Gestational diabetes: How food affects blood glucose levels

The goal of managing gestational diabetes is to keep your blood glucose levels within a normal range for pregnancy. Food, physical activity and stress all affect your blood glucose level and the health of you and your baby.

Food and blood glucose

Your body converts much of the food you eat into glucose. Insulin moves that glucose from your bloodstream into your cells, where the glucose is used for energy. However, with gestational diabetes, your body has trouble using insulin properly.

Eating habits and food choices affect blood glucose levels.

• Not eating at regular times and not eating often enough can cause dips and peaks in your blood glucose.
• Eating too much food at once can cause blood glucose to go too high.

Healthy eating habits

Eating regularly and following tips like these will help you control your blood glucose and help you and your baby stay healthy.

• Choose a variety of healthful foods.
• Eat three meals and three snacks during the day.
• Eat something every 2 to 3 hours.
• Do not skip meals or snacks.
• Eat a small breakfast.
• Do not eat too much or too little. Your baby has constant nutritional needs and counts on you to eat the right amount of healthful foods.

Related Links

Basic meal planning

Completing a meal plan

Understanding carbohydrates

Using food labels

Allina Pregnancy Care

First published: 11/27/2006
Last updated: 11/27/2006

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts