Dietitian for gestational diabetes (GDM)
Stable blood sugar during your pregnancy, without a strict diet, through conscious choices.
Sport, pregnancy & eating behaviour · Amsterdam and Almere · no referral needed
Does this sound familiar?
With gestational diabetes it is extra important to keep your blood sugar in balance, for your own health and for your baby's. That calls for choices that fit your situation and your food culture.
Who is this guidance for?
If you recognise yourself in one or more of these situations, a dietitian is a logical next step. Not sure? A single question by e-mail is answered free of charge.
- You have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes after the glucose test (OGTT)
- Your midwife or gynaecologist has referred you to a dietitian
- You had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy and want to act early
- You want to manage your blood sugar with food and avoid insulin where possible
- You want to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes after the birth
What we do
- A personal nutrition plan tailored to your readings and your lifestyle
- Practical advice you can apply straight away, without a strict diet
- Close coordination with your midwife or gynaecologist
- Aftercare: reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes after pregnancy
How nutrition helps with gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops because pregnancy hormones make your body less sensitive to insulin, usually from the second half of pregnancy. As a result your blood sugar stays too high, which can affect your baby's growth. Dietary advice is the first step in treatment under the Dutch obstetrics guideline (NVOG); for many women the readings can be managed well with diet alone.
It comes down to the amount and type of carbohydrate per meal, how it is spread across the day and how it is combined with protein, fat and fibre. You learn how to put together breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without spikes, including with rice, bread, roti or couscous. It doesn't have to be strict or monotonous, but it does have to be conscious. You measure your own blood sugar and we discuss the results in the sessions.
We coordinate with your midwife or gynaecologist. If your readings stay too high despite diet, your doctor may prescribe insulin; the dietary advice then remains the foundation. After the birth, gestational diabetes usually disappears, but the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life remains raised. That is why we also offer aftercare.
What to expect from your programme
The aim is blood sugar readings within the target range your midwife or gynaecologist uses, with an eating pattern you can keep up for the rest of your pregnancy. Whether insulin becomes necessary differs from person to person and is decided by your doctor. After the birth we help you with habits that reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
We make no promises about kilos or timelines. What we do is measure the same way at every evaluation, so you see your progress in black and white.
How your programme works
Four clear steps, from sign-up to evaluation. All within the cover of your basic health insurance, at our locations in Amsterdam or Almere, at home or online.
Sign up
Online in a few minutes, no referral letter needed. Choose a location, a home visit or a video call, and your preferred time. We get in touch within one working day.
± 3 minutes
60-minute intake appointment
Full screening with weight and body-fat measurement (circumference measurements where useful), a dietary history and personal advice straight away. Afterwards we work out your plan and sample day menu (30 minutes).
60 + 30 minutes
Personal plan
Treatment goals and an eating pattern that fits your life and schedule, with consultations spread across the year. No standard lists, but choices you can keep up.
after the intake
Guidance and measuring
In follow-up consultations we discuss your progress, answer your questions and measure again, so your progress becomes visible and we can adjust in time.
at your pace
Is a dietitian for gestational diabetes covered?
Yes. Dietary advice is covered for three hours per calendar year under the Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering), with no referral letter needed. With supplementary insurance you are often entitled to more sessions. If you are over 18, your deductible (eigen risico) applies, except within an integrated care network (ketenzorg). We are contracted with all Dutch health insurers and bill them directly, so you receive no invoice.
Dietitian without a referral letter
For dietary advice you do not need a referral from your GP (huisarts): you sign up directly online and we get in touch within one working day. Only if you want to be guided within integrated care (ketenzorg), so that your deductible is not touched, does your GP request a referral. Where useful, we always coordinate with your GP or specialist.
Frequently asked questions about gestational diabetes
Does gestational diabetes go away after the birth?
Usually yes, but the risk of type 2 diabetes remains raised. With a healthy eating pattern you reduce that risk considerably, and we help you with that.
Is dietary advice for gestational diabetes covered by Dutch health insurance?
Yes. Dietary advice is covered for three hours per calendar year under the basic health insurance (basisverzekering), with every Dutch insurer and without a referral letter. If you are over 18, your deductible (eigen risico) applies.
How soon can I get an appointment after the diagnosis?
With gestational diabetes, time matters. We contact you within one working day and schedule the intake as soon as possible, at our practice or online. Mention when you register that it concerns gestational diabetes.
Do I have to give up sugar and carbohydrates completely?
No. You need carbohydrates, for your baby too. It is about the type, the amount per meal and how it is spread across the day. We show you how that works with the dishes you are used to.
Can I see a dietitian online in the Netherlands?
Yes. Online video consultations are covered in exactly the same way as an appointment at one of our locations, wherever you live in the Netherlands. You can also mix and match: the intake in Amsterdam or Almere, for example, and the follow-up sessions from home. Let us know your preference when you register.
A dietitian near me
Guidance for gestational diabetes is available at all our locations in Amsterdam and Almere, at home or by video call. Choose whichever is easiest for you.
- Dietitian Amsterdam SlotervaartGezondheidscentrum Slotervaart, Louwesweg 6, Amsterdam
- Dietitian Amsterdam ZuidoostHuisartsenpraktijk Zuidoost, Florijn 5A, Amsterdam
- Dietitian Amsterdam OokmeerHuisartsenpraktijk Ookmeer, Notweg 30-A, Amsterdam
- Dietitian Almere Stad, Almere
- Online or at home. Video calls are covered in the same way; home visits in Amsterdam and Almere for anyone who finds it hard to leave the house.
Related treatments
All seventeen treatments- Dietitian for type 1 and type 2 diabetesControl your blood sugar with food that fits your medication and your daily life, guided by dietitians with a postgraduate qualification in Nutrition and Diabetes.
- Dietitian during and after pregnancyPersonal nutritional advice for every stage of your pregnancy, for you and your baby.
- Dietitian for overweight and obesityLasting weight loss without a crash diet, with a way of eating that fits your life and your culture.
- Multilingual dietitians, advice that fits your kitchenNutritional advice in the language you feel comfortable in, and tailored to what you eat at home.
A warm, listening ear, clear explanations and guidance that really fits your situation.
A very knowledgeable dietitian with a warm, listening ear. She thinks along with you, explains things clearly and offers guidance that really fits your situation. I am extremely satisfied with her approach. Thank you for everything so far, Seemab.
Start today with guidance for gestational diabetes
Sign up in a few minutes. We get in touch within one working day to plan your intake, at our locations in Amsterdam or Almere, at home or online. Covered by basic health insurance, no referral needed.