Post Time: 2025-07-26
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is crucial, especially during pregnancy. For women with gestational diabetes, monitoring and controlling blood glucose levels can help prevent complications and ensure a smooth delivery process.
Pregnancy brings about significant changes in the body's physiology, affecting how it regulates blood sugar levels. To achieve optimal health outcomes for both mother and baby, understanding normal blood sugar ranges is vital. According to various studies1-2, the American Diabetes Association recommends that women with gestational diabetes aim for a fasting glucose level below 95 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) and an A1C of less than 6%.
Dietary Changes: Key in Maintaining Stable Blood Sugar Levels
Maintaining stable blood sugar levels involves making deliberate lifestyle choices. When it comes to diet, certain foods play a crucial role in stabilizing or destabilizing blood glucose levels.
Including high-fiber-rich foods like whole grains, legumes3-4, and fruits5 is essential for effective glucose control. Research indicates that these food groups can significantly improve insulin sensitivity6 and stabilize blood sugar fluctuations. However, processed meats7 should be avoided as they have been shown to worsen insulin resistance.
The Impact of Stress on Blood Sugar Levels
Stress affects everyone differently but one common impact is its influence on the body's physiological processes. High stress levels are known to cause significant spikes in cortisol production8 which further leads to increased blood sugar levels9. This increase causes an upsurge in glucose release into the bloodstream.
Maintaining a balanced routine that incorporates relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga10-11 can help regulate this process and minimize its impact on blood sugar control.
The Importance of Regular Monitoring
Monitoring is not just limited to managing gestational diabetes but plays a significant role in overall health. Using glucometers12 for home monitoring13 allows for real-time feedback about glucose fluctuations, helping make informed lifestyle choices14.
Regularly tracking your body's response15 can help identify any negative trends early on16, making it easier to adjust and improve blood sugar management over time17-18. Effective communication with healthcare providers is also crucial in setting achievable targets19 that promote long-term health20.
A study published in today's online issue of The Lancet finds that patients, who receive statin medications for controlling high-cholesterol, have a slightly greater risk of developing diabetes. However, the study concludes that the potentially small possibility of developing diabetes is outweighed by the benefits gained by lowering the danger of serious heart 99 blood sugar reading disease events, such as a heart attack or stroke, in high-risk patients with a history of heart disease. Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill blood sugar level two hours after eating Cornell Medical College and a world-renowned authority in the field of cardiovascular medicine and statin drug therapies, co-authored the study, which examined data from over 90,000 patients for an average of four years. The findings show that statin therapy was associated with a nine-percent higher risk for diabetes. Interested in learning more about our team of doctors, their patients and how our research is changing lives? Like and subscribe to make sure you never miss out on any of our upcoming videos. Learn more about Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr, please visit To learn more about Weill Cornell Medicine patient care please visit here. To learn about education and research at Weill Cornell Medicine visit here. Keep up with our social posts does sourdough bread spike your blood sugar on Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn