Empowered Care in GDM: Overcoming Bias and Supporting High-Risk Populations During Pregnancy

GDM in Real Life Infographic

Pdf Summary

This infographic, based on the American Diabetes Association’s 2025 Standards of Care, addresses common real-life challenges faced by pregnant individuals with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and offers practical solutions. It emphasizes open communication with healthcare teams to create personalized treatment plans that accommodate both pregnancy and lifestyle needs.<br /><br />Key concerns include financial stress over food and housing, feeling judged during medical appointments, the time burden of managing care, difficulty finding or affording healthy food, confusion over nutrition labels and carbohydrate counting, and uncertainty about safe physical activities during pregnancy. The infographic encourages patients to speak up about their needs and preferences to improve support and care experiences.<br /><br />Specific recommendations include:<br />- Informing healthcare providers about any difficulties with groceries, housing, or safety so they can connect patients with local assistance programs.<br />- Expressing feelings of judgment and requesting preferred support methods during appointments.<br />- Exploring options like combining medical visits, telehealth consultations, or simpler care plans to save time.<br />- Requesting customized meal plans that suit both nutritional and financial needs alongside information on food assistance programs.<br />- Asking healthcare teams to explain how to read nutrition labels and carbohydrate counts clearly, and using helpful tools such as the Diabetes Plate or food photo guides for easier meal planning.<br />- Consulting providers about safe and appropriate physical activities during pregnancy tailored to individual health status.<br /><br />Ultimately, the infographic promotes patient empowerment through honest dialogue and tailored guidance to help manage GDM effectively in everyday life. For more information and support, patients can contact the ADA at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES.

Keywords

gestational diabetes mellitus

GDM management

American Diabetes Association

2025 Standards of Care

pregnancy nutrition

diabetes meal planning

patient empowerment

telehealth consultations

food assistance programs

safe pregnancy exercise