According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gestational diabetes affects between 2% and 10% of pregnancies. This condition can be dangerous for both the pregnant person and the fetus. While it may not always cause easy-to-recognize symptoms, it’s important to get tested for gestational diabetes and to be treated for the condition if it affects you.
What Is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a condition that develops during pregnancy in individuals who do not already have diabetes. When gestational diabetes does develop, it can cause complications for both the pregnant person and the fetus.
It occurs because of hormonal changes during pregnancy that cause your body to stop using insulin as effectively as it should. This is a condition called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is common during the third trimester of pregnancy. However, if it becomes severe enough, it can develop into gestational diabetes earlier in your pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes is most likely to develop around your 24th week of pregnancy, which is why pregnant people are tested for it during this time. If you’ve developed gestational diabetes, monitoring the condition is necessary throughout your pregnancy.
The condition does typically reverse after pregnancy, but it also makes you and your baby more susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes later in life. You can manage this by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and making smart food choices, which is similar for most people with diabetes risk factors.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
There are no obvious symptoms associated with this condition. This is why pregnant people should be tested for gestational diabetes around their 24th week of pregnancy. This is done through a glucose tolerance test.
Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
These are some of the common risk factors associated with gestational diabetes:
- Being sedentary or not active during pregnancy
- Being diagnosed with prediabetes
- Having risk factors for diabetes or having immediate family members with diabetes
- Being diagnosed with PCOS
- Having had gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy
Common Complications Related to Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes can cause a number of issues during pregnancy for both you and your baby. This can range from mild to life-threatening.
Low Blood Sugar
Also called hypoglycemia, the condition can be monitored safely. However, if it becomes severe, you may need to be hospitalized.
High Blood Pressure
Preeclampsia (or high blood pressure) is dangerous during pregnancy. It can cause early birth, stroke, or seizures in the pregnant person. Gestational diabetes increases the chances that you might experience preeclampsia during pregnancy.
Higher Birth Weight/Larger Babies
Heavier, larger babies are often born to patients with gestational diabetes. This can be uncomfortable during the last months of pregnancy and make giving birth more difficult and dangerous. It also increases the need for a cesarean section, which is harder on the birthing parent physically than natural childbirth.
Managing Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy
If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you can manage the condition and reduce your likelihood of developing any of these complications. Management tips for gestational diabetes during pregnancy include:
- Monitoring your blood sugar
- Taking any medicine prescribed by your doctor, possibly including insulin
- Eating leafy green vegetables, eating proteins like fish, and avoiding processed and starchy foods
- Regularly incorporating mild exercise into your routine
- Staying in touch with your care team during and after your pregnancy
Pregnancy With Gestational Diabetes
You can have a safe, healthy pregnancy even with gestational diabetes. It’s important to take care of yourself during this time and to ensure you’re following your care team’s recommended management strategies to avoid complications both during and after your pregnancy.
Resource Links
- “Gestational Diabetes.” CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022, December 30,https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/gestational.html.
- “Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy.” CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022, July 14, https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/diabetes-gestational.html.
- “Gestational Diabetes.” NIH, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2023, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/gestational.
- “Diabetes and Pregnancy.” MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, 2020, June 15, https://medlineplus.gov/diabetesandpregnancy.html.
- Mayo Clinic Staff, “Gestational Diabetes.” Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, 2022, April 9, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355339.
- “Gestational diabetes and a healthy baby? Yes.” American Diabetes Association, Gestational Diabetes, 2023, https://diabetes.org/diabetes/gestational-diabetes.