How to Manage Gestational Diabetes for a Healthy Pregnancy

From healthcare.utah.edu

When you’re pregnant, taking care of your baby’s health means taking care of your health. Learning that you have gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can feel overwhelming. You may even wonder if you did something to cause it. But GDM develops because of changes in how the body uses insulin during pregnancy.

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 9% of pregnancies in the U.S. are affected by GDM each year.

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

Like other types of diabetes, GDM occurs when the body can’t make or use insulin effectively to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

“Pregnancy induces physiologic insulin resistance, which helps make more glucose available to the growing baby,” says Trece Swanson, DNP, a certified nurse midwife in Maternal Fetal Medicine at University of Utah Health.

Most people can make extra insulin to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes develops when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to meet the body’s increased needs.

You don’t need to have  Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes before pregnancy to develop GDM. However, some factors can increase your risk, including:

• Having a family history of Type 2 diabetes
• Being prediabetic
• Being over the age of 35 during pregnancy
• Having a high body mass index (BMI)
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Being Black, Asian, Hispanic, or American Indian

Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean you will develop GDM. The condition can also occur in people without known risk factors.

When and How Is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed?

GDM often has no symptoms, which is why screening is an important part of prenatal care. Patients are typically tested between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.

The first test usually involves:

1. Drinking a glucose beverage: You drink a 50-gram sugary glucose beverage.
2. Getting a blood draw: About one hour later, a clinician takes a blood draw.
3. Checking your blood sugar: The blood sample is tested to measure the amount of glucose in your blood.

What Happens If Your Blood Sugar is High?

If your blood sugar is above the screening level, the next step is a three-hour diagnostic test.

For this test: 

• You will need to fast before the appointment.
• Your blood will be drawn upon arrival. 
• You’ll drink a 100-gram glucose beverage.
• Your blood will be drawn hourly for three hours.

If two or more of the four blood sugar measurements are elevated, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  

“The one-hour test is a standard screening test, and a lot of patients wonder why we don’t just do the three-hour test on everybody,” Swanson says, “but we would end up doing a much more involved test for a large volume of people who don’t need it, because most people will pass the one-hour screening.”

Next Steps After a Gestational Diabetes Diagnosis

The good news is that most GDM cases resolve after pregnancy. For many people, a balanced diet and regular exercise can help manage gestational diabetes.

Focus meals on foods such as:

• Lean proteins
• Whole grains
• Vegetables
• Fruits

Limit foods and drinks that can cause blood sugar to rise quickly, such as:

• Sweets
• Sugary drinks
• Highly processed foods
• White bread
• Rice
• Starchy foods

Physical activity can also help manage blood sugar. Talk to your pregnancy care provider about activities that are safe for you. If your provider recommends it, aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Walking and swimming can be good options during pregnancy.

Managing Your Blood Sugar Levels

Some people may need to check their blood sugar with a simple finger prick in the morning and after meals to ensure that it’s within a healthy range. Healthy blood sugar ranges include:

• Before a meal: Less than 95 mg/dL
• One hour after eating: Less than 140 mg/dL
• Tow hours after eating: Less than 120 mg/dL

Why Treating Gestational Diabetes Is Important

Keeping blood sugar within a healthy range helps protect both you and your baby. When gestational diabetes isn’t well controlled, it can lead to dangerous complications, such as:

• Preeclampsia (very high maternal blood pressure)
• Large birth weight for baby, which increases the possibility of needing a Cesarean section
• Birth trauma due to a large baby
• Increased risk of the birthing parent developing Type 2 diabetes later in life
• Stillbirth
• Low blood sugar for baby after delivery
• Premature birth

The good news is that managing blood sugar can reduce these risks.

https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2026/08/how-manage-gestational-diabetes-healthy-pregnancy

What Happens to Your Blood Sugar When You Take Ginger Supplements Regularly

From verywellhealth.com

Key Takeaways

• Ginger supplements may modestly lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, but study results are mixed.

• Most research focuses on ginger powder or supplements, not ginger added to foods, for blood sugar control.
• Ginger supplements may interact with diabetes medications and cause blood sugar to drop too low, so consult a healthcare provider before use.

Ginger is a zesty spice commonly used in foods and beverages. Some research suggests that it may modestly improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. However, most studies tested ginger powder or standalone supplements rather than ginger added to foods.

Taking ginger supplements may modestly improve your blood sugar levels, though more research is needed.    MarioGuti / Getty Images

Fasting Blood Sugar Levels May Decrease

Fasting blood sugar measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood after at least 8 hours without eating. Some research suggests that ginger supplements may lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, but results are mixed.

One systematic review and meta-analysis found that people with type 2 diabetes who took 1.2 to 2 grams of ginger powder daily for 4 to 12 weeks had fasting blood sugar levels about 19 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) lower, on average, than those who did not.

However, a more recent review of five clinical trials found no significant overall reduction.

Insulin Sensitivity May Improve

Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from the bloodstream into cells for energy. With insulin resistance, the body doesn’t respond to insulin effectively, which can cause blood sugar to rise. Insulin resistance is common in people with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Some research suggests that ginger may improve insulin sensitivity. In one study, people with metabolic syndrome who took 2 grams of ginger powder daily for 12 weeks showed improvements in insulin sensitivity and fasting blood sugar.

A systematic review and meta-analysis also found that ginger supplementation may reduce insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

A1C May Decrease Over Time

Haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) reflects your average blood sugar levels over the previous 12 weeks. One meta-analysis of 13 studies found that ginger supplements lowered A1C by about 0.4 percentage points in people with type 2 diabetes. The researchers noted that such a small decrease may not significantly affect blood sugar control on its own.

Not all studies have found this benefit. A 2024 review of five clinical trials found no significant overall reduction in A1C. Differences in ginger doses, study length, and design may explain the conflicting results.

Dietary Ginger May Have Less Effect on Blood Sugar

Most research on ginger and blood sugar has involved ginger powder or supplements taken daily for several weeks. Studies of ginger consumed with food or drinks are limited and show conflicting results:

• Ginger water: In one small study, 24 adults without diabetes who consumed a preparation containing 0.2 grams of ginger powder after a glucose drink had a smaller rise in blood sugar and a lower peak blood sugar over the following two hours.
• Ginger with food: Another study of 12 healthy adults found that adding 3 or 6 grams of ginger to rice pudding did not reduce the rise in blood sugar after eating.

These studies suggest adding ginger to meals may not have a meaningful or predictable effect on blood sugar. There is not enough evidence to know whether regularly eating fresh or dried ginger can lower fasting blood sugar or A1C over time.

Ginger Supplements and Safety

Research showing potential blood sugar benefits has primarily involved ginger powder or supplements rather than ginger added to foods. Although supplements may improve blood sugar control in some people with type 2 diabetes, they should not replace diabetes medications or treatments.

Ginger supplements may increase the effects of insulin and other diabetes medications, possibly causing blood sugar to drop too low (hypoglycaemia). Talk to a healthcare provider before taking a ginger supplement while using these medications.

Ginger may also cause side effects, including:

• Heartburn
• Stomach discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Mouth or throat irritation

https://www.verywellhealth.com/ginger-supplements-and-blood-sugar-12058771 

4 Signs of High Blood Sugar in Your Fingernails, According to Doctors

From verywellhealth.com

Chronic high blood sugar can cause changes to the nails.   MementoJpeg / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• Yellow or dull-looking nails can be an early sign of high blood sugar, due to the breakdown of sugar and its impact on collagen.
• A new brown or black streak on the nail that changes or involves surrounding skin should be evaluated by a dermatologist to rule out melanoma.
• High blood sugar can slow nail growth, make nails brittle, or increase the risk of fungal infections, which may cause thick, crumbly, or discoloured nails.

Persistent elevated blood sugar can lead to a number of changes in the body, including your fingernails.

That’s because when a person’s blood sugar stays elevated for extended periods of time, it can affect the nerves and tiny blood vessels that supply the toes and nail beds. Nails are also a mirror of general health, so major changes in their appearance can indicate a deeper issue, such as diabetes.

