Women who are pregnant (or thinking of getting pregnant) and have diabetes are encouraged to be seen at one of our Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinics, located at each of the acute care hospitals in Calgary. 

Locations are listed at Inform Alberta - diabetes in pregnancy. Please be aware that AHS staff are required to encrypt any emails that include personal information. Please click here for instructions on how to open an encrypted email. As well, see the basic preparation steps for any diabetes appointment that are separate from the important ones related to Gestational Diabetes, below. 

• Foothills Medical Centre: 403-944-2122  Email: FMCDIP@ahs.ca
• Rockyview General Hospital: 403-943-3495  Email: RGHDIP@ahs.ca
• South Health Campus: 403-944-9670  Email: SHCDIP@ahs.ca
• Sunridge Medical Gallery: 403-944-9660  Email: SMGDIP@ahs.ca

Gestational Diabetes (GDM) Appointment

Please try to finish the following tasks before your scheduled phone call with the nurse or dietitian:

1. Go to a pharmacy and get a blood sugar (glucose) meter, glucose test strips and lancets. If you are not able to go yourself, please ask a friend or family member to go for you. You may want to ask your doctor, midwife or prescribing pharmacist for a prescription if you have insurance coverage. Click here for a letter that explains why you require a prescription. The pharmacy can train you or your support person how to use the blood glucose meter.

2. Read the Diabetes Canada handout - Gestational Diabetes.

3. Read the nutrition handout – Eating for Gestational Diabetes and watch this quick 5 minute video on healthy eating and activity. 

4. Start recording food and drinks you are having on the following Food Record. 

5. If you have a blood glucose meter, start recording your results in the Blood Sugar Record. We ask that you test your blood when you wake up in the morning and two hours after each meal. There are links to instructional videos on how to use some of the common blood glucose meters on our Videos Page. Please note that some of the meters display a color coding for what the glucose number means. The standard color code that the meter displays is not accurate for pregnancy. The nurse or dietitian you talk to by phone can tell you more about what these numbers mean.

6. Optional activities:

• Visit www.diabetes-pregnancy.ca  and click on GDM. View the information available on the GDM web pages.
• Read the more detailed nutrition handout: Healthy Eating with Gestational Diabetes.
• Read the nutrition handout: 7-Day Gestational Diabetes Healthy Meal Plan
• Read the handout on fibre
• Read the handout on protein

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call your Diabetes in Pregnancy clinic at the phone number listed above.

Starting Insulin

If your healthcare team has recommended that you start insulin, they will ask you to refer to the following. Do not start insulin without consulting your healthcare team.

• How to Use your Insulin Pen video (specific to diabetes in pregnancy)
• Getting Started with Insulin (Diabetes Canada)
• Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
• DIP Insulin Instructions with Adjustment

More detailed Diabetes Canada video (optional)

Punjabi Education Videos

The following videos are designed to complement education provided though a Punjabi speaking interpreter or health care provider.

• Why Me, Why Now? (What is GDM?)
• Gestational Diabetes (GDM) Diet & Lifestyle Teach
• Blood Sugar Meter Teach
• How to Use Your Insulin Pen

Arabic Education

The following resources are designed to complement education provided through an Arabic speaking interpreter or health care provider.

• How to Test Your Blood Sugar  (Arabic)
• How to Use Your Insulin Pen (Arabic)
• Low Blood Sugar handout (Arabic)

Tigrinya Education

The following resources are designed to complement education provided through a Tigrinya speaking interpreter or health care provider.

• How to Use Your Insulin Pen (Tigrinya)
• Low Blood Sugar handout (Tigrinya) 
   

Additional Educational Resources

• Foods with Carbohydrate
• Healthy Eating with Gestational Diabetes
• Healthy Eating for Pregnancy when you have Diabetes
• Pregnancy and Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes
• Glycemic Index Food Guide (Diabetes Canada) 
• Diabetes Canada: As you take your baby in your arms
• Alberta Healthy Living Program class: Sugar Spike- The Glycemic Index and Your Health
• Lab Meter Comparison

For even more resources, please see our Diabetes handouts & resources, and the Diabetes-Pregnancy website.
 

Starting Metformin

Please read the following handout if your diabetes team has suggested Metformin may be an option for you: Metformin for Gestational Diabetes.
 

Research Studies at Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinics

PREDISPOSE Study

Pregnancy and Postpartum Resources

• Gestational Diabetes Postpartum Handout: As you take your baby in your arms, take your health in your hands (Diabetes Canada). 
• Best Beginning: 
  • Referral Form
  • Alberta Referral Directory
  • Birth and Babies 
• Healthy Parents, Healthy Children is a comprehensive online resource for pregnancy and postpartum support.
   
• Families Matter: Online parenting education along with support for prenatal and postpartum depression.
   
• You can also call 8-1-1 for the most up to date resources in your area for health care resources such as breastfeeding help.