Gestational Diabetes

What Is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar levels become high during pregnancy. It affects up to 10% of women who are pregnant in the U.S. each year. It affects pregnant women who haven’t ever been diagnosed with diabetes.
There are two classes of gestational diabetes. Women with class A1 can manage it through diet and exercise. Those who have class A2 need to take insulin or other medications.
Gestational diabetes goes away after you give birth. But it can affect your baby’s health, and it raises your risk of getting type 2 diabetes later in life. You can take steps so you and your baby stay healthy.

Women with gestational diabetes usually don’t have symptoms or may chalk them up to pregnancy. Most find out that they have it during a routine screening.

You may notice that:

  • You’re thirstier than usual
  • You’re hungrier and eat more than usual
  • You pee more than usual

Gestational Diabetes Causes

When you eat, your pancreas releases insulin, a hormone that helps move a sugar called glucose from your blood to your cells, which use it for energy.

During pregnancy, your placenta makes hormones that cause glucose to build up in your blood. Usually, your pancreas can send out enough insulin to handle it. But if your body can’t make enough insulin or stops using insulin as it should, your blood sugar levels rise, and you get gestational diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors

You’re more likely to get gestational diabetes if you:

  • Were overweight before you got pregnant
  • Are African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, or Native American
  • Have blood sugar levels that are higher than they should be but not high enough to be diabetes (this is called prediabetes)
  • Have a family member with diabetes
  • Have had gestational diabetes before
  • Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or another health condition linked to problems with insulin
  • Have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, or other medical complications
  • Have given birth to a large baby (weighing more than 9 pounds)
  • Have had a miscarriage
  • Have given birth to a baby who was stillborn or had certain birth defects
  • Are older than 25