When you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it can feel like your body has betrayed you—especially if you’ve always been active, eaten well, and done “all the right things.” And one of the most confusing parts? You can feel completely normal… and still fail the glucose test.
If you’re sitting in that shocked, spiraling place right now—replaying what you ate, blaming yourself, wondering how this could happen—Ellyn’s story will feel like a deep exhale. It’s honest about the gut-punch of diagnosis, but it’s also full of what we all need in the beginning: perspective, practical ideas, and hope.
Here’s what Ellyn shared with me 💛
I was 27 weeks pregnant when I failed my 1-hour glucose test. I thought it was a fluke and blamed the dressing from the salad I had eaten a few hours prior to the test.
When I had to go for the 3-hour test, I was confident I was going to be fine. Despite what the doctor told me, I felt fine throughout the duration of the 3-hour glucose test. I didn’t feel tired, dizzy, or sick. That gave me extra confidence I was not going to have GD.
A few days later, I got the dreaded call that I had failed my test and that I did in fact have GD. I thought, “How could that be?” I had always been active in the gym, watched what I ate, and even in pregnancy remained very active—working out 5x a week. I was gutted and felt like an absolute failure.
The following week, I had to go to the hospital to meet with the dietician and left feeling completely different. I no longer felt like a failure but actually empowered to do what was best for myself and my baby. I learned a lot from the dietician about how to balance out my blood sugars—something I had never really focused on.
I reverted back to my body building days and began meal prepping nutritious meals. It was a trial-and-error process seeing what my body could, and could not tolerate. I found my go-to meals and snacks that made it a lot easier.
I ate a lot of chili, chicken, and greens throughout my GD journey. My favorite easy grab-and-go items were Chomps, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, pre-made protein shakes, and protein waffles.
I was lucky enough to be diet controlled my entire pregnancy. I went into labor naturally at 39 weeks and 2 days. Unfortunately at some point during labor, I had a placenta abruption. Luckily my little girl made a fast appearance and after some medical interventions we both were okay—and her blood sugars were stable the whole hospital stay!
Despite the doctors telling me she was measuring large, she was born 6 lbs 12 oz.
My advice to new mamas is to find a support group to confide in. I learned a lot from other moms who were going through or have gone through the same thing. It’s hard in the beginning not to feel like a failure, but the knowledge I gained along the way I am forever grateful for.
I actually still eat similarly to a GD diet because I’ve learned that I feel better without so much processed sugars and carbs!
Thank you so much, Ellyn, for sharing your story.
What stands out to me is how common this exact spiral is: “I felt fine,” “I’m active,” “I eat well,” “this must be a mistake.” And then the call comes… and suddenly it feels personal. Like you did something wrong.
But Ellyn’s story is such a good reminder that gestational diabetes isn’t a character judgment. It’s not a punishment for what you ate. It’s not proof you “failed.” It’s a pregnancy condition driven largely by hormones and insulin resistance—sometimes it shows up even in the most active, health-conscious mamas.
I also love the turning point in her story: that first appointment with the dietician. The moment she went from shame to strategy. From “I’m failing” to “okay, I can do this.” That shift matters so much.
And can we talk about the power of simple systems? Meal prepping, go-to snacks, and repeating what works (chili, chicken, greens, protein-forward grab-and-go options) can take GD from overwhelming to manageable—especially when you’re tired and life is already a lot.
Lastly: I’m so glad Ellyn and her baby were okay after a placenta abruption. That’s a scary complication, and it’s a reminder that birth can be unpredictable—even when you do everything “right.” The win here is that she advocated, she adapted, and her baby’s blood sugars stayed stable in the hospital.
If you’re newly diagnosed and feeling like a failure, please hear this: you’re not failing. You’re learning. And you don’t have to do it alone.
Want to share your own GD story? I’d love to hear from you—send me a message at hi@higedi.com
If you’re newly diagnosed and looking for guidance, check out GD Toolkit with all the GD basics for what to expect, how to manage your numbers, and lots of resources for meals and snacks.
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