Diabetes in pregnancy
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.
It can happen at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second or third trimester.
It happens when your body cannot produce enough insulin – a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels – to meet your extra needs in pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes can cause problems for you and your baby during pregnancy and after birth. But the risks can be reduced if the condition is detected early and well managed.
- Gestational Diabetes UK
- Gestational Diabetes – causes and symptoms
- Free guide to Gestational Diabetes
- RCOG GDM Information Leaflet
- GDM Patient Information Leaflet
Testing your blood sugar at home
For support using the GdmHealth app, visit the Help Centre and FAQ page on their website.
You can find further support and useful guides here.
Dietary advice for gestational diabetes
- Gestational Diabetes Diet Sheet
- Carbohydrate snacks of 10g or less
- What can I eat with Gestational Diabetes? – Diabetes UK
- For information on MoreLife – a local weight management service for those living in Milton Keynes or Bedfordshire – click here.
Patient information leaflets
After birth (postnatally)
Due to your high risk of progressing to Type 2 diabetes in the future (50-80% in 5-10 years after having had Gestational Diabetes!) we recommend the following:
- To book a fasting glucose blood test via your GP at 6-8 weeks OR HbA1c blood test (non-fasting) between 3-6 months after birth
- Ongoing diabetes screening with your GP every year
- You can ask your GP to refer you to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, click here for further information
Further information and support
Diabetes Specialist Midwives: 01908 995 388 / 07917 173 208
You can contact the team, Monday to Friday between 0900 – 1700hrs.
Further information about gestational diabetes
Staff
Imaging
Maternity
- Feeling your baby move
- Corticosteriods in pregnancy
- Birthing partners staying overnight
- Gestational Diabetes mellitus
- Assisted vaginal birth (ventouse or forceps)
- Meet the Maternity Team
- Staying comfortable during labour
- Epidural – Your Choice
- TB, BCG and your baby
- Screening tests for you and your baby (STFYAYB)
- Perinatal Mental Health
- Breech Presentation – What are your choices?
- Reducing the risk of pre-eclampsia – Information for women taking aspirin in pregnancy
- Down’s, Edward’s & Patau’s syndromes screening
- Monitoring your Baby’s Heartbeat in Labour
- Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme Handbook
- The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU)
- Illness in newborn babies
- Planning your birth
- Coronavirus: Parent information for newborn babies
- Use of water in labour and birth
- Postnatal Community Care
- HIV and Pregnancy – You and Your Baby
- GDm-Health
- Caring for your wound after having a caesarean section
- Outpatient Induction of Labour
- Induction of Labour
- Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Pregnancy
- Newborn Feeding Policy Summary
- Perineal Care
- Feeding your baby during a hospital admission
- Antenatal Day Assessment Unit (ADAU)
- NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme
- Blood Groups and Red Cell Antibodies in Pregnancy
- Birth Reflections
- Understanding why your baby died
- Gestational diabetes using the GDmHealth App
- Pregnancy information for women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- Vitamin K for Newborn Babies
- Pethidine Injection for homebirths
- Loss of Your Baby – Neonatal – Guidance for parents
- Late Miscarriage or Termination of Pregnancy for Medical Reasons – Guidance for parents
- Stillbirth or Termination of Pregnancy (over 24 weeks) – Guidance for parents
- Tongue Tie Division to Improve Breastfeeding
- How to take your blood pressure at home using an upper arm monitor
- Suspected Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnant Women
- Antenatal Colostrum Collection
- A guide to starting insulin for women with gestational diabetes
- Early pregnancy scan
- Anomaly Scan Information
- Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy Advice and Exercise
- Home birth at MKUH
Neonatal Unit
Pain Management
Physiotherapy
Last Modified: 9:41am 12/12/2024