 95 mg/dL fasting, below 140 mg/dL one hour after meals, or below 120 mg/dL two hours after meals. Your care team sets your personal targets.
Does gestational diabetes go away?
It usually goes away after birth, but about half of people with gestational diabetes later develop type 2 diabetes, so follow-up testing is important.