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What is gestational diabetes? — Gestational diabetes, like "regular" diabetes, is a disorder that disrupts the way your body uses sugar.
All the cells in your body need sugar to work normally. Sugar gets into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. If there is not enough insulin, or if the body stops responding to insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. That is what happens to people with diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that affects some people when they are pregnant. It happens because pregnancy increases the body's need for insulin, but the body cannot always make enough.
What problems can gestational diabetes cause? — Many of the problems that can happen are related to having high blood sugar levels. For example:
●The baby can get too big (heavier than 9 pounds). That is a problem, because a big baby can get hurt if they cannot fit easily through the birth canal. A big baby can also damage the mother's body during delivery. Sometimes, a c-section is needed (surgery to get the baby out). Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes might also be at higher risk for being overweight later in life.
●Right after birth, the baby can have blood sugar levels that are too low. They can sometimes have other health problems, too.
●Gestational diabetes also increases the risk that a person will have a life-threatening problem during pregnancy called preeclampsia. (Preeclampsia causes high blood pressure, among other things.)
Will I get gestational diabetes during my pregnancy? — It is hard to predict who will get gestational diabetes. But some people are more likely to get it than others. You are more likely to get gestational diabetes if you:
●Had it before
●Are overweight
●Have diabetes in your family
●Are older than 25, and especially if you are older than 40
●Are Hispanic-American, African-American, Native American, South or East Asian, or Pacific Islander
Some habits might reduce your risk of gestational diabetes. These include losing weight before pregnancy if you are overweight, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking.
Will I be tested for gestational diabetes? — Yes. All pregnant people are tested for gestational diabetes.
Most people should be tested when they are about 6 or 7 months pregnant. (That's the same as 24 to 28 weeks pregnant.) But people at high risk for diabetes might need to be tested earlier in pregnancy.
There are a few ways to test for diabetes. A common way is to have you drink a special, sweet drink. Then, an hour later, the lab technician will take some blood. That way they can see how high your blood sugar gets after you eat sugar. If your blood sugar level is normal, then you are done. If it is high, then you will need to do another test. For this test, blood is taken before you have anything to eat or drink in the morning. Then you drink a different special, sweet drink, and the lab technician will take some blood 1, 2, and 3 hours later.
How is gestational diabetes treated? — To treat your gestational diabetes, you will need to check your blood sugar often. This is something you can learn how to do on your own with an easy-to-use machine. Most people can keep their blood sugar level in the normal range by changing their diet. Some people also need insulin shots or other diabetes medicines.
How should I change my diet? — A registered dietitian (food expert) can tell you how to change your diet. Everyone is different, so there is no single diet that is right for everyone. Even so, most people should:
●Avoid sweets and fatty foods
●Choose bread, pasta, and rice made with whole grains
Should I exercise? — Daily exercise will help control your blood sugar and weight. If you already exercise, you can usually keep doing what you have been doing or possibly increase your physical activity. If you have not been exercising and want to start, ask your doctor or nurse what kind of activity is safe for you. Even gentle forms of exercise can help your health.
How often do I need to see the doctor or nurse? — People with gestational diabetes need to see the doctor or nurse more often than other pregnant people. How often you go will depend on how you are doing at each visit, and on whether you use insulin. During these visits, the doctor or nurse will:
●Check on your baby
●Ask about your diet
●Make sure your blood sugar levels are where they should be
●Adjust your dose of insulin or other medicine (if you take medicine)
Can I have a normal delivery? — If your blood sugar levels have been close to normal, chances are good that you can have a vaginal delivery. During delivery, your doctor or nurse will check your blood sugar to make sure that it is not too high.
What happens after I give birth? — Your diabetes will probably go away and your blood sugar will probably go back to normal. If you were taking insulin or another medicine, you probably will not need it anymore. Even so, your doctor or nurse should check your blood sugar to make sure your levels get back to normal and stay normal. People who have gestational diabetes are at very high risk of getting "regular" diabetes later in life. You should get checked for diabetes 2 or 3 months after you give birth, then every few years for the rest of your life.
Patient education: Type 2 diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Nutrition before and during pregnancy (The Basics)
