Written by the Progyny Editorial Team. Reviewed by the Progyny Clinical Team — October 2025.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Typically, it develops in the 2nd or 3rd trimester and goes away after giving birth. High blood sugar from gestational diabetes can cause problems (such as difficult delivery, pre-term labor, increased risk for c-section, or risks at birth for the baby), but it can be managed.
Whether you’ve heard of gestational diabetes before or this is the first time you’re learning about it, let’s go over the basics. Because if you develop this condition, you have a lot of control.
#1. Anyone can get gestational diabetes.
It’s important to realize that gestational diabetes can happen to anyone, and it’s nothing to feel guilty about. People of all sizes, shapes, and backgrounds can develop diabetes during pregnancy. There are some things that can increase your risk, but having risk factors does not necessarily mean you’ll get it.
If you have or develop diabetes during pregnancy, it’s helpful to know you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common pregnancy complications, happening in about 1 out of 10 pregnancies.
#2. You can have a healthy pregnancy.
While gestational diabetes increases the risk for certain complications, it doesn’t mean you’ll have an unhealthy pregnancy.
The most important thing to know is this: there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. You’ll work with your healthcare provider to develop a care plan that includes:
- Checking your blood sugar every day
- Following a healthy meal plan
- Being physically active
In fact, most people with gestational diabetes have a healthy pregnancy when they stick to their care plan and learn about the condition. There’s a lot you can do to keep yourself and your baby safe.
#3. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy.
It can be reassuring to learn that gestational diabetes is temporary, only happening during pregnancy. Why is this?
As with so many changes in pregnancy, it’s driven by hormones:
- During pregnancy, your body produces hormones for the baby’s growth and development. Unfortunately, these hormones make it harder for your body to control blood sugar levels.
- As the pregnancy goes on, you continue to make more hormones, peaking in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. This is why gestational diabetes usually develops later in pregnancy.
- Once the baby is born, your body stops making these hormones. And when the hormones go away, gestational diabetes goes away.
What about type 2 diabetes?
Rarely, some people continue to have high blood sugar after delivery. This is a sign that their body is having trouble controlling blood sugar, even after the hormones have gone away. They may be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and they will work with their doctor on a care plan.
It’s also important to know that having gestational diabetes does raise your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life (even if it goes away after pregnancy). Staying physically active and following a healthy eating plan can help reduce this risk.
To screen for type 2 diabetes, you’ll be tested 4 to 12 weeks after delivery, and again every 1 to 3 years.
#4. You’ll be given a blood glucose meter to check your blood sugar levels.
The main goal of managing diabetes is to keep your blood sugar in its target range.
How do you know if your blood sugar is in or out of range?
If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your doctor will give you a blood glucose meter. This is a small device that lets you measure your blood sugar anytime, anywhere. So you don’t have to schedule an appointment or come into the lab when you want to know your numbers.
Everyone with diabetes has their own personalized care plan and instructions. But often, people check their blood sugar up to 4 times a day:
- First thing in the morning after fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water)
- 1 to 2 hours after each meal
This will help you see how your blood sugar changes after meals and what changes need to be made to help keep you in your target range.
#5. Gestational diabetes is usually managed with healthy eating.
Most people reach their blood sugar goals through healthy eating, physical activity, and blood sugar checks.
But for some people, what worked at the start of their diagnosis no longer works later in their pregnancy. As they get closer to their due date, they produce more pregnancy hormones that make it harder to keep blood sugar in their target range.
Additional eating or physical activity changes can help some of these people reach their goals. Others might need help from insulin or other medicine to bring their blood sugar down.
If this happens, it does NOT mean that they have done anything wrong or “failed.” It just means that their body needs extra help. Including insulin or medicine in their care plan is simply the most effective way to keep them and their baby safe.
Your team is here for you.
If you have or develop gestational diabetes, work closely with your doctor to understand your care plan: checking your blood sugar, eating healthy, and being physically active. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here for you if you have questions or need any support.
Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.