Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy (gestation).
Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how your cells use sugar (glucose).
Gestational diabetes causes high blood sugar that can affect your pregnancy and your baby’s health.
Any pregnancy complication is concerning, but there’s good news.
Controlling blood sugar can prevent a difficult birth and keep you and your baby healthy.
In gestational diabetes, blood sugar usually returns to normal soon after delivery.
But if you’ve had gestational diabetes, you’re at risk fortype 2 diabetes.
You’ll continue working with your health-care team to monitor and manage your blood sugar.
For most women, gestational diabetes doesn’t cause noticeable signs or symptoms.
Once you’re pregnant, your doctor will check you for gestational diabetes as part of your prenatal care.
If you develop gestational diabetes, you may need more-frequent checkups.
They can help you learn to manage your blood sugar level during your pregnancy.
Once you’ve had gestational diabetes, it’s a good idea to have your blood-sugar level tested regularly.
Researchers don’t know why some women develop gestational diabetes.
Your body digests the food you eat to produce sugar (glucose) that enters your bloodstream.
In response, your pancreasa large gland behind your stomachproduces insulin.
Almost all of them impair the action of insulin in your cells, raising your blood sugar.
Modest elevation of blood sugar after meals is normal during pregnancy.
As your baby grows, the placenta produces more and more insulin-counteracting hormones.
Any woman can develop gestational diabetes, but some women are at greater risk.
Risk factors for gestational diabetes include:
Most women who have gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies.
This can cause your baby to grow too large (macrosomia).
Or her doctor may recommend early delivery because the baby is large.
Babies born early may experience respiratory distress syndromea condition that makes breathing difficult.
Babies with this syndrome may need help breathing until their lungs mature and become stronger.
Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes may experience respiratory distress syndrome even if they’re not born early.
Severe episodes of hypoglycemia may provoke seizures in the baby.
Prompt feedings and sometimes an intravenous glucose solution can return the baby’s blood sugar level to normal.
Untreated gestational diabetes can result in a baby’s death either before or shortly after birth.
Future diabetes.If you have gestational diabetes, you’re more likely to get it again during a future pregnancy.
You’re also more likely to develop punch in 2 diabetes as you get older.
Eat healthy foods.Choose foods high in fiber and low in fat and calories.
Focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Strive for variety to help you achieve your goals without compromising taste or nutrition.
Keep active.Exercising before and during pregnancy can help protect you from developing gestational diabetes.
Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week.
Take a brisk daily walk.
Park in the distant part of the lot when you run errands.
Get off the bus one stop before you reach your destination.
Every step you take increases your chances of staying healthy.
Lose excess pounds before pregnancy.Doctors don’t recommend weight loss during pregnancy.
Focus on permanent changes to your eating habits.
Medical experts haven’t agreed on a single set of screening guidelines for gestational diabetes.
Some question whether gestational diabetes screening is needed if you’re younger than 25 and have no risk factors.
Others say that screening all pregnant women is the best way to identify all cases of gestational diabetes.
Your doctor will likely evaluate your risk factors for gestational diabetes early in your pregnancy.
Initial glucose challenge test.You’ll drink a syrupy glucose solution.
One hour later, you’ll have a blood test to measure your blood-sugar level.
You’ll need a glucose tolerance test to determine if you have the condition.
Your doctor will likely recommend frequent checkups, especially during your last three months of pregnancy.
During these exams, your doctor will monitor your blood sugar.
Your doctor may also ask you to monitor your own blood sugar daily as part of your treatment plan.
If you’re having trouble controlling your blood sugar, you may need to take insulin.
If you have other pregnancy complications, you may need additional tests to evaluate your baby’s health.
Your doctor will also conduct tests to monitor your baby’s well-being during your pregnancy.
You’ll also want to keep a close eye on your future blood-sugar levels.
This may sound inconvenient and difficult, but it’ll get easier with practice.
Your health-care team will monitor and manage your blood sugar during labor and delivery.
Doctors don’t advise losing weight during pregnancy since your body is working hard to support your growing baby.
But your doctor can help you set weight-gain goals based on your weight before pregnancy.
No single diet is right for every woman.
Exercise can also help get you in shape for the hard work of labor and delivery.
With your doctor’s OK, aim for moderately vigorous exercise on most days of the week.
If you haven’t been active for a while, start slowly and build up gradually.
Walking, cycling, and swimming are good choices during pregnancy.
Everyday activities such as housework and gardening also count.
Medication.If diet and exercise aren’t enough, you may need insulin injections to lower your blood sugar.
Between 10 and 20 percent of women with gestational diabetes need insulin to reach their blood-sugar goals.
Close monitoring of your baby.An important part of your treatment plan is close observation of your baby.
Your doctor may monitor your baby’s growth and development with repeated ultrasounds or other tests.
If you don’t go into labor by your due dateor sometimes earlieryour doctor may induce labor.
Delivering after your due date may increase the risk of complications for you and your baby.
It’s stressful to know you have a condition that can affect your unborn baby’s health.
You’ll probably feel better if you learn as much as you’re able to about gestational diabetes.
Talk to your health-care team.
Read books and articles about gestational diabetes.
Join a support group for women with gestational diabetes.
The more you know, the more in control you’ll feel.
If your blood-sugar tests high, you’ll likely be asked to come in for an appointment promptly.
You’ll also have more-frequent regular prenatal appointments to monitor the course of your pregnancy.
Make a list of questions to help make the most of your time with your doctor.
If your doctor recommends further evaluation, make your follow-up appointments as soon as possible.
Every week counts for you and your baby.
Updated: 2017-04-28
Publication Date: 2001-05-23
