Allergen Information
May contain: Wheat, Gluten
Nutrition per 100g
Snacks & Sweets › Chocolate & Sweets
Gummy Candy for Gestational Diabetes
Gummy candy is a chewy confection traditionally manufactured from sugar, glucose syrup, water, flavourings, colourings, and animal gelatin, which imparts its signature elastic texture. While fruit juice concentrates appear in some formulations, these sweets primarily consist of refined carbohydrates with minimal nutritional value. Gummy candies come in varied shapes, such as bears, worms, and fruit slices, and are consumed globally as a sweet treat. In gestational diabetes care, they represent a concentrated source of fast-acting sugar that delivers quick energy but lacks the dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals needed to nourish both maternal and fetal health during pregnancy.
At a glance
Pregnancy safety
SafeBlood sugar impact
lowCarbs / 100 g
78gIs Gummy Candy safe with gestational diabetes?
For an eating plan tailored to gestational diabetes, gummy candy presents notable nutritional challenges due to its dense concentration of simple sugars. Because gelatin gummies contain virtually no dietary fiber and negligible amounts of fat, the digestive system breaks down their carbohydrates with minimal resistance. This makes it challenging to accommodate large portions alongside daily meal plans without seeing notable shifts in post-meal glucose readings. Rather than serving as a regular snack, small portions can occasionally be explored if properly planned, though discussing how to accommodate occasional treats with your midwife, doctor, or registered dietitian remains a helpful step.
How does Gummy Candy affect blood sugar during pregnancy?
Gummy candy has a published glycemic index of roughly 78, placing it firmly in the high glycemic category. With 78 g of total carbohydrates and 50 g of sugar per 100 g, the refined sugars enter the bloodstream swiftly after ingestion. For many people, eating gummy sweets on an empty stomach tends to prompt a rapid and pronounced rise in circulating glucose. The absence of dietary fiber means there is nothing in the candy itself to slow the absorption of simple carbohydrates. Checking your blood glucose levels after having a sweet treat can help clarify how your body responds.
What is a safe portion of Gummy Candy for gestational diabetes?
Careful portioning is essential when consuming concentrated sweets during pregnancy. A sensible portion for someone with gestational diabetes is limited to 15 g, which typically corresponds to three or four small gummy bears. This 15 g serving provides approximately 51 calories, 12 g of total carbohydrates, and 7.5 g of sugar, with just 1.0 g of protein and negligible fat. Exceeding this amount can rapidly double or triple your carbohydrate intake in just a few bites. Using a digital kitchen scale to measure the sweets rather than eating directly from a large package helps keep your carbohydrate intake clearly defined.
How should I combine Gummy Candy to manage blood sugar during pregnancy?
Because gummy candy lacks macronutrients that temper carbohydrate absorption, pairing it strategically can alter how your body digests the sugars. Consuming a 15 g portion directly after a meal containing dietary fiber and lean protein tends to result in a slower absorption rate compared to eating candy alone between meals. Alternatively, you might pair those few pieces with a small handful of raw walnuts, roasted almonds, or a cup of plain unsweetened Greek yogurt. Incorporating protein and healthy fats alongside the candy may help smooth the rate of glucose uptake into the bloodstream.
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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