What is gestational diabetes?
It affects between 3 and 9% of pregnancies and is usually screened for between weeks 24 and 28 — here's what to know.
Gestational diabetes is a rise in blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in someone who wasn't diabetic beforehand. It's caused by placental hormones that make the body more resistant to insulin, a resistance that naturally increases as pregnancy progresses.
Screening usually happens between 24 and 28 weeks with a glucose tolerance test: blood sugar is measured after drinking a sugary solution. Certain risk factors (age, weight, family history of diabetes, gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy) may call for earlier screening.
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Left untreated, gestational diabetes can increase the risk of a larger baby (macrosomia), a more complicated delivery, and low blood sugar in the newborn after birth. It also slightly raises the mother's risk of preeclampsia.
The good news is that it's well managed in the vast majority of cases through dietary adjustments and regular physical activity; a minority of women need medication or insulin. Blood sugar returns to normal after birth in nearly all cases, though follow-up is recommended, since the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life is higher.
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This information is general and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional (doctor, midwife, nurse, pharmacist). Every situation is unique: always check with them before making a decision. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency services.
