Gestational Diabetes

All pregnant persons will be offered blood glucose screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you have risk factors for GDM, you may be tested earlier in your pregnancy. If you have pre-existing diabetes, you will not need this testing.

GDM is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It happens when the hormones secreted by the placenta make it harder for your body to break down carbohydrates (sugars).

Untreated GDM increases the likelihood of having a large baby, and is associated with birth complications as well as health risks for the newborn (e.g., preeclampsia, shoulder dystocia). Untreated GD also increases the risk of stillbirth late in pregnancy (36-40 weeks).

Treatment of GDM starts with controlling the amount and type of carbohydrates (sugar) in your diet, as well as increasing exercise. You may also need oral medications or insulin injections to keep your blood sugar normal.

Most people who have treated GDM have normal deliveries and healthy children.

To learn more, please review the curated resources below:

Information on gestational diabetes by Diabetes Canada:
https://www.diabetes.ca/managing-my-diabetes/tools—resources/gestational-diabetes-fact-sheet

Information gestational diabetes testing and treatment by North York General Hospital:
https://www.nygh.on.ca/areas-care/maternal-newborn-and-paediatric-care/pregnancy-and-birth/guide-to-pregnancy-and-birth/during-pregnancy/gestational-diabetes/

Healthy eating with gestational diabetes by the Alberta Health Services. Excellent resource with sample meal and snack ideas:
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-healthy-eating-gestational-diabetes.pdf

What to do for a healthy pregnancy by Hamilton Health Sciences:
https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/DiabetesGestationalPORTRAIT-lw.pdf