When I was pregnant with our eldest child, I developed a type of diabetes that occurs in pregnancy, called gestational diabetes (GDM).  This is diabetes that is first diagnosed in pregnancy, and it usually resolves after delivery. 

GDM is diagnosed by taking an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), usually during the sixth month of pregnancy.  In this test, blood samples are drawn before and after drinking 75 grams of glucose (usually orange-flavored).  The reference values used are different from those used to diagnose type 2 diabetes and only one value has to be abnormal to make the diagnosis of GDM. 

When I was diagnosed, I was not yet an Endocrinologist. Later on, I learned that an OGTT should be done earlier during the pregnancy in women who are at high risk for developing GDM, such as Filipinas, those with a history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), those who are overweight or obese before pregnancy, or those whose previous baby weighed eight pounds or more at birth. 

Diagnosing GDM early is important because babies of women with GDM can gain too much weight, making it difficult to have a normal delivery. There is also an increased chance of premature delivery. Babies who are born to women with GDM also have a greater chance of developing diabetes and becoming obese as they grow up.

During my first pregnancy, I reveled in being able to eat whatever I wanted, only to find out that when you are pregnant you are not really eating for two. At least not for two grown people!  Managing glucose levels in GDM is really centered around a proper diet. Total calories for one day depend on your weight and activity, and breakfast should be the smallest meal of the day, not the heaviest, because our blood glucose levels already naturally go up in the morning.