What is the cornerstone of management for gestational diabetes?

The cornerstone of management for gestational diabetes is glycemic control. This is essential because gestational diabetes affects how a woman's body processes glucose and managing blood sugar levels is crucial for the health of both the mother and the developing fetus.

Maintaining proper glycemic control helps minimize the risks of complications such as excessive fetal growth, preterm birth, and the potential for the mother to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Strategies to achieve glycemic control typically include dietary modifications, physical activity, and in some cases, insulin therapy or other medications.

Other options, such as weight loss and exercise, can play a role in overall health management, but they are not typically the primary focus when managing gestational diabetes. Immediate treatment of urinary tract infections is important for preventing additional complications, but it does not directly address the primary issue of blood sugar regulation that characterizes gestational diabetes. Thus, the emphasis on glycemic control is what makes it the cornerstone of management in this context.