Diabetes in pregnancy
Care for gestational diabetes and diabetes in pregnancy in Nagpur, with your obstetrician: testing, diet, insulin and follow-up.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ajay V. Kaduskar · Last reviewed 24 October 2026
When a woman has diabetes during pregnancy, two people are being cared for at once. Well-controlled sugar lowers the risk of complications for both mother and baby, including a very large baby, difficult delivery, low sugar in the newborn and high blood pressure in the mother.
Dr. Ajay Kaduskar works alongside your obstetrician. Your gynaecologist remains in charge of your pregnancy; we take care of the sugar.
Two situations
Gestational diabetes (GDM): high blood sugar that is first found during pregnancy. India's national guidelines recommend testing all pregnant women with a glucose test at the first antenatal visit and again at 24 to 28 weeks. Most women with GDM return to normal sugar after delivery, but have a higher chance of type 2 diabetes later in life.
Pre-existing diabetes: a woman with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who becomes pregnant, or plans to. Planning before conception is ideal. Sugar control, a review of all medicines (some must be changed before pregnancy), folic acid and eye and kidney checks should be done before trying to conceive.
How we help
- Interpreting your glucose test and confirming the diagnosis
- A pregnancy-specific diet plan from our nutritionist, with enough nourishment for you and the baby
- Home sugar monitoring: when to test (usually fasting and after meals) and what targets to aim for
- Medicines or insulin if diet alone is not enough. Insulin does not harm the baby. Medicines are chosen only from those considered appropriate in pregnancy.
- Regular sharing of readings and plans with your obstetrician
- After delivery: a sugar test about 6 to 12 weeks after the baby is born, then regular checks every 1 to 3 years, because the risk of type 2 diabetes stays higher. Breastfeeding and a return to a healthy weight help lower that risk.
When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor if your readings stay above target, if you notice reduced baby movements, leaking fluid, bleeding, severe headache, blurred vision or pain under the right ribs - these can signal complications that need same-day assessment.
Frequently asked questions
No. Babies are not born with diabetes because the mother had gestational diabetes. Newborns may have low sugar in the first hours, which the hospital team checks. Good sugar control in pregnancy reduces this.
Yes. Insulin does not cross the placenta in significant amounts and has been used safely in pregnancy for decades.
Yes, and it is encouraged. Breastfeeding helps lower blood sugar after delivery. If you have pre-existing diabetes, doses may need adjustment while breastfeeding.
The chance of GDM in a later pregnancy is higher. Get your sugar checked before planning the next pregnancy and early in it.
Sources and further reading
- Diabetes — WHO fact sheet
- ICMR–INDIAB study (The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2023)
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