Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes Nutritionist Dietitian in the St. Louis Area, Missouri, and Illinois

Get Prenatal Medical Nutrition Therapy and Dietary Interventions to Manage Your Blood Sugar Levels – Reduce Risks During Pregnancy and Labor

What is gestational diabetes?

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.

What causes gestational diabetes?

While it’s not fully understood, it’s believed to result from a combination of hormonal changes, metabolic factors, and a genetic predisposition.

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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.

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Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes:​​

  • Having gestational diabetes diagnosis during a previous pregnancy.

  • Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes.

  • Beginning your pregnancy with a diagnosis of pre-diabetes.

  • Being African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latina, or Pacific Islander American.

How can I prevent gestational diabetes?

While there is no guarantee of prevention, you can reduce your risk of developing it. Here’s how:

  • Eat a balanced diet

  • Swap sodas and sugary drinks for water

  • Stay hydrated

  • Maintain an intuitive weight

  • Stay active

  • Manage stress

  • Avoid alcohol and smoking

  • Monitor blood sugar levels under supervised care

What does a dietitian do for gestational diabetes?

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:

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  • Personalized Meal Planning: We provide dietary interventions to help you manage and stabilize blood glucose levels. Meal plans and snack recommendations include your favorite flavors and family traditions.

  • Portion Guidance: Intuitive eating practices, mindful eating, and strategies to ensure you get the right portions and nutrients. This can help maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

  • Blood Glucose Monitoring: We can provide you with guidance and education on how to monitor and record your blood glucose levels. This can help you track how your body reacts to dietary changes.

  • Intuitive Weight Gain: Every woman’s body is different, and every woman’s body reacts differently to pregnancy. Intuitive weight gain helps you manage appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, ensuring you receive adequate nutrition, for you and your developing baby, and reducing risks associated with gestational diabetes.

  • Education: Nutrition education, label reading, and education on the potential complications of gestational diabetes are integral to our holistic nutrition counseling for pregnancy.

  • Get Active: We can support you with resources to incorporate safe and effective physical activity. An active lifestyle is key to managing gestational diabetes.


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.

Can diet fix gestational diabetes?

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. 

Does insurance cover medical nutrition therapy for GDM?

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.

Our Team of Dietitian Nutritionists in the Greater St. Louis Area

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.

​Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Missouri | New York | Texas | Virginia

We see clients in person in the St. Louis area, Missouri, Illinois, and from around the country via Telehealth. Learn more here.

Scroll to see the whole team.

How It Works – An Easy Three-Step Process to Get You on the Road to Recovery

Make An Appointment

What service do you need? We offer a range of appointments of different durations to best fit your needs.

Meet with your Personal Dietitian

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!

Take Control of Your Life

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.

Our Testimonials

Thank you for choosing us as the Best Dietitian Practice in STL (2023)

  • There have been times where my daughter will eat 4 bowls of carrots and turn down a cookie, and there have been times where she will want all the fruit snacks and nothing else, but it doesn’t stress me out because I know now that it’s just what her body wants in the moment. The information provided in your course not only helps my kids, but also opened my eyes to some of my own internal struggles around sugar and meal times!"

  • My sister Gifted this program to me and I'm so glad she did! I've already gotten so much out of watching the modules and reading the PDFs."

  • Understanding and implementing the Division of Responsibility in Feeding really takes the pressure off meal times. I love sitting down to enjoy dinner with my family and I hope it’s a memory my kids enjoy when they’re older too."

  • Also, againg, thank you for being so kind to "A". She usually does not like seeing "doctor like people", but she actually enjoys coming to see you, so that says a lot.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us. I know we will continue to deal with food issues but at least I see hope. I honestly don't know how L(or myself) could have got through the past year without you. You literally are a lifesaver!! You are an amazing dietitian!!.

    by Mother of a Patient

  • Thank you for the caring devoted service and gentle compassion you have shown "S" over the years.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • I am truly grateful we found you to be he nutritionist. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • "For most of my life, I have correlated the size of my body to being loved and accepted. The smaller I am, the more lovable and acceptable I am. Giving up the dieting, the rules, and the noise has given me the freedom to trust, appreciate and accept love from others as well as myself".

    by

  • I truly appreciate the encouragement and hearfelt, genuine concern you have for me. Your counsel and empathy have meant a great deal and helped keep me going during difficult times.

    by C, Saint Louis, MO

  • Thanks for helping me think about food differently and providing guidance regarding how to select carbs. Also, thanks for helping me recognize that the evolution would take several months to come to a 'new normal'.

    by E, Saint Louis, MO

We Accept Insurance

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Branz Nutrition in the Media

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Nutrition Blog & Latest News

Our team of Dietitians offers online support as well as in-person appointments in MO and IL.