Gestational diabetes is on the rise: What it means for moms and babies

Gestational diabetes is not an uncommon diagnosis during pregnancy. Recent research published by the American Medical Association suggests rates in the U.S. have increased 36% across all races and ethnicities over the past 10 years. As a maternal fetal medicine physician, I have seen this rising trend firsthand.

Women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy experience insulin resistance due to pregnancy hormones. This leads to high blood sugar, and, if left untreated, can cause a myriad of health problems for both baby and mom, including preterm birth, high birth weight, future diabetes and stillbirth. For these reasons, detection and appropriate management of gestational diabetes is critical.

Gestational diabetes treatment

I care for patients with gestational diabetes, especially those who are already considered high risk due to other factors. We also see gestational diabetes more often in twin pregnancies because the hormonal load and insulin resistance can be even higher. We develop a care plan that includes lifestyle and diet changes, blood glucose monitoring and medication, when necessary.

Diet

We focus on implementing dietary changes and physical activity to help keep your blood sugar within a healthy range. You’ll want to avoid foods that lead to spikes in blood sugar, such as refined carbohydrates, highly processed foods, and sugary drinks and treats.

We promote a well-rounded diet complete with lean protein, healthy fats, fruits and non-starchy vegetables. A key part of blood sugar management is pairing a protein, healthy fat and carbohydrate to slow the body’s sugar absorption.

Physical activity

Staying active is important for a healthy pregnancy in general, but it also plays a large role in gestational diabetes management. Moving the body can look different during every trimester, but the important thing is to get moving. Things like walking, swimming and even cleaning are all forms of moderate-intensity exercise.

Blood sugar monitoring

Women with gestational diabetes must monitor their blood sugar throughout the day to ensure it remains within a safe range. Partnering with a comprehensive diabetes center and expanding use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can improve glycemic control, reveal otherwise missed postprandial spikes, and may lead to better maternal and neonatal outcomes than traditional finger-stick monitoring.

Medications

In certain cases, medication is necessary to manage gestational diabetes. You might need to schedule additional appointments and scans to check the baby’s growth, particularly toward the end of pregnancy, to ensure everything is progressing as anticipated.

The impact of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is more than a ‘pregnancy-only’ diagnosis: The glucose environment in utero can influence fetal programming, shaping how a baby’s metabolism learns to handle sugar and energy. This can affect the child’s long-term risk of developing conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Early detection and steady, practical management help protect both immediate pregnancy outcomes and a child’s long-term health.

Pregnancy is a powerful window of opportunity. When we identify gestational diabetes early and partner with women in a thoughtful, individualized way, we’re not just improving outcomes for nine months — we’re investing in the lifelong health of two generations.

Dr. Suwan Mehra is the medical director of the Center for Fetal Care at Advocate Children’s Hospital.

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