Maintaining a Healthy Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes Using Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects up to 1 in 4 pregnancies worldwide. Gestational diabetes is a problem with blood sugar control that’s diagnosed during pregnancy. It occurs when a woman’s blood glucose levels rise during pregnancy. If a woman has diabetes before she gets pregnant, this would not be considered gestational diabetes, but rather type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
While this is often temporary, GDM can increase the risk of complications for both mother and baby. Risks include: preeclampsia, premature birth, and later-life risk of type 2 diabetes.
Recommended Reading: What you need to know about gestational diabetes
For women with gestational diabetes, it’s important to closely monitor your blood sugar. It’s recommended that blood glucose levels be tested regularly. A fasting blood glucose level should be checked each morning, and the level should also be checked one to two hours after eating. Treatment will focus on keeping glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible, which helps to reduce the risk of complications.
To check if your blood glucose levels are within the recommended range, you will need a glucose sensor. This could be a traditional glucometer that uses a fingerprick to check glucose levels, or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) could be used for more convenience.
Detecting Gestational Diabetes
Traditionally, GDM is tested between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which measures blood sugar response after drinking a sugary solution. While widely used, this method offers a snapshot of glucose levels.
For this test, your blood glucose is first checked while fast for at least 8 hours. You then consume a drink containing a precise amount of glucose. Your blood glucose is checked again one, two, and three hours later, to evaluate how well your body is able to process the glucose in the drink.
If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your doctor will speak with you about the treatment options, and will recommend monitoring your glucose levels as part of your glucose management plan.
This is where CGMs come in handy.
CGMs provide a continuous stream of data by measuring glucose levels in real time through a small sensor worn on the skin. CGMs are important in ongoing glucose management throughout pregnancy.
How CGMs Can Help with a Healthy Pregnancy
For women already diagnosed with gestational diabetes, CGMs offer a dynamic view of how food, activity, and stress impact glucose patterns. This allows for more tailored, real-time adjustments:
Optimizing Food Choices. CGMs reveal how specific meals affect blood sugar, helping mothers choose foods that keep levels within target range.
Timing Physical Activity. Exercise can lower blood sugar, but timing is crucial. CGMs help identify the most effective times for activity, especially post-meal, when glucose tends to spike.
Guiding Medication or Insulin Use. For women who require pharmacological support, CGMs offer precision by showing how blood sugar responds to treatment throughout the day and night.
Advantages of CGMs Over Traditional Monitoring
While traditional self-monitoring relies on periodic finger-stick tests, CGMs offer several meaningful advantages, which include:
Providing Continuous Data. This reduces the chances of missing glucose spikes or dips that may occur between tests.
Real-Time Alerts. Alarms for low or high blood sugar levels allow for immediate action, improving both safety and peace of mind.
Personalized Insights. CGMs empower women to fine-tune their diets and routines based on their own patterns.
Remote Monitoring. Another one of the most transformative features of CGMs is the ability to share data remotely with your healthcare team. This allows your healthcare team to monitor your progress even
A Word of Caution on Data Overload
That said, CGMs aren’t without their challenges. The abundance of data can sometimes be overwhelming, especially for first-time users.
It’s also important to recognize the delay between CGM and capillary blood glucose (CBG) readings, which can lead to overcorrecting hypoglycemia if not interpreted carefully. Guidance from your healthcare provider is very important in order to navigate these nuances.
This raises an important question: Do CGMs create more stress than benefit for mothers with GDM? The answer likely depends on the individual.
For some, CGMs offer reassurance and greater blood glucose control. For others, the constant feedback loop may heighten anxiety. That’s why healthcare providers need to personalize care and offer education and support when CGMs are introduced.
For women with GDM, or those at risk, CGMs may offer both a clearer path and better peace of mind. So if you're pregnant or planning to be, and you have risk factors for GDM, consider speaking to your healthcare provider about a holistic diabetes management program for you. NOVI Magnum, offers personalized treatment plans, giving you peace of mind with support from your multi-disciplinary care team of doctors, dieticians, and coaches. It includes a CGM to help you and your care team gain unique insights about your blood sugar. With this support, CGMs can help turn data into decisions, while turning decisions into a healthier pregnancy journey.