1. Discolouration

One of the most common early signs of high blood sugar is a yellow or dull-looking nail, said Omodamola Aje, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist at Berkshire Medical Center. This kind of colouring can occur in the nails of people with diabetes because of the breakdown of sugar and its impact on collagen. While this type of mild discolouration can be a sign that something deeper is going on, it is typically harmless and does not need treatment.

However, Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, said a new brown or black streak—particularly one that is changing, widening, or involving the surrounding skin—should be evaluated by a dermatologist rather than assumed to have anything to do with diabetes.

“Nail melanoma is uncommon, but it is something we do not want to miss,” she said.

2. Slow Growth

High blood sugar can also slow nail growth.

“Over time, poorly controlled diabetes can affect the small blood vessels and circulation that supply tissues throughout the body,” Palm explained. “That can affect how well the nail unit is nourished and how normally a nail grows.”

Chronic hyperglycaemia can also damage nerves and blood vessels more broadly, she said.

3. Brittle Nails

In addition to discoloration and slow growth, high blood sugar can also cause nails to become brittle. They may crack and split easily, while clubbing can be seen in more advanced or long-standing cases, Aje said.

The nail may also become thicker than normal and even begin separating from the nail bed, Palm said. “That said, I would be careful about attributing every brittle or yellow nail directly to glucose issues.”

4. Infection

High blood sugar can impair immune function, increasing the risk of fungal infections of the nails, known as “onychomycosis.” 

This may cause the nail to look yellow or white, become thicker, appear crumbly or distorted, and sometimes lift away from the nail bed, Palm said. In fact, all of the changes mentioned above can occur on their own or be caused by a fungal infection. While diabetes increases the risk of fungal nail infections, she said this tends to be even more noticeable in the toenails than the fingernails.

“Persistently elevated blood sugar can make it more difficult for the immune system to respond effectively to infection, and fungal infections are more common when blood glucose is high,” Palm explained. “That can become something of a cycle.”

If not properly treated, this kind of infection can lead to an elevated risk of secondary fungal and bacterial infections, foot ulceration, and, in advanced cases, amputation.

When To Get Checked

While nail changes by themselves are not a way to diagnose high blood sugar or diabetes, Aje said they can be a useful early sign of the condition, especially in someone with risk factors such as obesity, a family history of diabetes, or a sedentary lifestyle.

“If you notice any changes in your nail colour, brittleness, or thickness associated with an increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss, definitely bring it up to your doctor,” she said.

However, it’s important to recognize there isn’t one specific “diabetes nail,” Palm said, and nail changes can only give clues about what may be happening elsewhere in the body. Nail changes may also have other potential causes, including aging, repeated wetting and drying of the hands, manicures, trauma, psoriasis, eczema, medications, and other medical conditions.

“Any nail change that is new, persistent, or getting progressively worse deserves attention, particularly if someone already has diabetes,” she said. “I’d want a patient evaluated if a nail becomes painful, swollen, warm, or increasingly red around the edges, or if there is drainage or another sign of infection.”

https://www.verywellhealth.com/signs-of-high-blood-sugar-fingernails-12058097

The Best Time to Eat Breakfast If You Have Diabetes, According to Diabetes Educators

From eatingwell.com

Timing is everything, right? Diabetes educators explain when they eat their first meal to manage their blood sugars 

KEY POINTS

• The best time to eat breakfast with diabetes depends on your blood sugar and lifestyle needs.
• Higher-fibre, protein-rich foods can help steady blood sugar and keep you full.
• Testing before and after meals shows how breakfast timing and choices affect your glucose.

Breakfast is one of the most unique meals of the day because it’s consumed after a long fast. (Hence the name “break” “fast.”) If you have diabetes, you may want to know what time you should eat breakfast. Right after waking up? Post-coffee? Wait a little bit?

The real answer to this question is that everyone’s needs are unique. Individualization runs deep when it comes to managing diabetes because a variety of factors, including your pre-meal blood sugar, hormones, medication and schedule all play into your choice. In short: What works for you may not work for someone else. To dive deeper into this discussion, we asked diabetes care and education specialists (CDCES) living with diabetes about breakfast timing, meal composition and factors that can influence when and what they eat for breakfast. Here’s more about how to time your breakfast right.

