The main method to control gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is to regulate diet. The most effective method of controlling gestational diabetes through diet is to restrict and/or select carbohydrates. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes are recommended to reduce their carbohydrate intake to 40% of total calories or maintain a carbohydrate intake of 60%, but these carbohydrates should all come from foods with a low glycemic index. Examples of low glycemic index foods are apples, spinach, black beans, split peas, oatmeal, and quinoa. Additional suggestions are to eat complex carbohydrates instead of simple, refined sugars. Eat small, frequent meals and snack between meals often to maintain consistent glucose levels throughout the day. It is not recommended for patients with gestational diabetes to limit their calorie intake compared to normal values. A decrease in caloric intake may lead to an increase in maternal serum ketone levels. This increase in ketone level has been associated with decreased psychomotor development and a reduction in child IQ between ages 3 and 9. Additionally, it is important not to increase fat intake (especially if you choose to reduce carbohydrate intake to 40% but struggle to maintain total calorie intake). Increasing a high-fat diet has been correlated with a recurrence of gestational diabetes in later years. Exercise can be used in conjunction with dietary control when diet alone does not maintain appropriate glucose levels. The American Diabetes Association recommends participating in aerobic exercise (walking at a brisk pace, swimming laps, playing tennis) and strength training (free weights or weight machines, resistance bands, sitting on the wall). However, it is still controversial to approve exercises. ...... middle of document ......t Medication adherence and adherence are strongly correlated with positive health outcomes. Thus, a drug that maximizes patient compliance, provides the same effectiveness as previously used medications, and exhibits no additional adverse effects is extremely likely to become the drug of choice. The drugs of particular interest to researchers currently are glyburide and metformin. As research continues, it is assumed that these drugs will become part of the pharmaceutical regimen in the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus. In fact, glyburide and metformin have been prescribed successfully for several years in other countries to treat gestational diabetes. Glyburide, in particular, is expected to gain FDA approval in the coming years as a second-line drug because it has been shown to only cross the placental barrier in insignificant amounts...