Falling off the wagon
Sticking to a strict gestational diabetes diet is tough, and sometimes it’s easy to “fall off the wagon.” Nobody’s perfect—we’re all human! You don’t have to be 100% spot-on all the time.
If you do slip up, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, try to see it as a learning moment. Ask yourself what triggered it so you can be better prepared next time. A little slip doesn’t mean failure—it’s just part of the journey. Learn from it, move on, and keep going!
Identify the trigger…
Upset, emotions and stress
Life happens, and pregnancy hormones can stir up all kinds of emotions. Add a gestational diabetes diagnosis into the mix—along with any other challenges you might be facing—and it’s easy to understand why some women may turn to comfort eating or drinking, which can sometimes lead to a binge.
SOLUTION:
Life constantly throws curveballs, so the best approach is to be prepared. If you turn to food for comfort, plan stress-relief treats that won’t spike your blood sugar.
Explore alternative ways to relieve stress: take a candlelit bath, enjoy a massage from your partner (or book a professional one if needed!), go for a walk along the seafront or in the countryside—whatever helps you take some time out for yourself.
Too many restrictions
A gestational diabetes diagnosis can make some women feel like they’re living on salad leaves and “air” every day. Over-restricting yourself can quickly lead to feelings of deprivation and low mood, and it’s often just a matter of time before you reach a breaking point.
SOLUTION:
Take a look at our dietary advice. It’s based on eating little and often. By following the 8 Golden Rules, you can enjoy a wide variety of foods, and we can help you find alternatives for most cravings. You may find that our approach is less restrictive than the advice you received at the hospital—and it could make a big difference to your blood sugar readings.
You may be surprised at what you can eat and still achieve good blood sugar levels with!
Don’t know the alternatives and bored with what you’re eating?
It’s easy to fall into the habit of eating the same foods repeatedly because they give you good readings. However, there may come a point where even the sight of that food makes you feel sick. This is often the breaking point where many women feel like giving up and think, “I’ve had enough.”
SOLUTION:
Vary your diet as much as possible and explore new foods using our 8 Golden Rules. You don’t need to eat the same meals every day, go hungry, or feel deprived; there are plenty of foods you can enjoy.
See it as an opportunity to learn what’s really in your food and try out some of our recipes. Even beginners can create these meals—they’re made from wholesome ingredients that are easy to find in most supermarkets and reasonably priced, all cooked from scratch. These meals also make great options for your growing family. You can see an example in our sample meal plan.
Having gestational diabetes doesn’t mean you have to give up chocolate. It’s all about choosing the better options and pairing them wisely to help minimise blood sugar spikes.
If you need more ideas, our paid membership section includes shopping lists, hints, tips, and additional recipe ideas. You can view membership options here.
Don’t believe you have gestational diabetes or ‘don’t have it that bad’
A common challenge is that some women question their diagnosis and deliberately eat foods they know might affect their blood sugar as a “test” to see if they truly have gestational diabetes. Others may accept the diagnosis but feel they don’t have significant insulin resistance, so they continue with their usual diet, not worrying about foods that could cause spikes.
In both scenarios, overloading on carbohydrates in certain meals can lead to spikes and crashes. When testing, this can sometimes result in temporarily low readings, giving the impression that they are tolerating these foods better than they actually are.
SOLUTION:
If you believe you may have been misdiagnosed, it’s best to speak directly with your diabetes healthcare team. The glucose load used in a glucose tolerance test is quite high, so eating your normal diet may not immediately show high blood sugar levels, depending on the severity of your insulin resistance.
However, it’s important to be cautious. Even women with mild insulin resistance or a borderline diagnosis can experience rapid changes as the pregnancy progresses, particularly between 32–36 weeks, when insulin resistance typically increases.
For more on borderline diagnosis and experiences shared by previous members with borderline results, you can read more here.
Depending on your testing times and target levels, you may be missing what others would consider spikes or high readings. To learn more about blood sugar testing and target ranges, please take a look here. You might also consider doing additional tests to see how well you tolerate certain foods.
Don’t know enough about gestational diabetes and the risks
For some, there may be limited understanding of what gestational diabetes can mean for the baby. Many assume the only concern is having a larger baby, thinking, “Some babies are just big—what’s the problem?” Others may have had growth scans showing the baby is average or small and assume everything is fine.
Unfortunately, gestational diabetes involves more than just baby size, and there are additional factors to consider for both mother and child.
SOLUTION:
The best approach is to educate yourself on the risks so you can make informed decisions about your diet. To learn more about the complications associated with gestational diabetes, please read more here.
“I get highs when following the dietician’s advice, so why bother?”
Some women may not see positive results from the dietary advice they’ve been given and may feel there’s no point in following a “supposedly good diet,” continuing instead with their usual eating habits. Unfortunately, in many hospitals, dietary guidance can be limited or inadequate, leaving women feeling frustrated. As a result, some are started on medication or insulin, or have doses increased earlier in pregnancy simply to help tolerate the recommended gestational diabetes diet.
SOLUTION:
Try our dietary advice and you may see a HUGE difference which allows you to eat plenty of nice treats and still control and stabilise your blood sugar levels.
One treat won’t hurt will it?
One high reading on its own is unlikely to cause major complications with gestational diabetes. However, once you’ve had one treat, it can be a slippery slope. What starts as an occasional treat once a week can quickly become multiple times a week, or even daily. Combine this with the fact that gestational diabetes is a progressive condition, which often worsens as pregnancy advances, and you may find yourself facing more frequent over-target readings and rollercoaster blood sugar levels.
No one is saying you can’t have treats—there are plenty of options you can enjoy. The key is choosing wisely, pairing foods properly, and avoiding overindulgence.
Avoid temptation if it helps you
If being around certain foods or drinks makes it harder to stick to your plan, do your best to avoid those situations, or choose gestational diabetes–friendly alternatives instead. I’ve done the heavy lifting for you by creating hundreds of GD-friendly recipes that serve as delicious, well-known alternatives to your favourite dishes.
When going out for a meal, check the menu in advance and plan your best options based on the 8 Golden Rules. Use our Takeaway and Eating Out guide to help.
If a partner or family member doesn’t understand why you need to be strict with your diet and continues to eat the foods you crave in front of you, consider sharing our “Gestational Diabetes and the Family” page to help them understand and support you.
It’s not like a weight loss diet
Unlike a typical weight loss diet, where the main consequences affect only you, gestational diabetes impacts both you and your baby. If you choose to stop following a diet that helps keep blood sugar levels lower and stable, you might experience symptoms like shakes, sweating, extreme thirst, or headaches, or you might not feel any immediate difference at all.
However, the bigger concern is your baby. Uncontrolled blood sugar can influence fetal growth, affect the baby’s insulin production, and increase the risk of a range of complications.
Keep the end goal in focus!
Keep your focus on the ultimate goal: a healthy baby. It is important to remember that the dietary modifications required during gestational diabetes are temporary, limited to the duration of your pregnancy. Many individuals must manage dietary restrictions throughout their lives, making this period comparatively short-term.
Unfortunately, gestational diabetes also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Adopting appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes during and after pregnancy can help mitigate this risk. Once your baby is born, you can reintroduce foods you have been limiting—consider placing those items on a postpartum treat list to enjoy in moderation.
We all stumble—but that’s okay! Accept it, let it go, and move forward with purpose. Life is too short to dwell on the past—live fully in the present. Don’t wait for tomorrow; start again RIGHT NOW. Make your next choice count, take control, and remember: YOU CAN DO THIS!
