Gestational diabetes: what to track and share
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Care teams commonly ask for blood glucose readings fasting and one or two hours after each meal, often four times a day, together with notes on food and any medicine. Your own schedule and targets are set by your care team.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy. According to the NIDDK, it typically resolves after birth but increases the chance of developing type 2 diabetes later.
What readings are usually recorded?
Guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, summarized by the American Academy of Family Physicians, describes checking glucose fasting (first thing in the morning before eating) and one or two hours after each meal, generally four times a day once treatment begins. Some teams ask for more checks. The evidence for the best schedule is limited, so follow your own team.
| When | What to record |
|---|---|
| Fasting | Reading, time |
| 1 or 2 hours after breakfast, lunch and dinner | Reading, time, what you ate |
| Any time asked by your team | Reading, time, symptoms, medicine |
What else should I write down?
- Meals and snacks, with rough portions.
- Any insulin or medicine, with the time.
- Activity, sleep, and how you felt.
- Questions for your next appointment.
Using Glycove during pregnancy
When you choose gestational diabetes during setup, Glycove tags readings as fasting or after a meal when you say so, and keeps them ready for your appointments. Your targets come from your care team, not from the app.
Information, not medical advice. Talk to your care team about your own targets and treatment. Never use a converter or a diary entry to work out an insulin or medicine dose.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Does gestational diabetes go away after the baby is born?
It usually does, but it increases the chance of type 2 diabetes later. Follow-up testing after pregnancy is important, so ask your care team.
How often should I test?
Many care teams suggest four times a day, fasting and after each meal, but the schedule varies. Follow the plan your team gives you.
Are the targets the same as for other types of diabetes?
No. Pregnancy targets differ from those for other adults. Use the targets your care team gives you.
Keep reading
Types of diabetes
The main types of diabetes in plain language: type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes and prediabetes, and how they differ.
Daily habits and self-careBlood sugar diary
A practical guide to keeping a blood sugar diary: what to record, why context matters, and a simple template you can copy.
Daily habits and self-carePrepare for an appointment
What to bring to a diabetes appointment, which numbers to summarize and a list of questions to ask your care team.