FAQs About Gestational Diabetes

Pregnancy comes with a list of potential complications, but many of these problems can be prevented or treated successfully if they are caught early by a qualified medical professional. One problem that many pregnant women face is gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects between 5% and 9% of U.S. pregnancies, and often develops between 24 and 28 weeks. Because symptoms are uncommon, routine screening during this window is important. 

What Is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after delivery. It occurs when the body can’t make enough insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps your body use blood sugar (glucose) for energy.

During pregnancy, hormone changes can cause the body’s cells to become more resistant to insulin. These changes can help ensure the baby gets enough glucose for growth, but they can also impact the pancreas’s ability to produce enough extra insulin to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range. When that happens, blood sugar levels rise, leading to gestational diabetes.

Most people who develop gestational diabetes do not have diabetes before pregnancy, and with proper care and monitoring, blood sugar levels usually return to normal after childbirth.

What are the Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes most often develops between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, so your provider will usually screen for it during this time. Early screening and management help keep both you and your baby healthy.

Because gestational diabetes often has no noticeable symptoms, it’s important to understand the risk factors, including:

• Excess weight: Being overweight or obese (a body mass index of 30 or higher) increases insulin resistance and raises your risk of gestational diabetes.
• Personal health history: Having prediabetes or elevated blood sugar levels before pregnancy can increase your chances of developing gestational diabetes.
• Family health history:  Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes also increases risk.
• Previous pregnancies: Having had gestational diabetes, a stillbirth, or a baby weighing over nine pounds in a previous pregnancy raises your likelihood of these problems recurring..
• Age: The risk for gestational diabetes increases as you get older, with the highest rates seen in people aged 40 and above.
• Race and ethnicity: Gestational diabetes is more common among Asian, Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, likely due to a combination of biological, environmental, and social factors.

Can Gestational Diabetes be Treated Without Harming My Baby?

Yes. With proper care, gestational diabetes can be safely managed for both you and your baby.

Before pregnancy, engaging in regular physical activity and reaching a healthy weight can help lower your risk. During pregnancy, focus on maintaining a healthy weight range as recommended by your provider—pregnancy isn’t the best time to lose weight.

Treatment usually starts with eating healthy, staying active, and checking blood sugar levels. Your healthcare team will also monitor your baby’s growth closely. If these steps don’t keep blood sugar in range, insulin is a preferred and safe medication to take during pregnancy.

Managing gestational diabetes greatly reduces other pregnancy complications such as birthing a larger baby, delivering early, or having a baby with low blood sugar or breathing problems. Regular prenatal visits and open communication with your care team are key to keeping you and your baby healthy.

If you are pregnant and need help managing gestational diabetes or any aspect of your pregnancy, contact a Revere Health OBGYN clinic today.