A woman in a hospital gown sits and reads a paper, displaying a thoughtful expression as she absorbs the information about gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, affects blood sugar levels and increases pregnancy complications
  • Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy.
  • It is caused by hormonal changes that make the body resistant to insulin.
  • Many women have no obvious symptoms, so screening is crucial.
  • Management focuses on diet, exercise, and sometimes medication.
  • With proper care, most women have healthy pregnancies and babies.
  • It increases the long-term risk of Type 2 diabetes for the mother.

Finding out you have gestational diabetes can feel overwhelming. You might be worried about your health and your baby’s. Please know this: you are not alone. Gestational diabetes is common, and with today’s knowledge and support, it is highly manageable.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover what causes it, what the symptoms are, and the practical steps you can take for effective treatment. Our goal is to empower you with clear, evidence-based information so you can feel confident and supported on your journey.

Let’s start with the most basic question.

What Exactly Is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that develops for the first time during pregnancy in a woman who didn’t already have diabetes.

Like other forms of diabetes, it affects how your cells use sugar (glucose). Glucose is your body’s main source of energy. But for your cells to use glucose, they need a hormone called insulin, which acts like a key to let glucose into the cells.

During pregnancy, your body goes through massive hormonal changes. These changes can make your cells more resistant to insulin. For most women, the pancreas simply produces extra insulin to overcome this resistance.

But for some women, the pancreas can’t keep up with the demand. When this happens, not enough glucose gets into the cells. Instead, it stays in the blood. This leads to high blood sugar levels, which is diagnosed as gestational diabetes.

The good news? It’s a condition that typically appears around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy and usually goes away after the baby is born. It’s temporary, but it does require careful attention.

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

Doctors don’t know exactly why some women get gestational diabetes and others don’t. However, they understand the mechanism and have identified key risk factors.

The primary cause is the hormonal shifts of pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that help the baby grow. Some of these hormones (like human placental lactogen and cortisol) block the action of the mother’s insulin. This is called insulin resistance.

All pregnant people have some insulin resistance later in their pregnancy. But if the mother’s body can’t produce enough extra insulin to counteract it, blood sugar levels rise. You can learn more about this process from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Who Is at Risk?

Certain factors can increase your likelihood of developing GDM, as outlined by the American Diabetes Association (ADA):

  • Higher weight before pregnancy.
  • A lack of physical activity.
  • Having a previous history of gestational diabetes or a baby born over 9 pounds.
  • A family history of type 2 diabetes in a parent or sibling.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  • Being over the age of 25.
  • Certain ethnicities, including Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian American.

It’s important to note that you can develop gestational diabetes even if you have none of these risk factors. That’s why universal screening between 24 and 28 weeks is a standard part of prenatal care.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

This is the tricky part. Gestational diabetes often doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. The changes in blood sugar can be mild, and many of the potential signs are also common in a normal pregnancy.

However, some women may experience:

  • Unusual thirst (drinking much more than usual).
  • Frequent urination (more than the typical increase in pregnancy).
  • Fatigue (extreme tiredness, though this is very common in all pregnancies).
  • Sugar in the urine (detected during a prenatal visit).
  • Nausea.
  • Blurred vision.
  • More frequent bladder, vaginal, or skin infections.

Because symptoms are often absent or subtle, attending all your prenatal appointments and completing the glucose screening test is absolutely essential. Don’t skip it! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of this screening for all pregnant people.

How Is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed?

Diagnosis is straightforward and involves a one- or two-step screening process, following guidelines from organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

  1. Glucose Challenge Test (GCT): This is the initial screening. You’ll drink a sweet glucose solution. One hour later, a blood sample is taken to check your blood sugar level.
    • If your level is below a certain threshold (usually 130-140 mg/dL), you likely don’t have GDM.
    • If it’s higher, you will need to return for a longer, more definitive test.
  2. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): This diagnostic test involves fasting overnight. Your fasting blood sugar is tested first. Then you drink the glucose solution. Your blood is drawn at one, two, and sometimes three hours afterward. If your blood sugar is high in two or more of these readings, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Your healthcare team will guide you through this process. A diagnosis can be stressful, but it’s the first step toward protecting your health and your baby’s.

