After Gestational Diabetes: My Journey Navigating Postpartum Type 2 Diabetes Risk
By Chelsea Hayman
A Wake-Up Call in the Postpartum Period
I remember having pizza at my parents’ house postpartum and feeling awful. I felt sluggish, my heart was racing, and I was nauseous. It reminded me of the exact symptoms I had during pregnancy when my blood glucose was above target. When I got home, I checked my glucose with the meter and strips I still had, and the reading was much higher than I expected. It took several hours to come down. I had been told that once I delivered, my glucose would return to pre-gestational levels, but that moment showed me something different. It was a clear wake-up call to the reality of postpartum diabetes risk and the importance of staying aware in the months after delivery.
At that moment, I felt like I had stepped back into pregnancy even though I was no longer pregnant. I felt confused and caught off guard. I also felt frustrated that no one talks about what can happen after delivery. Most women are told they are “back to normal,” but I learned quickly that for women who have lived through gestational diabetes, postpartum is actually a critical window for awareness and prevention.
My Experience With Gestational Diabetes
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in the second trimester of both of my pregnancies. Even as a physician assistant (PA) in endocrinology, that news shook me. I felt guilt, shame, and embarrassment. Managing gestational diabetes is an emotional rollercoaster. There is fear, frustration, hope, and pressure all wrapped together. In some ways, I felt fortunate to have the education to understand what was happening inside my body. In other ways, being a diabetes care provider added pressure because I felt like I needed to navigate everything perfectly and that I should know all the answers. But that didn’t stop the emotional weight of it all. And it certainly did not protect me from the fear that comes with wanting your baby to be healthy.
The Postpartum Gap Women Often Experience
Even though I knew I was at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, I assumed that once the baby arrived, the stress of micromanaging blood glucose would disappear. I believed postpartum would bring a return to my pre-pregnancy glucose levels. Instead, I found myself facing a new chapter that many women experience during gestational diabetes recovery, and it deserves so much more attention.
Like so many new moms, I put myself last because survival mode took over. Between newborn feedings, sleepless nights, physical recovery, and adjusting to life with two kids, it was easy to push my own health to the background. The medical follow-ups that were once scheduled every week disappeared overnight. No one checked in, asked about ongoing symptoms, or talked about the long-term implications. That silence can easily make women believe the risk is gone.
The Emotional Side of Postpartum Diabetes Risk
Many women are not prepared for the emotional shift that happens after delivery. During pregnancy, the goal feels clear. You monitor your glucose levels to protect your baby. After birth, the focus moves instantly to the newborn. And somewhere in that transition, women often lose the connection to their own health.
I felt guilty that I was not paying attention to my glucose levels the way I once had. I felt overwhelmed trying to juggle everything. I questioned whether I was doing enough. These feelings are rarely talked about, yet they are incredibly common among women who have had gestational diabetes before.
DiabetesSisters has wonderful resources and a monthly virtual support group for Navigating Diabetes and Motherhood, that provide tips and a space to talk in a real and validating way.
Learning to Navigate Postpartum Diabetes Risk
After that first postpartum blood glucose spike, I knew I needed to rebuild habits that supported me. I also knew I had to be realistic. I was caring for a newborn and a toddler while recovering physically and emotionally. So I focused on the small, consistent actions that could fit into my daily life.
Slowly, I started listening to my body again. I reminded myself that prevention is not a finish line. It is an ongoing process. I realized that prevention is not about perfection. It is about awareness, compassion, and choosing small steps that support long-term health, even on days you feel overwhelmed. I learned to celebrate small wins instead of criticizing myself for imperfect days.
Small Habits That Helped Me The Most
Over time, I rebuilt habits that felt realistic and supportive, such as:
- Protein first at meals – Eating protein first helped stabilize my hunger cues and kept my energy steadier. It also made meals feel more satisfying and prevented that crash that often left me irritable or exhausted.
- Pairing carbohydrates with protein or fiber – This simple approach helped me avoid blood glucose spikes and crashes and kept my levels more stable.
- Walking after dinner – Rather than trying to fit in structured workouts, taking walks with my kids in the evenings supported both my blood glucose and my mental health.
- Staying hydrated and eating consistently – Skipping meals left me feeling out of balance, so I practiced gentle consistency whenever possible. Hydration also made a big difference in helping me maintain my energy.
These habits supported my postpartum health, fit naturally into motherhood, and helped me feel more grounded and in control.
What I Wish More Providers Told Women
One thing I have learned through my personal and professional experience is that women deserve more guidance during postpartum. Many women leave the hospital believing their diabetes risk ends when pregnancy ends. In reality, the postpartum window is one of the most important times for Type 2 diabetes risk awareness and support, including emphasizing:
- Getting yearly or routine follow-up labs.
- Navigating the emotional transition from structured pregnancy care.
- Building small habits to promote long-term diabetes prevention.
- Finding ongoing education and community support.
Women deserve clarity, not fear. They deserve support, not silence. And they deserve to know that they can play an active role in their long-term health.
If peer support is something you are looking for, DiabetesSisters has Meetups that offer connection and encouragement. Visit Diabetes Support Groups and Meetups to learn more and register.
Gestational Diabetes Changed My View of My Health
Gestational diabetes changed the way I view my long-term health. It taught me that prevention is not a strict plan. It is a relationship with your body. It is choosing awareness without judgment, trusting your ability to take meaningful steps even in busy seasons, and choosing long-term wellbeing even when life feels overwhelming.
Today, both my personal and professional experiences influence the way I support other women navigating gestational diabetes recovery and long-term prevention. I understand the fear, confusion, and overwhelm. I understand the exhaustion that makes self-care feel out of reach. Most importantly, I understand the power of compassion, education, and support.
A Message to Other Women Navigating Life After Gestational Diabetes
If you are navigating life after gestational diabetes, I want you to know you are not alone. Your feelings are valid. Your experience matters. Postpartum is messy and exhausting, but it does not erase your strength or your worth. Awareness is not meant to scare you. It is meant to guide you.
You are not behind. You are not alone. You are learning your body in a deeper way. Small steps matter. You deserve support long after pregnancy ends. Prevention is possible, and your health is worth tending to even in the busiest seasons of motherhood.
Words of Encouragement from the Author
About the Author:
Chelsea Hayman is a PA in endocrinology, CDCES, and mom of two who helps women navigate insulin resistance through fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. After experiencing gestational diabetes in both pregnancies, she blends medical expertise with lived experience to guide women in feeling informed, confident, and supported every step of the way.this same path. Let DiabetesSisters help you put your health first and make 2026 your best year yet.
