Allergen Information
Contains: Gluten, Wheat
May contain: Milk, Soy
Nutrition per 100g
Snacks & Sweets › Cookies & Cakes
Digestive Biscuits for Gestational Diabetes
Digestive biscuits are semi-sweet, crumbly baked goods originally developed in the United Kingdom. Despite their historic name, they do not possess medicinal digestive properties, but they remain a popular companion for tea and coffee worldwide. Traditional plain digestives feature coarse wholemeal wheat flour blended with white flour, vegetable fat, sugar, and leavening agents like sodium bicarbonate. They deliver a mildly sweet, nutty flavour and a distinct sandy crunch. While they contain slightly more dietary fibre than standard sweet tea biscuits, they are still a baked confectionery item containing notable amounts of refined carbohydrate, added sugar, and saturated fat.
At a glance
Pregnancy safety
SafeBlood sugar impact
lowCarbs / 100 g
63gIs Digestive Biscuits safe with gestational diabetes?
Digestive biscuits present certain considerations for an eating plan during gestational diabetes. Because they contain wholemeal flour, many people assume they are low in carbohydrates, but they still provide roughly 63 g of total carbohydrate per 100 g, including about 17 g of sugar. They also provide approximately 21 g of total fat and 3.6 g of fibre per 100 g. The combination of flour and added sweetener means they can contribute significantly to carbohydrate intake. However, their dietary fibre and fat slow digestion slightly compared to plain tea biscuits, allowing a small portion to fit into structured afternoon snacks.
How does Digestive Biscuits affect blood sugar during pregnancy?
Digestive biscuits have a published medium glycemic index of approximately 59. The blend of refined and wholemeal wheat flours alongside simple sugars tends to release glucose into the bloodstream at a moderate to rapid pace. The fat content of 21 g per 100 g can somewhat delay gastric emptying, which may smooth out the initial rise, though it does not eliminate the carbohydrate load. Eating several biscuits in one sitting may lead to higher post-meal blood glucose readings for many pregnant women. Tracking your personal glucose levels after having a biscuit helps you understand your individual tolerance.
What is a safe portion of Digestive Biscuits for gestational diabetes?
Practising intentional portion awareness is helpful when including sweet baked goods. A typical single digestive biscuit weighs about 15 g and provides approximately 71 calories, 9.5 g of total carbohydrate, 2.6 g of sugar, and 0.5 g of fibre. A sensible portion for a gestational diabetes snack is one biscuit, which delivers roughly 9.5 g of carbohydrate and keeps the glycemic load low. Consuming two biscuits, which weigh 30 g and contain around 19 g of carbohydrate, represents a medium glycemic load and may require closer monitoring. Check your blood sugar response to see how one biscuit fits your targets.
How should I combine Digestive Biscuits to manage blood sugar during pregnancy?
Eating a dry digestive biscuit entirely on its own often leads to a quicker blood glucose rise than enjoying it with protein or healthy fats. Combining one 15 g biscuit with a portion of protein-rich plain Greek yogurt or a hard-boiled egg helps slow down nutrient absorption. Another practical method is spreading a tablespoon of pure peanut butter or mashed avocado across the biscuit surface, which adds beneficial fats and fibre to the snack. Alternatively, enjoy your single biscuit alongside a handful of raw walnuts and a mug of unsweetened herbal tea to create a more satiating snack.
Last reviewed: August 31, 2026
Important Safety Information
Every pregnancy is different, and gestational diabetes is managed differently depending on your readings, your medication and how far along you are. The ratings and portions on this page are general information — not a diagnosis, a treatment plan or a medical device — and they cannot see your results.
- Low blood sugar:
- If you take insulin or diabetes medication, eating less carbohydrate than your team planned for can push your blood sugar too low. Treat a reading below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), or symptoms such as shaking, sweating, confusion or a racing heart, with fast-acting carbohydrate immediately and retest after 15 minutes. Never use this page as a reason to skip or shrink a meal you were told to eat.
- Carbohydrate and ketones:
- Cutting carbohydrate hard to force a number down is not safe in pregnancy — it can produce ketones. Published guidance sets a minimum of 175 g of carbohydrate per day in pregnancy. Readings that stay above target for several days need your care team, not a smaller portion.
- Medication and insulin:
- The portions here are generic and know nothing about your insulin doses, your metformin, or the steroids given to mature your baby's lungs — all of which change how a meal affects you. Never adjust a dose or a mealtime based on this page.
- Food safety in pregnancy:
- Blood sugar is not the only thing that makes a food suitable while you are pregnant. Some foods with excellent glycemic numbers still carry mercury, vitamin A, listeria or alcohol risks, and those are judged separately from the ratings shown here. Check your national pregnancy food-safety guidance before adding an unfamiliar food.
- What these ratings can and cannot tell you:
- Glycemic index values, impact ratings and maximum servings are population averages taken from published tables. Two people eating the same food can get very different readings, so your own meter is the only measurement that describes you. Nutrition figures are indicative per 100 g and vary with brand, ripeness and preparation.
Contact your care team the same day if: your readings stay above target for several days; you have a reading below 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) or needed someone else's help to treat a low; you test positive for ketones; or your baby is moving less than usual. Seek emergency care for confusion, fainting, repeated vomiting, or a low you cannot bring back up.
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Sources & Editorial Review
Content independently developed by Dalo Labs ApS, informed by the American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care in Diabetes, ACOG's gestational diabetes guidelines, and the IADPSG consensus criteria. Not endorsed by or affiliated with any referenced organization. · Last reviewed: August 2026
- American Diabetes Association — Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026
- ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 190 — Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (reaffirmed 2026)
- USDA FoodData Central — Nutritional Database
- Atkinson et al. — International Tables of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values 2021 (Am J Clin Nutr)
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