CGM and Pregnancy: How Dexcom G7 is Transforming Gestational Diabetes Care

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CGM and Pregnancy:

How Dexcom G7 is Transforming Gestational Diabetes Care

Learn how those experiencing gestational diabetes can benefit from Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes is a unique condition that happens only during pregnancy. Having a child is a major life event, and getting a gestational diabetes diagnosis can feel stressful and even scary. However, with guidance from your doctor and the right habits and tools, gestational diabetes can be managed.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, such as the Dexcom G7 CGM System, can support individuals experiencing diabetes during pregnancy. Diabetes Canada recommends that all individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) should be offered CGM to help them improve glucose control throughout their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is different from T1D, but both types of diabetes require individuals to pay close attention to their glucose levels to promote a healthy pregnancy.¹

Understanding gestational diabetes and learning more about helpful technology like CGM can empower you to take the next steps to support yourself and your baby through your pregnancy journey.

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops while an individual is pregnant. Similar to type 2 diabetes (T2D), gestational diabetes happens because the body is no longer able to make enough insulin or effectively use the insulin it does make. Insulin is the hormone that allows the body to use sugar, or glucose, for energy.¹

Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy during routine screening.3 However, not many people experience noticeable symptoms. Some signs to look out for include urinating more often and feeling unusually thirsty.⁴

The causes of gestational diabetes are complex, and researchers still aren’t certain why some people experience it and others don’t. Just a few of the risk factors for gestational diabetes include:¹

Being over 35 years old.
Having African, Arab, Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous, or South Asian heritage.
Having a parent or sibling living with type 2 diabetes.
Experiencing obesity (generally defined as a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2).
Living with prediabetes.
Having had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.
Given birth to a baby that weighed more than 4 kg.
Experiencing polycystic ovary syndrome or acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin).

How to Manage Gestational Diabetes

If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, there are steps you can take to support yourself and your baby as part of your prenatal routine. It’s important to talk to your doctor and create a diabetes management plan to help with glucose management throughout your pregnancy.

Everyone experiences gestational diabetes differently, so there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Here are just a few of the general suggestions for managing gestational diabetes.

1. Take Care of Your Glucose Levels

Maintaining glucose levels is a significant part of managing gestational diabetes. High blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia, can have a negative impact on both parent and child. Keeping your glucose levels within the target range as determined with your doctor helps reduce the likelihood that you or your child will experience complications during the pregnancy and after they are born.¹

Diabetes Canada generally recommends that individuals experiencing gestational diabetes aim to keep their glucose below 5.3 mmol/L before eating, below 7.8 mmol/L one hour after eating, and below 6.7 mmol/L two hours after eating. Those using insulin therapy to treat gestational diabetes also need to be aware of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, and work to avoid lows below 3.7 mmol/L.¹

Many individuals who develop gestational diabetes are new to monitoring and managing their glucose levels, and it can be a steep learning curve when you’re first diagnosed. There are many factors that can influence your glucose levels throughout the day. It’s important to monitor your glucose so you can make informed decisions that help you avoid highs and lows. One of the options for monitoring your glucose levels is using a CGM system such as Dexcom G7. Unlike using a traditional blood glucose monitor (BGM), using CGM for gestational diabetes allows you to get real-time glucose readings without routine fingersticks.* This makes it a little easier to keep an eye on your glucose levels so you can take proactive action to stay in your target glucose range more often.

2. Maintain a Healthy Diet

Diabetes Canada recommends that individuals experiencing gestational diabetes consult a registered dietitian to discuss dietary options. Maintaining a healthy diet can contribute to better glucose control and support overall health during pregnancy, and beyond.⁶

It’s a good idea to decrease the amount of high-glycemic index foods you eat and replace them with low-glycemic index options. Foods with a low glycemic index are less likely to cause spikes in blood sugar.⁷ Diabetes Canada suggests putting together meals by covering half of your plate with vegetables, one quarter with lean animal or plant-based protein, and one quarter with carbohydrates such as whole-grain pasta or bread. Be sure to eat a variety of foods so you can cover all your nutritional needs, and choose water over sugary pop or fruit juice.⁴ Diabetes Canada has a library of diabetes-friendly recipes that might inspire you to cook something new.

