Poll Results: The Hardest Part of Gestational Diabetes Isn’t Food (It’s the Mental Load)

Hi mamas,

I posted a poll in our community: “What’s the hardest part of GD for you right now?”

And the results were… loud and clear.

(posted on 23 January 2026)

• Mental load / anxiety — 31%

• Cravings — 26%

• Testing schedule / timing — 16%

• Family meals / cooking for everyone — 16%

• Sleep + stress — 7%

• All of it — 3%

• Feeling judged / comments from others — 1%

So yeah. The hardest part isn’t “knowing what to do.”

It’s the combo that comes with it.

Real talk: Gestational diabetes isn’t just a leaflet

On paper, gestational diabetes can look like a checklist:

• Eat balanced meals

• Test your blood sugar

• Move a bit

• Repeat

But in real life?

It’s a steep learning curve with a deadline.

You don’t get months to slowly figure it out. You get a few weeks to learn how your body reacts to food, stress, sleep, hormones, timing, and… life.

And you’re not just doing it for you.

You’re doing it while growing a baby. That pressure is huge.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or like you’re constantly “behind”… this poll basically proves you’re not alone.

What “mental load” actually looks like with gestational diabetes

Mental load isn’t just worry. It’s the nonstop thinking.

• What can I eat right now?

• What will my fasting number be tomorrow?

• Did I test at the right time?

• If I spike, did I hurt the baby?

• Should I walk after this meal?

• What do I pack if I’m out?

• What do I cook that works for me and everyone else?

It’s decision fatigue + fear + guilt + planning.

And it can feel like you’re never fully off-duty.

A gentle reminder (because you need to hear it)

Gestational diabetes is NOT a personal failure.

You didn’t “cause” this by eating the wrong thing.

Your placenta is doing placenta things, hormones are doing hormone things, and your body is working overtime.

If you need this reminder today, read this: Gestational diabetes is not a personal failure

And this one too (it’s a big exhale): 8 truths about gestational diabetes I wish someone told me

So… what helps? (Not perfect. Just lighter.)

Here are a few ways to reduce the mental load without trying to become a “perfect gestational diabetes patient.”

1. Pick 2–3 “safe meals” and repeat them shamelessly

Decision fatigue is one of the sneakiest parts of gestational diabetes.

When every meal feels like a test (literally), your brain starts running on high alert all day. So if you find a breakfast or lunch that usually gives you steady numbers, you’re allowed to repeat it.

Not because you’re boring.

Because you’re protecting your nervous system.

Think of it like creating a tiny “autopilot” for the busiest part of your day. You can always bring back variety later. Right now, consistency can be a form of self-care.

2. Make your testing routine as brainless as possible

If timing stresses you out, take the pressure off your brain.

Set alarms. Put your meter where you’ll actually see it. Keep strips in your bag. Write your testing times on a sticky note. Do whatever makes it less of a mental juggling act.

And also: we get it — you’re not a machine.

You can’t always test to the minute (life happens). Try to test as close to your target time as you reasonably can, because consistency helps your provider spot patterns.

But if you’re off by 5–10 minutes from time to time? That’s okay.

This isn’t about being “disciplined.”

It’s about acknowledging that you’re pregnant, tired, living a normal life, and trying to follow a medical routine on top of everything else.

The goal is a routine that supports you — not one that makes you feel like you’re constantly failing.

3. Stop treating every number like a moral verdict

A high number can feel like a punch in the stomach. I get it.

But your blood sugar isn’t a report card on how “good” you were today.

It’s feedback from a body that’s dealing with hormones, placenta changes, sleep quality, stress, hydration, timing, and sometimes things you can’t even identify.

One reading doesn’t define your whole pregnancy.

What matters most is the pattern over time — and the fact that you’re paying attention and adjusting. That’s not failure. That’s care.

4. Stop comparing your numbers to other gestational diabetes mamas

This one is so sneaky, and it can mess with your head fast.

You’ll see someone say, “I ate 'this or that' and my numbers were perfect,” and then you try it… and you spike. And suddenly it feels like your body is “broken” or you did something wrong.

But gestational diabetes is wildly individual.

Two people can eat the exact same meal and get totally different numbers because of:

• how far along they are

• how their placenta hormones are behaving that week

• sleep and stress

• activity level

• portion size and timing

• medication (or not)

So please don’t use someone else’s “good numbers” as a measuring stick for your worth.

Your job isn’t to match anyone else. It’s to learn your patterns and keep you + baby steady with the support of your provider.

5. Use “pairing” as your default rule

Cravings are loud for a reason (25% of you said they are) — you’re growing a human.

Instead of turning cravings into a fight, try turning them into a plan.

Here’s the simplest rule that helps many GD mamas: if you want carbs or something sweet, don’t eat it alone. Pair it.

• Add protein (eggs, chicken, tofu, cottage cheese)

• Add healthy fats (nuts, nut butter, avocado, cheese)

• Add fiber when you can (veggies, chia seeds)

This doesn’t guarantee perfect numbers (nothing does), but it often makes things steadier and helps you feel more satisfied — which can calm the craving spiral too.

6. Ask for help with the parts that drain you most

If family meals are hard (15% said they are), you’re not being dramatic. That’s a real load.

Trying to manage GD while also cooking for a partner, kids, picky eaters, or different cultural preferences can feel like you’re running a restaurant… while also being the patient.

So yes, it’s okay to simplify.

• Build “base meals” and let everyone add their own carbs (rice, bread, pasta on the side)

• Repeat the same 2–3 dinners during the week

• Use shortcuts without guilt (frozen veg, rotisserie chicken, meal kits)

You’re not supposed to do this alone — and you’re not supposed to do it perfectly.

If someone can help with shopping, chopping, cooking, or cleanup, let them. Your job is to take care of you and baby. Everything else is negotiable.

If you’re newly diagnosed and spiraling right now

Start here: Gestational diabetes basics and tips for newly diagnosed (where to start)

And please remember: the goal is not perfection. It’s learning.

You’re allowed to have feelings about this.

You’re allowed to be tired.

And you’re still a good mom.

— Julija 💛