Effective Treatment and Management Plans

Managing gestational diabetes is all about keeping your blood sugar levels within a target range. This greatly reduces the risks to you and your baby. Your management plan will be personalized but will almost always include these key components:

1. Monitoring Your Blood Sugar

You will learn how to check your blood sugar levels yourself using a glucose meter. This typically involves testing four times a day:

  • First thing in the morning (fasting).
  • After breakfast.
  • After lunch.
  • After dinner.

This helps you and your healthcare team see how your body responds to food, exercise, and any medication.

2. A Healthy, Balanced Diet

You will likely work with a dietitian to create a meal plan. The goal isn’t to lose weight but to eat foods that help keep your blood sugar stable.

  • Eat regular, small meals: This prevents big spikes in blood sugar.
  • Choose complex carbs: Opt for whole grains, legumes, and vegetables over refined carbs and sugar.
  • Pair carbs with protein and healthy fats: This slows down the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream.
  • Limit sweets and sugary drinks: This is the most direct way to avoid blood sugar spikes.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers excellent resources on building a healthy eating pattern for gestational diabetes.

3. Regular, Safe Physical Activity

Exercise helps your body use glucose without extra insulin. It’s a natural way to lower blood sugar.

  • Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity most days, like brisk walking or swimming.
  • Always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine during pregnancy.

4. Medication (If Needed)

If diet and exercise alone aren’t enough to control your blood sugar, your doctor may prescribe medication. The March of Dimes provides a clear overview of these options.

  • Insulin injections are a common and safe treatment during pregnancy.
  • Oral medications, like metformin, are sometimes used, though insulin remains the most common medication.

Your medical team will carefully monitor you and adjust your plan as needed. It’s a partnership.

Potential Risks for Mom and Baby

With proper management, the risks are significantly lowered. However, uncontrolled gestational diabetes can lead to complications, as detailed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

For the baby:

  • Excessive birth weight: Extra glucose can cause the baby to grow too large, which may lead to a difficult delivery or the need for a C-section.
  • Early (preterm) birth: High blood sugar may increase the risk of early labor.
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) at birth: The baby’s body may produce extra insulin, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar right after birth.
  • Higher long-term risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

For the mother:

  • High blood pressure and preeclampsia.
  • Higher chance of needing a C-section.
  • Future diabetes: Having GDM increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

This list can be scary to read. But remember: these are the risks of unmanaged gestational diabetes. Your diagnosis and treatment plan are your powerful tools to prevent these outcomes.

Life After Delivery: What Happens Next?

For most women, blood sugar levels return to normal immediately after the baby is born. The placenta, which was producing the insulin-blocking hormones, is delivered. The insulin resistance goes away.

  • Your doctor will check your blood sugar after delivery and again at your 6-week postpartum checkup.
  • Because you have a higher lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes, it’s important to have your blood sugar checked every 1-3 years. The CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program is a fantastic resource for long-term lifestyle change.
  • Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and staying active are your best defenses for the future.

Breastfeeding is highly encouraged, as it can help you lose pregnancy weight and may improve your body’s use of insulin, lowering your future diabetes risk.

A Simple Summary

  • Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after birth.
  • It’s caused by hormonal changes that make your body resistant to insulin.
  • Many women have no symptoms, so screening between 24-28 weeks is vital.
  • Treatment focuses on monitoring blood sugar, healthy eating, and regular exercise. Medication like insulin may be needed.
  • With good management, you can have a perfectly healthy pregnancy and baby.
  • This experience is a signal to be proactive about your long-term health and your risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Navigating gestational diabetes is a journey, but you have the knowledge and support to manage it successfully. You’ve got this.

To build a stronger foundation of understanding about this condition, we recommend reading our comprehensive guide: What Is Diabetes? A Complete Guide.