“Life, love, and purpose are threads of the same cloth — we’re just learning how to weave them.”
One minute you’re minding your own business, enjoying a muffin and growing a whole human… and the next? Your midwife is talking about blood sugar tests, carb balancing, and the word “diabetes” gets thrown around like it’s a personal failing.
Let me stop you right there:
Gestational diabetes is not your fault.
Your body isn’t broken — it’s doing something incredible, and just like any massive construction project, things can get a little chaotic behind the scenes.
Let’s talk about what’s really going on.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) happens when the hormones from the placenta — those magical, powerful, life-giving hormones — start interfering with how your body uses insulin.
Here’s a super simple breakdown:
Your pancreas makes insulin (think of insulin as the key that unlocks your cells so glucose can go in and give you energy).
In pregnancy, your placenta starts producing hormones that block that insulin from working efficiently.
That’s great for the baby (they get more glucose!) — but not so great for you. Your blood sugar can build up like a traffic jam with no exit ramp.
💥 Boom: You’ve got insulin resistance.
If your pancreas can’t keep up with the increased demand, blood sugar levels rise, and that’s what we call gestational diabetes.
It’s a great question—and a valid frustration. GDM isn’t just about food. It’s about how your unique body handles the metabolic wild ride of pregnancy.
Factors that play a role:
Genetics (yes, family history matters)
Hormonal shifts
How your body processes carbs and sugar
Previous pregnancies
Stress levels and sleep (really!)
From the Midwife’s Chair:
I once had a client who sobbed in my office after being diagnosed. “I only eat homemade food! I don’t even like soda!” she cried.
And she wasn’t wrong.
Her diagnosis wasn’t about willpower. It was about physiology. And once she understood what her body was doing, she took back the reins with power and grace.
Most people find out they have GDM during the second trimester glucose screening (around 24–28 weeks).
Common testing includes:
Glucose challenge (50g drink, then a blood draw an hour later)
Glucose tolerance test (more intense version if needed)
Finger stick blood sugar monitoring at home
Treatment may involve:
Diet changes (more protein + fiber, strategic carbs)
Gentle movement after meals
Stress reduction and good sleep
Sometimes, medication or insulin if needed
Ina May Gaskin reminds us that our bodies are wise—but that birth wisdom and modern medicine can walk together.
Lily Nichols, RDN has a stellar book: Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, packed with recipes, blood sugar-friendly swaps, and real science.
Elizabeth Davis in Heart & Hands emphasizes nutrition as a key pillar of physiological birth and whole-person wellness.
So many birthing people walk away from a GDM diagnosis feeling like they failed.
Let me say this clearly:
You didn’t fail. You adapted.
Your body just needs a little support while it does the impossible: growing life.
Book a virtual birth coaching session and we’ll walk through your diagnosis together — from food plans to emotional support.
Your voice matters—especially when it’s shaking.
Keep showing up. Keep asking. And know that you’re already doing an incredible job.
🖋️ —The Manistee Midwife