Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. All pregnant women experience some level of insulin resistance in late pregnancy. This is because of hormone changes, weight gain, and a number of factors. Gestational diabetes develops when a woman’s body cannot process blood sugar efficiently. It usually disappears after giving birth.
While it’s not fully understood, it’s believed to result from a combination of hormonal changes, metabolic factors, and a genetic predisposition.
It is important to understand that there are no “symptoms” to gestational diabetes. Most Ob/Gyns test for gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy. If you have risk factors, your physician might want to test earlier.
While there is no guarantee of prevention, you can reduce your risk of developing it. Here’s how:
A dietitian is a key component of your prenatal healthcare team. Together, we can work to help you manage your gestational diabetes and reduce risks during pregnancy and labor. This is what your maternity nutritionist will do:
One of the dietitians on our team can provide you with online or in-person nutrition counseling, to help manage gestational diabetes by recommending a diet that supports the mom and baby with a variety of nutritious and fun foods, making recommendations on foods that may spike blood sugar levels and creating a movement plan that is safe during pregnancy.
Diet plays a crucial part in managing gestational diabetes and can help effectively control blood sugar levels while reducing the need for medication and insulin, however it will not completely “fix” the problem, but can significantly improve the outcomes.
We accept most major insurance companies and the majority of our clients pay little to nothing outside of copays or deductibles to meet with a member of our team. We also offer military discounts as we are not in network with Tricare. We always recommend checking your insurance benefits regarding nutrition coverage as coverage depends on the patient’s individual insurance plan.
Branz Nutrition Counseling is a team of certified eating disorder dietitians who provide compassionate care to those struggling with their relationship to food. Our approach is weight-inclusive, LGBTQIA+, and social justice-oriented, which means that we believe that everyone deserves access to quality care.
We can’t wait to meet you!
With locations in Illinois and Missouri, we offer both virtual and in-person counseling sessions. And, we are licensed to provide Telehealth nutrition therapy to patients around the country.
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We see clients in person in the St. Louis area, Missouri, Illinois, and from around the country via Telehealth. Learn more here.
We help individuals and families heal their relationships with food and body through compassionate, weight-inclusive care—supporting eating disorder recovery and managing chronic conditions like PCOS, diabetes, and heart disease using Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size principles.
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What service do you need? We offer a range of appointments of different durations to best fit your needs.
Be paired with the dietitian nutritionist on our team and get continued support with one of our online groups. One-on-one counseling, in-person, or virtual. WE TAKE INSURANCE!
Heal your relationship with food and your body. Choose the best foods for your unique needs. Get the tools you need to live a healthy life. Receive continued support.
Note: In order to secure a spot on a dietitian’s schedule, we need a valid payment method on file.
Thank you for choosing us as the Best Dietitian Practice in STL (2023)
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