Dexcom G7 can make it easy to see how different foods impact your glucose levels. By using CGM technology, you can easily spot changes in your glucose before and after you eat. With this information, you can better understand how eating certain meals at certain times affects your glucose control. Dexcom G7 also provides high glucose alerts so you can be notified when you need to take steps to lower your glucose.

3. Engage in Movement that Works for You

Physical activity can help to control glucose levels.² Pregnant individuals are encouraged to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity over at least three days each week.⁸ Parents experiencing gestational diabetes should not try to lose weight during pregnancy, but gaining too much weight can increase the risk of complications. Prioritizing movement, when combined with diet, can support healthy weight gain and weight maintenance during pregnancy.¹

Everyone’s body responds differently to pregnancy, so it’s critical to discuss what types of movement are right for you with your doctor and pregnancy care team. You could try low-impact activities like taking daily walks, swimming, attending prenatal yoga classes, or doing simple bodyweight strength training exercises.⁹ Be sure to choose activities that you enjoy.

It’s also important to monitor your glucose levels during exercise. Using Dexcom G7 during your pregnancy can make it easier to keep an eye on your glucose while you exercise, so you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to see how your glucose levels are changing.

Benefits of Using CGM for Gestational Diabetes

Along with all of the other changes that come with pregnancy and parenthood, managing gestational diabetes can feel overwhelming. Dexcom G7 allows you to view your glucose levels on a compatible smart device or receiver, giving you insight into where your glucose levels are at and where they’re headed.^†

Although more studies are needed in women with gestational diabetes, using a CGM system like Dexcom G7 has been shown to help lower A1C and increase time in range (TIR) in pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes.^11,12,13,14 Reducing A1C and spending more time in your target glucose range can help you prepare for a healthy pregnancy and can support positive outcomes for your child.¹

Learn more about Dexcom G7

* If your glucose alerts and readings do not match symptoms or expectations, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions.
† For a list of compatible devices, visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility.

1 Feig DS, et al. Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: Diabetes and Pregnancy. Can J Diabetes. 2018 Apr;42 Suppl 1:S255-S282. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.038
2 Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 14, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/diabetes-gestational.html
3 Gestational Diabetes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355339
4 Healthy eating. Diabetes Canada. Accessed September 16, 2023. https://www.diabetes.ca/nutrition---fitness/healthy-eating
5 The glycemic index (GI). Diabetes Canada. Accessed September 16, 2023. https://www.diabetes.ca/resources/tools---resources/the-glycemic-index-(gi)
6 Mottola MF, et al. Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy. No. 367-2019. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. 2018;40(11): 1528–1537. DOI: 10.1016/j.jogc.2018.07.001
7 Pregnancy week by week: Pregnancy exercises. Mayo Clinic. Updated August 15, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-exercises/art-20546799
8 Murphy HR, et al. Effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with diabetes: randomised clinical trial. BMJ. 2008;337:a1680. doi:10.1136/bmj.a1680
9 Feig DS, et al. Continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (CONCEPTT): a multicentre international randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2017;390(10110):2347-2359. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32400-5
10 Castorino K, et al. Performance of the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Pregnant Women with Diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2020;22(12):943-947. doi:10.1089/dia.2020.0085
11 Welsh JB, et al. Comparisons of Fifth-, Sixth-, and Seventh-Generation Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2022;19322968221099879. doi:10.1177/19322968221099879
15. Murphy HR, et al. Effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with diabetes: randomised clinical trial. BMJ. 2008;337:a1680. doi:10.1136/bmj.a1680.
16. Feig DS, et al. Continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (CONCEPTT): a multicentre international randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2017;390(10110):2347-2359. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32400-5.
17. Castorino K, et al. Performance of the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Pregnant Women with Diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2020;22(12):943-947. doi:10.1089/dia.2020.0085.
18. Welsh JB, et al. Comparisons of Fifth-, Sixth-, and Seventh-Generation Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2022;19322968221099879. doi:10.1177/19322968221099879

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