If you've been following HIgedi for a while, you know I'm all about the real talk—the messy, honest stuff that actually matters. Today, I want to talk about something I see come up constantly in our community, and something I definitely wrestled with myself: the obsession with hitting the lowest number possible.
You know what I mean. You test, you see 119, and your first thought isn't "yay, I'm in range!"—it's "ugh, why isn't it 99?" We're chasing these perfect, magical numbers like they're the finish line, when actually… they're not the point at all.
Here's the real truth: Your mission is not to hit the lowest number. Your mission is to keep your numbers controlled.
And there's a massive difference.
When your healthcare provider gives you a target range—let's say fasting under 95, or post‑meal under 120—they're not saying "get as close to your minimum target as possible." They're saying "keep your glucose stable and predictable within this zone." That's it.
Whether you're at 119 or 99 (and your target is 120), you're doing the same job. You're managing gestational diabetes. You're protecting your baby. You're taking care of yourself. The number itself isn't the achievement—the control is.
Think about it this way: if your car's speed limit is 65 mph, going 60 mph isn't "better" than going 64 mph. You're both following the rule. You're both safe. The goal isn't to go as slow as possible; the goal is to stay within the limit.
Your glucose is the same.
I think this comes from a few places, and I want to name them because I've felt all of them:
We've been told (or we've internalized) that lower numbers = we're "doing it right," and higher numbers = we're failing. So we chase lower to prove we're good, responsible, in control. But that's not how gestational diabetes works. Your target range exists because that's the safe zone—not because lower is always better.
Someone in the group posts their fasting number is 83, and suddenly 94 feels like a failure (if your target is 95). But you don't know their baseline, their insulin sensitivity, their individual physiology, and o ot. Comparing your inside to someone else's outside is a recipe for feeling broken.
Gestational diabetes is unpredictable. Some days your fasting number is 84, some days it's 94, and you did everything the same. It's hormones, it's stress, it's sleep, it's things completely outside your control. So we think: "If I just try harder, eat less, move more, I can make it lower." But actually, you're already doing the work. The number bouncing around within your range is normal. It's not a personal failure.
Gestational diabetes is hard, and perfectionism makes it harder. We think if we can just be perfect—the perfect numbers, the perfect meals, the perfect effort—then we'll feel safe, or worthy, or like we're doing enough. But perfect doesn't exist. And you're already doing enough.
Here's what I want you to know:
A 119 is as good as a 99 if your target is 120. Both mean you're in control. Both mean your baby is protected. Both mean you're managing gestational diabetes.
What actually matters is:
Consistency. Are your numbers staying in your target range most of the time? That's the win.
Predictability. Do you understand what makes your numbers go up or down? That's knowledge. That's power.
Sustainability. Can you keep doing this without burning out? Because a mama who's burned out and giving up is worse than a mama who's slightly higher but steady.
Your wellbeing. Are you sleeping? Eating foods you enjoy? Moving your body in ways that feel good? Staying mentally okay? Because gestational diabetes is hard enough without adding perfectionism on top.
The finish line isn't a number. It's not 99. It's not even "under 120." The finish line is delivery day, when your baby is here safe and healthy, and you're on the other side of this.
Everything you're doing right now—testing, adjusting meals, moving, resting, showing up even on the hard days—that's what gets you there. Not the lowest number. Not the perfect day. Just… showing up, doing your best, and being kind to yourself when your best is messy.
And honestly? A 119 is just as much "showing up" as a 99.
If you're reading this and you're chasing lower numbers because you're scared, or because you feel like you're not doing enough, or because you're comparing yourself to someone else's highlight reel—I see you. I've been there.
And I want to tell you: you're doing enough. Your numbers don't define you. Your effort does. And your effort is real, even when the numbers feel frustrating.
You're not failing. You're managing a condition that's genuinely hard, and you're showing up for your baby every single day.
That's the whole point.
A Quick Note
This post is based on my lived experience and what I see in our community—not medical advice. Your healthcare provider knows your individual situation best, so always chat with them about what your specific targets mean and how to manage them. But what I can tell you from experience? Perfectionism isn't the answer. Kindness to yourself is.
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