Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that starts or is first diagnosed during pregnancy. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes tend to have larger babies at birth. This can increase the chance of problems at the time of delivery.

This article discusses the diet recommendations for women with gestational diabetes who do NOT take insulin.

Eating a balanced diet is an important part of any pregnancy. The food you eat helps your baby grow and develop while in the womb. Diet is even more important if you have diabetes. Most of the time, eating properly can keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels from becoming too high or too low. Eating properly can also help you avoid needing medications for your diabetes.

You can help manage gestational diabetes with diet and exercise. Every pregnancy is different. Your doctor and dietitian will create a diet just for you, based on:

• The type of calories you need
• Your weight (pregnant women who are obese may need a diet with fewer calories that other pregnant women)
• How far along you are in your pregnancy
• How fast and how large your baby is growing
• Your activity level

Remember that "eating for two" does not mean eating twice as many calories. You usually need just 300 extra calories a day (such as a glass of milk, a banana, and 10 crackers).