Credit: Getty Images. EatingWell design

When to Eat Your First Meal of the Day

When it comes to diabetes, you need to put yourself first because there’s no right or wrong way to break your fast. What matters is that you find the pattern that works for you.

“I don’t recommend a specific time for eating breakfast because the best time is very individualized and differs for every person,” says Mary Lechner, RN, CDCES, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 25 years. “For me personally, I eat breakfast based on whether I am hungry and what my blood glucose level is. I do not force myself to eat breakfast if I am not hungry,” she explains. 

Lauren Plunkett, RDN, CDCES, who lives with type 1 diabetes, agrees with not providing blanket recommendations because there are so many factors that can affect your levels. “Blood glucose can be especially reactive in the early morning due to physiological factors. It’s constantly affected by hormones, nutrition, stress and exercise, and this influence varies individually and is often unpredictable,” she explains. 

To help take these factors into account, test your blood sugar often. “One of my best strategies is to check your blood glucose levels before eating and two hours after to be able to know if your breakfast plan worked well,” says Toby Smithson, M.S., RDN, CDCES, who has been managing diabetes for more than five decades. If you notice that your blood sugar is above goal, you may need to make changes to your breakfast meal, exercise regimen or medications, she says. For example, walking after a meal is a powerful tool to help manage your blood glucose levels. It’s something you can incorporate into your routine if your breakfast unexpectedly causes a rise in blood sugar.

Why Breakfast Matters for Blood Sugar

What you eat for breakfast matters for your health. It plays a role in metabolism, provides sustainable energy and delivers important nutrients for your well-being. In addition, breakfast can be protective against chronic inflammation and the disease risks that go with it.

“There are several truths behind the adage, ‘Start your day with breakfast,’” says Smithson. “Consuming breakfast may help manage blood sugar by disrupting a spike in glucose levels throughout the day, [which] allows for our intake of carbohydrates to be spread out throughout the day, offers an opportunity to obtain nutrition (it’s hard to get all our nutrition squeezed into two meals) and helps us feel fuller until lunchtime,” she explains.

How to Build a Balanced Morning Meal

Breakfast does not have to mean juice, eggs, bacon or cereal and milk, says Plunkett. “Beans, vegetables, fruit and greens can be eaten, and regular intake of whole plant foods contribute to long-term insulin sensitivity,” she says. These types of whole plant foods are low in saturated fat and rich in fibre. Fibre can help keep us full, contributes to gut health and regulates blood sugar. 

When planning a meal, including breakfast, Smithson uses the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Plate Method. Half of the plate is filled with non-starchy vegetables, one-quarter is lean protein and one-quarter is a quality carbohydrate. “Building a healthy breakfast revolves around combining a source of lean protein and a source of quality carbohydrate to keep blood glucose steady,” she says.

In addition, Smithson says she has been eating high-fibre oatmeal combined with protein powder and an egg white wrap filled with bell peppers and onions. These are foods that she prefers and that nourish her body. She makes adjustments based on her blood glucose and activity level. 

Knowing what foods work for you is advantageous to maintaining energy and managing blood glucose levels. Alternatively, knowing which foods don’t work well for you can be equally important. 

For example, Lechner points out that her blood sugars rise more quickly (and her hunger is not satisfied) if she eats cereal with milk compared to nut butter spread on toast.

Our Expert Take

If you have diabetes, the best time to eat breakfast will depend on a variety of factors. Professionals living with diabetes say that the time and type of breakfast they eat varies depending on what their blood sugar is, what they are in the mood for, if they are going to exercise and more. These are all things you can consider when deciding when the best time is for you to eat breakfast.

Foods that are higher in fibre and protein can help you manage your appetite and blood sugar while hitting your nutrient needs. Choosing foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and legumes might be a good place to start. For personalized nutrition information, reach out to a registered dietitian or certified diabetes care and education specialist.

https://www.eatingwell.com/best-time-for-breakfast-diabetes-12029234