Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a kind of diabetes that can happen during pregnancy. Out of every 100 pregnant women, 3 to 5 develop gestational diabetes. Like other kinds of diabetes, gestational diabetes is a condition in which your body has trouble managing the levels of glucose (sugar). Glucose is your body's main source of fuel.

Diabetes raises your blood sugar level. This can create serious health problems for you and your baby.

If gestational diabetes is not treated, the fetus receives too much blood sugar and will grow too large. Oversized babies can be injured during vaginal delivery. Often, they must be delivered by c-section to avoid this risk. After birth, the baby may have breathing problems, low blood sugar and jaundice. Fortunately, gestational diabetes can be treated and controlled to protect both mother and baby.

Risk Factors
You may be at increased risk for gestational diabetes if:

• You are over 30 years of age.
• You are overweight.
• You have one or more family members with diabetes.
• You are Hispanic, Native American, Asian or African American. These ethnic groups have higher rates of diabetes than other groups.
• You had gestational diabetes in your last pregnancy.
• In your last pregnancy, you gave birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds or was stillborn.

Be aware that not all women who develop gestational diabetes have any of these risk factors. In fact, many women with gestational diabetes have no known risk factors.

What You Need to Know
Most women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms, but some experience extreme hunger, thirst or fatigue. You will probably be screened for gestational diabetes between your 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, or earlier if you are at risk.

If you have gestational diabetes, a special diet and exercise may be enough to control your blood sugar levels. Your health care provider may also suggest that you regularly check your blood sugar. You can do this with a special needle stick or a blood sugar meter. Some women with gestational diabetes get insulin injections.
 
Gestational diabetes usually goes away after delivery. But women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of having it again in another pregnancy. They also have an increased risk of developing diabetes later in life. Exercise, a low-sugar diet and losing weight may reduce the risk of diabetes later in life.

January 2007