During pregnancy, you may be offered a test for gestational diabetes. In many care settings, this is presented as routine, something that “just happens” around a certain week. But it is important to remember: this test is not an obligation. You always have the right to question, and decide what feels right for you.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes (GDM) refers to higher blood sugar levels during pregnancy. It is often screened through an oral glucose tolerance test, where you drink a sugary solution and have your blood tested over time. The intention behind screening is to identify situations where additional monitoring or support might be needed.
There are also other way to be check, if you are a lot of nausea the drink might not be the best option for you. You can ask your care provider for glucose monitoring that you do yourself.
A question worth asking first
Before deciding to take the test, it can be helpful to pause and reflect:
What would it give me to know?
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Would the result change how I care for myself?
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Would it bring reassurance, or anxiety?
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What kind of support or interventions would follow?
For some, having this information feels grounding and helpful. For others, it may introduce stress, pressure, or unnecessary worry. There is no universal answer, only what feels right in your body and your context.
In my own experience, I chose not to take the test. I already had a balanced and nourishing diet. Like many pregnant women, I also experienced cravings, mostly sweets. What did not feel right was the idea of feeling guilty every time I ate something sweet, being told my baby might be “too big,” based on assumptions that are not always accurate plus entering a cycle of monitoring and restriction that would create stress. For me, the emotional impact mattered. I knew that being in a state of stress or anxiety around food would affect my well-being deeply. And maternal well-being is not separate from baby’s well-being.
Food during pregnancy is often reduced to numbers, measurements, and control. But there is another layer: the nervous system, the emotional state and the relationship with food. Constant monitoring can sometimes shift eating from nourishment into pressure. And pressure can lead to stress. For some people, this can even impact mood, creating feelings of restriction or discouragement.
It is worth asking: Does this approach support me, or does it create tension?
As Michel Odent often emphasizes, the foundation remains simple: Support the body with an overall healthy, balanced diet. This is, in many ways, the same advice that would be given regardless of testing.