The goal of treatment is to keep blood glucose levels measured after a fast at less than or equal to 95 mg/dl, and blood glucose an hour after eating at less than or equal to 140 mg/dl. Usually that can be accomplished through careful meal planning and through exercise. A dietitian can help formulate a meal plan that takes into account both the ingredients and timing of meals. Because a growing baby is constantly feeding, it's important to spread out meals and snacks to provide a consistent flow of nutrients.

Carbohydrate tends to have the greatest effect on blood glucose. The balance between the amount of carbohydrate eaten and the available insulin in the bloodstream determines how much your blood glucose level goes up after meals or snacks. To help control your blood glucose, you need to know what foods contain carbohydrate, the size of a "serving" of different foods, and how many carbohydrate servings to eat each day. There's no magic number of daily servings that's right for everyone; instead, it is important to work with a dietitian to determine what will work for you. In addition, women with gestational diabetes need to make sure they don't cut carbohydrate and calories so much that the body switches from using carbs for energy to using fat. Ketones, the byproducts of burning fat, may hurt the baby.

Regular physical activity, like a brisk walk, can also help keep blood glucose levels at the right levels.