Just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes?
If you’ve just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you’re probably wondering what happens next, how it affects your baby, and what you need to do.
A diagnosis of gestational diabetes can feel frightening and overwhelming, especially if you were not expecting it. But with the right information, support, and monitoring, many people manage gestational diabetes well and go on to have healthy pregnancies and babies.
Gestational diabetes does not mean you have done anything wrong. It means your blood glucose levels need extra monitoring and support during pregnancy.
While you’re waiting for your antenatal diabetes appointment
A gestational diabetes diagnosis may arrive by letter, text message or NHS app notification before you have spoken to the diabetes team. You may not have a blood glucose monitor, test times or target levels yet — and that waiting period can feel unsettling.
You do not need to have everything figured out immediately. Start with these simple steps while you wait for your appointment or group education session.
1) Check your diagnosis message
Look for an appointment date, contact number, test result or instructions about what happens next.
2) Contact your midwife or maternity team if needed
Ask when you will be seen, whether you will be given a blood glucose monitor, and who to contact if you are worried.
3) Do not try to change everything overnight
You do not need to cut out all carbohydrates or follow extreme restrictions.
4) Start with simple food changes
Focus on eating regular meals, pairing carbohydrate foods with protein and healthy fats, and avoiding very sugary drinks or snacks. You can learn more in our food and recipes section.
5) Write down your questions
Ask about testing times, target levels, high readings, appointments, scans, medication and who to contact for help.
6) Seek urgent advice if you are worried
Do not wait for a diabetes appointment if you have urgent pregnancy concerns.
You are not expected to manage everything perfectly from day one.
The aim is to get the right support, understand what your hospital wants you to do, and take things one step at a time.
What happens next?
After you are diagnosed, you will usually be referred to an antenatal diabetes team. They will guide you through how to monitor and manage your blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
At your first appointment, you may:
- Be given a blood glucose monitor and testing supplies
- Be shown how to test and record your blood glucose levels
- Be told when to test (for example, fasting and after meals)
- Be given target blood sugar levels
- Receive initial advice about food and activity
- Be told how your readings will be reviewed
Different hospitals may do things slightly differently, so always follow the advice given by your own diabetes and maternity team.
Some people manage gestational diabetes with food and lifestyle changes, while others may need medication or insulin. This does not mean you have failed, it means your body needs extra support during pregnancy.
If you want to understand blood sugar testing in more detail, read more about blood sugar testing →
Just diagnosed with gestational diabetes?
Download your FREE guide:
Your First Week with Gestational Diabetes
✓ What to eat in the first few days
✓ Blood sugar testing explained simply
✓ Easy meal and snack ideas
✓ Common mistakes to avoid
✓ Practical advice from someone who has been there
What does this mean for your pregnancy?
Many people with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and babies. Treatment aims to keep your blood sugar levels within the target range recommended by your care team.
You may have additional appointments or checks during your pregnancy. These are there to support you and make sure both you and your baby are doing well.
During your pregnancy, you may:
- Be asked to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly
- Receive advice about food, activity and medication
- Have more frequent appointments at hospital with your diabetes or maternity team
- Be offered extra scans to monitor your baby’s growth
- Discuss your birth plan earlier in pregnancy
These extra checks are a routine part of care for gestational diabetes and are there to support you throughout your pregnancy.
Every pregnancy is different, so your care plan will be tailored to you.
Most people with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and babies, especially when blood sugar levels are well managed.
What does this mean for your baby?
Most babies born to people with gestational diabetes are healthy, especially when blood sugar levels are well managed.
Gestational diabetes can affect how your baby grows during pregnancy, which is why your care team will monitor things more closely.
Gestational diabetes can increase the chance of a few things, including:
- Your baby growing larger than expected
- Your baby needing support with blood sugar levels after birth
- Extra monitoring during pregnancy and after delivery
These risks can often be reduced by keeping your blood sugar levels within the target range and following the advice from your antenatal diabetes care team.
Your maternity team will monitor your baby’s growth and well-being throughout your pregnancy to make sure everything is progressing as expected.
If you want to understand this in more detail, read more about the possible effects of gestational diabetes on your baby →
Birth and after birth with gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes may affect discussions about monitoring, your birth plan and your baby’s care after birth. Your care team will talk to you about what this means for your individual pregnancy.
You may:
- Discuss your birth plan earlier in pregnancy
- Be advised about timing of birth depending on your blood sugar levels
- Have your baby’s blood sugar levels checked after birth
- Receive extra support for feeding your baby
After your baby is born, gestational diabetes usually goes away.
However, you should be offered follow-up testing, as there is a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Guidance from NICE says you should be offered a blood test after pregnancy to check your blood sugar levels and help identify any ongoing risk.
Many people return to normal blood sugar levels after pregnancy, but follow-up care helps make sure you stay well in the long term.
If you want to understand your longer-term risk and what to do next, you can read more about diabetes after birth →
You should be offered regular blood tests after pregnancy, usually once a year, to check your blood sugar levels. This is often done using a HbA1c blood test.
This is important because having gestational diabetes increases your chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the future, and regular testing helps detect any changes early.
Many people continue to have normal blood sugar levels after pregnancy, but regular checks are a simple way to stay on top of your health.
If you’re looking for more practical support, including recipes and structured meal plans, you can explore membership here →