You go for a routine check-up, drink a sweet glucose drink, and a day later the report says your sugar is high. Suddenly you have a new label: gestational diabetes. Many women in Vizag feel worried, guilty or confused at this point, especially if no one in the family has diabetes.
Take a breath. Gestational diabetes is common, it is picked up precisely because India tests every pregnant woman for it, and it can usually be managed with food changes, activity and regular checks. This guide explains when the test is done, what the numbers mean and what happens next.
Quick answer: Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that first appears during pregnancy. In India, every pregnant woman is advised a 75 g glucose test at her first antenatal visit and again at 24 to 28 weeks; a 2-hour value of 140 mg/dL or more means gestational diabetes. Most women manage it with a diet plan and activity, and some need medicine such as insulin.
During pregnancy, the placenta makes hormones that help the baby grow. These hormones also make your body less responsive to insulin, the hormone that moves sugar from the blood into the cells. Most women make extra insulin to cope. When the body cannot keep up, blood sugar rises, and that is gestational diabetes (GDM).
It is not caused by eating too many sweets, and it is not your fault. The NHS notes that women of South Asian family origin have a higher chance of developing it, which is one reason India recommends testing every pregnant woman instead of only those with risk factors.
You may have a higher chance of gestational diabetes if
Having one or more of these does not mean you will definitely get GDM, and many women with none of them still do. That is why the test matters.
Most women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms at all. It is usually found only through the blood test. When sugar is quite high, some women notice:
Because these overlap with ordinary pregnancy changes, do not wait for symptoms. Keep your test appointments.
Under the national guideline from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, testing is recommended twice in pregnancy:
The second test matters because blood sugar often rises in the middle of pregnancy. The guideline notes that only about one third of women with GDM are picked up in the first trimester.
It is called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In the Indian single-step method (also called the DIPSI test), you drink 75 g of glucose dissolved in about 300 ml of water within five minutes, and blood is taken two hours later.
For the Indian single-step test, no. The national guideline says it can be done whether you are fasting or not, irrespective of your last meal. Some hospitals and labs use a different method (the fasting, three-sample OGTT), which does need overnight fasting. Your doctor or lab will tell you which one they follow.
With the 75 g single-step test used under India's national programme, the cut-off is simple:
| 2-hour plasma glucose | Result | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 140 mg/dL | Negative | Routine antenatal care; repeat at 24-28 weeks if tested early |
| 140 mg/dL or more | Gestational diabetes | Diet plan (medical nutrition therapy) and sugar checks |
If your hospital uses the fasting three-sample test, different cut-offs apply (for example, a fasting value of 92 mg/dL or more can indicate GDM in that method). Do not compare your report with a friend's from another lab. Ask your doctor to explain your own numbers.
Very high readings early in pregnancy can sometimes mean diabetes that was present before pregnancy but not diagnosed. Your doctor may then suggest additional tests.
Raised sugar in the mother passes to the baby. If it stays high for weeks, the baby may grow larger than usual, and there can be extra fluid around the baby. The NHS and ACOG also list a higher chance of pre-eclampsia, early delivery, a caesarean birth, and low blood sugar or jaundice in the newborn.
This is exactly why the condition is checked for and monitored. The NHS notes that most women with gestational diabetes have otherwise normal pregnancies when it is picked up and managed.
Key points so far
The national guideline starts with medical nutrition therapy (a structured diet plan) for two weeks, followed by a blood sugar check two hours after a meal. If sugar stays above the target, medicine is added.
You may be asked to check your sugar at home with a glucometer, usually fasting and two hours after meals, and to write the numbers down. Indian guidelines generally aim for a fasting value of about 95 mg/dL or below and a 2-hour after-meal value of about 120 mg/dL or below, but your doctor will set the targets that suit you.
If diet and activity are not enough, your doctor may prescribe insulin, which does not harm the baby, or in some cases tablets such as metformin. Needing medicine does not mean you have failed. It simply means your body needs extra help during pregnancy.
You will usually have more frequent antenatal visits, growth scans to check the baby's size and fluid, and blood pressure checks. Your obstetrician will discuss the timing and type of delivery with you, based on how well sugar is controlled and how the baby is growing.
You do not need special foods or expensive products. Small, steady changes to everyday meals make the biggest difference. A dietitian or your doctor can give you a plan, but these principles help most women:
Please avoid very low-carbohydrate or crash diets in pregnancy. The goal is steady sugar and good nutrition for you and the baby, not weight loss.
For most women, blood sugar returns to normal soon after the baby is born. A repeat glucose test is advised about 6 to 12 weeks after delivery to confirm this.
Having had GDM does raise your chance of type 2 diabetes later in life, and of GDM in a future pregnancy. A healthy weight, regular activity, breastfeeding if you can, and a sugar test every one to three years (or as your doctor advises) help protect your long-term health. If you plan another pregnancy, see your doctor beforehand.
High-risk pregnancy care, including monitoring for diabetes in pregnancy, is part of the gynaecology and obstetrics services (padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/gynecology/) at Padmasri Hospitals & IVF Centre in Akkayyapalem, Visakhapatnam. You can read more on our high-risk pregnancy page (padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/high-risk-pregnancy.php) and our gynaecology and obstetrics page (padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/gynecology-obstetrics.php). Bring your earlier reports and your sugar diary to each visit.
For antenatal care or to discuss a sugar test result, call +91 80083 36677 or use our contact page. Padmasri Hospitals & IVF Centre, 49-48-16/5, NH16, NGGOS Colony, Akkayyapalem, Visakhapatnam 530016.
In India, the national guideline advises a 75 g glucose test at the first antenatal visit and, if that is normal, again at 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, with at least four weeks between the two tests.
With the 75 g single-step test used in India, a 2-hour plasma glucose below 140 mg/dL is normal. A value of 140 mg/dL or more is diagnosed as gestational diabetes. Labs using the fasting three-sample test apply different cut-offs.
Not for the Indian single-step 75 g test, which can be done fasting or non-fasting. Some hospitals use a fasting test instead, so check with your doctor or lab beforehand.
Many women can keep their sugar in range with a diet plan and regular light activity. If sugar stays high after about two weeks, your doctor may add insulin or another medicine.
In most women, blood sugar returns to normal after the birth. A repeat glucose test is advised about 6 to 12 weeks after delivery, and regular checks afterwards, because the chance of type 2 diabetes later is higher.
Insulin is widely used to treat gestational diabetes and does not cross to the baby in meaningful amounts. Your doctor will explain the dose, how to take it and how to check your sugar.
Written by Padmasri Hospitals & IVF Centre Editorial Team · Updated 26 October 2026
This article is for general information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified doctor.