Nutrition per 100g
Ginger Ale for Gestational Diabetes
Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavoured with ginger extract or artificial ginger flavouring, water, and sweetening agents such as sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup. First created in the nineteenth century, it is enjoyed globally as a refreshing soda and a familiar home remedy for an unsettled stomach. Commercial versions vary from pale, dry, crisp styles with mild ginger spice to darker, sweeter styles. Many pregnant women reach for ginger ale to help ease morning sickness, though commercial formulations typically contain substantial dissolved sugars and only minimal amounts of genuine ginger root.
At a glance
Pregnancy safety
SafeBlood sugar impact
lowCarbs / 100 g
8.9gIs Ginger Ale safe with gestational diabetes?
In a gestational diabetes meal pattern, regular ginger ale requires careful thought because it contains dissolved, fast-acting carbohydrates without protein, fat, or dietary fibre. Each 100 ml delivers 34 calories and 8.9 g of carbohydrates, of which 8.8 g is free sugar. While often sought after during the first trimester to soothe nausea, the rapid absorption of liquid sugars tends to elevate blood glucose readings quickly. Pregnant individuals with gestational diabetes who wish to include regular ginger ale typically keep portions modest and view it as a quick-absorbing carbohydrate source.
How does Ginger Ale affect blood sugar during pregnancy?
Beverages with dissolved sugars present a unique challenge for blood sugar tracking because liquids empty rapidly from the stomach. With a glycemic index of 65, the carbohydrates in ginger ale are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Even a moderate glass can create a sharp post-meal glucose rise for many individuals. Because ginger ale has a glycemic impact and glycemic load rated as low only when consumed in strict, minimal quantities, drinking standard commercial can sizes often causes significant glucose variation. Checking personal blood glucose readings after consumption helps determine individual tolerance.
What is a safe portion of Ginger Ale for gestational diabetes?
A sensible single portion of regular ginger ale for someone with gestational diabetes is 100 ml, which provides 34 calories and 8.9 g of total carbohydrates, nearly all of which is 8.8 g of sugar. A standard 330 ml can contains nearly 30 g of sugar, which can overwhelm glucose thresholds when consumed quickly. Measuring 100 ml into a small glass, perhaps diluted with plain sparkling water, allows you to enjoy the ginger flavour while keeping carbohydrate intake within planned boundaries. Discussing beverage limits with your midwife, doctor, or dietitian provides personalized clarity.
How should I combine Ginger Ale to manage blood sugar during pregnancy?
Liquid sugars digest very rapidly, so consuming ginger ale alone on an empty stomach tends to cause quick glucose peaks. Pairing a 100 ml serving with a source of dietary protein, healthy fat, or fibre can slow overall gastric emptying. For example, enjoy your small glass alongside a handful of roasted almonds, a boiled egg, or a slice of whole-grain toast topped with cheddar cheese. If ginger ale is used to soothe nausea, sipping small amounts with savoury protein snacks may feel settling while supporting more gradual carbohydrate uptake throughout digestion.
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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