Gestational Diabetes

Call 911 or other emergency services right away if:

• You passed out (lost consciousness) or you suddenly become very sleepy or confused. You may have low blood sugar.

  Learn about Reference emergency care for low blood sugar.

• You are sleepy, confused, or breathing very fast, or if your breath smells fruity. You may have very high blood sugar.

Call a doctor right away if:

• Your blood sugar is 300 mg/dL or higher (or it is higher than the level your doctor has set for you).

Call a doctor if you:

• Are sick and having trouble controlling your blood sugar.
• Have had vomiting or diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
• Often have problems with high or low blood sugar levels.
• Have trouble knowing when your blood sugar is low.
• Have questions or want to know more about gestational diabetes.

Who to see

Health professionals who can diagnose and treat gestational diabetes include:

• A specialist in the care of pregnant women (Reference obstetrician Opens New Window).
• A Reference family medicine doctor Opens New Window or Reference general practitioner Opens New Window who has an interest or training in gestational diabetes.
• A doctor who specializes in high-risk pregnancies (Reference perinatologist Opens New Window).

After you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you may be referred to other health professionals who can help you understand what gestational diabetes means. These may include:

• A Reference certified diabetes educator Opens New Window (CDE). A CDE is a registered nurse, registered dietitian, doctor, pharmacist, or other health professional who has training and experience in caring for people who have diabetes. A CDE can help you understand how to take care of yourself and help you adjust to living with gestational diabetes.
• A Reference registered dietitian Opens New Window. All women who have gestational diabetes need to see a registered dietitian for help choosing the best foods. Follow-up visits with a dietitian are helpful if you need to change your eating habits.

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