HowBad Is Gestational Diabetes?

For me, it wasn't a big deal. My blood sugar levels were totally normal once I stopped snacking in between meals. Make sure your doctor refers you to a good nutritionist and that you get a glucose monitor. You may not have to change your diet much. Don't completely avoid good carbs like whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. Limit the amount of refined sugar you consume but don't just switch to artificial sweeteners. 

There are no risks to your own health unless your sugar levels are extremely high. If your sugars aren't well controlled there are health risks for your baby. Sugar from your blood stream can pass through the placenta but insulin cannot. This means that your baby will get too much sugar and your baby's pancreas will have to produce more insulin to combat it. This will cause your baby to have low blood sugar after he or she is born because it takes time for the body to adjust to not having high blood sugar from you. Your baby can also put on excess body fat which has health risks in itself.

But, if your sugars are well controlled there is nothing to worry about. A nurse will check your baby's blood sugar levels 2 or 3 times after he or she is born to make sure the levels are normal.