Gestational Diabetes: Keeping Moms & Babies Healthy
Understanding Gestational Diabetes: What Every Neighbor Should Know
Food and Culture
Written by: Nafisa Bhuriwala, UH Intern Fall 2025
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a form of high blood sugar that occurs during pregnancy, and it’s important to understand because it can impact both your health and your baby’s in several ways.
Gestational diabetes causes blood sugar levels to increase more than usual during pregnancy. It can be managed with healthy eating, regular activity, and monitoring under a healthcare provider’s guidance. Most people with GDM have healthy pregnancies and babies. However, it’s important to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range to support both mom and baby. While blood sugar levels usually return to normal after your baby is born, it’s important to know that GDM is a strong risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. In fact, the American Diabetes Association shows that up to about half of people who have had GDM will eventually develop type 2 diabetes. If you’d like to learn more about type 2 diabetes and ways to prevent it, check out our companion article at the Houston Food Bank website for more tips and resources. The good news is that during and after pregnancy, healthy habits make a big difference. Balanced meals that include vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help keep blood sugar steady. Spreading meals into smaller portions, choosing high-fiber foods, and making simple swaps, like brown rice instead of white rice or fruit instead of candy, are practical ways to manage blood sugar. Gentle activities such as walking or stretching (if your doctor says they’re safe) can also help your body use sugar more effectively.
Even after pregnancy, continuing these habits can lower your future risk of type 2 diabetes while supporting your overall health. If you’re looking for meal ideas, the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Food Hub offers hundreds of recipes—from quick snacks to family dinners—that are designed to help keep blood sugar steady while still being flavorful.