When Life Gives You Gestational Diabetes, Add Extra Protein and Keep Going

It hit me the way most things do in pregnancy: unexpectedly, inconveniently, and slightly hungry.
The diagnosis. Gestational diabetes. I remember blinking at the screen and thinking: “Okay… now what?”

I wasn’t sick. I didn’t feel broken. But suddenly, everything I ate felt like a decision with stakes. It wasn’t just about me anymore. It never is in pregnancy — but GDM takes that to another level. One moment you’re dreaming about cinnamon buns and the next you’re calculating how many grams of carbs are in a ripe banana.

Welcome to the club. We don’t have cookies — but we do have cheese sticks.

I Asked Other Mamas

Not long ago, I posted a light-hearted question in a community full of women managing GDM:

“When life gives you gestational diabetes, what do you add?”

Honestly? I expected a few funny replies.

Instead, I got an outpouring of wisdom, humor, and strength.

Here’s what the poll said (answers registered on 25th June 2025):

🥇 81% said: “Extra protein and keep going.”
There’s a reason this one came out on top — and honestly, it makes perfect sense. When you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, one of the first things you learn (usually the hard way) is that protein becomes your best friend. Not only does it help stabilize blood sugar levels, but it also helps keep you full, steady, and sane when carbs feel like the enemy.

So we learn to adapt. We pile on the eggs, grilled chicken, string cheese, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt — sometimes because we want to, and sometimes because we have to. It’s not just a dietary tweak — it becomes a way of coping. A way of saying: “Okay, I can’t always have what I want, but I can still make this work.”

And maybe that’s why this answer hit home for so many. It’s realistic, it’s doable, and it captures what so many of us do each day — add a little extra protein and just… keep going.

🥈 11% answered: “A blood sugar monitor and a badass attitude.”
This one made me smile — and clearly struck a chord with many of us. Because some days? That’s exactly what it feels like. You're juggling finger pricks, meal planning, carb counting, and trying to squeeze in a walk between dishes and naps. It’s not just about health — it’s a full-time mental load.

So yeah, we lean on our glucose monitor... but we also lean on a little grit. A little sarcasm. A little “bring it on, pancreas” energy. Because while GDM is serious, you need a sense of humor and a strong backbone to face it day after day without burning out.

This answer didn’t win the vote, but it definitely wins for spirit. It’s about owning the challenge, showing up anyway, and maybe blasting a pump-up playlist while walking laps around your kitchen island.

🥉 3% chose: “Fiber, support, and a whole lot of grace.”
This one felt soft — in the best way. Because managing gestational diabetes isn’t just about numbers and nutrients. It’s about navigating a diagnosis that often arrives with guilt, pressure, and way too many opinions. Grace becomes essential. Grace when your blood sugar spikes for no clear reason. Grace when you miss a walk, when you're tired of eggs, or when you just want a slice of watermelon without thinking about it.

Add in some fiber, lean on your support system — whether that’s your partner, a friend, or a group of women who get it — and you have a formula that’s just as much emotional as it is nutritional. We can’t do this perfectly. But we can do it with compassion.

🥉 3% said: “Snacks with purpose and walks that calm the mind.”
This one feels like a little exhale. Because sometimes the best approach is simply tuning in: What does my body need? What will help me feel okay today? Purposeful snacks — a handful of nuts, some cheese and berries, a rice cake with protein — help keep blood sugar stable. But they also remind you that you're taking care of yourself, on purpose.

And the walks? They’re not just about the numbers. They’re about peace. About stepping outside, clearing your head, or chasing a toddler around the park while your body quietly does the work. It’s a reminder that some of the most powerful tools are also the gentlest.

1% answered: “Cheese and make it a snack.”
Honestly, valid.

1% chose: “Hummus and dip like a pro.”
A tiny vote, but full marks for flavor and flair.

The other answer options I included didn’t get any votes — but they still mattered.

Things like:
• “Your carb pairing game face.”
• “Shared tips and feel a little less lost.”
• “Mama strength and know you are not alone.”

No clicks, but I like to think they still spoke to someone reading.
Because sometimes it’s not about choosing the “right” answer — it’s about seeing yourself in the little things. In the humor, in the snack hacks, in the reminder that this road may be bumpy, but we’re figuring it out together.

It’s Not About Being Perfect

Managing GDM isn’t about winning gold stars. It’s about finding what works in your body, in your life, while balancing hormones, cravings, exhaustion, and the sheer surrealness of growing a human being.

Some days we cry in the car because we just want a croissant.
Some days we feel like a nutritionist-mathematician-warriors.
Some days we try a new snack combo, test an hour later, and do a happy dance.

That’s the real story behind gestational diabetes. It’s not neat or clinical. It’s messy, emotional, and deeply personal. It takes trial and error. It takes asking for help.

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Protein Bar

Let me be clear: managing gestational diabetes is not just about tracking carbs or finding the right cracker. It's about rebuilding a rhythm in your day—learning to eat, move, and feel in a body that suddenly feels like it's under surveillance. Because it kind of is.

I learned that a “safe snack” isn’t always universal. Some people can eat fruit. Others spike from a few grapes. Me? I couldn’t eat apples although everyone was saying that it’s a safe fruit to have with GDM. But I did great with peaches—and I love peaches.

It’s trial and error. It’s testing, tweaking, and forgiving yourself every time a number creeps higher than you'd like. And yes, it’s adding extra protein. Because it really does help.

This Isn’t Just a Health Condition, It’s an Emotional One

If gestational diabetes only lived in your pancreas, it would be simpler. But it moves in—sets up camp in your mind, your meal planning, your grocery store trips. It shows up when you're trying to enjoy your baby shower cake and whispers you shouldn’t.

That’s the part we don’t talk about enough.

The hardest part isn’t the finger pricks or the carb counting. It’s the invisible pressure. The mental load. The guilt.

So if that’s you? Know this: you're not alone. You're not broken. And you're not bad at being pregnant.

You’re just dealing with a condition that demands attention and grace.

Add What You Need — And Keep Going

When life gives you gestational diabetes, maybe you add extra protein. Maybe you add support, or tears, or a moment of quiet in the middle of the overwhelm.

Add the walk.
Add the hummus, the seeds, the tips from strangers on the internet.
Add the good days, the bad days, and the days you just try.

Whatever it is—add it. And keep going.

You're doing more than just managing blood sugar — you’re showing up for your baby, for yourself, and for a new kind of strength you didn’t know you had.

You’ve got this, mama. 💛