• Gestational diabetes means you develop high blood sugar during your pregnancy. While it may sound like a scary diagnosis, it isn’t uncommon—it affects 5 to 9% of pregnant people in the United States each year. Here are 3 things you should know about gestational diabetes: 

    • You’ll get tested for gestational diabetes about halfway through pregnancy. Generally between 24 and 28 weeks, your healthcare provider will give you a test to check for gestational diabetes. During this test, you’ll drink a sugary drink and get your blood sugar levels tested afterwards. Depending on your results, you may need to do another blood sugar test to be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

    • You can still have a healthy pregnancy if you get treatment for gestational diabetes. Most people who get treatment for gestational diabetes have a healthy pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby. Your healthcare provider will give you a treatment plan that can include more frequent check-ups, medication to help manage your blood sugar, and diet and physical activity recommendations.

    • Small lifestyle changes make a big difference. Eating healthy foods and staying physically active not only help manage gestational diabetes, but can help prevent it, too. Talk to your healthcare provider about being physically active during pregnancy, drink lots of water, and eat a variety of whole grains, proteins, fruits, and vegetables through your pregnancy.