You will be tested for gestational diabetes during the course of your pregnancy as part of your routine prenatal care. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that a woman can develop during pregnancy. Researchers don't know all the causes of gestational diabetes. Some — but not all — women with gestational diabetes are overweight before getting pregnant or have a history of diabetes in the family. Somewhere between 1 in 20 and 1 in 50 pregnant women develop the condition.
Gestational diabetes that is not controlled can cause your baby to grow very large (weighing more than 9 pounds), which in turn can lead to problems with delivery. It can increase your chances of having to have a cesarean delivery. It can also cause your baby to have quickly changing blood sugar after delivery. Your baby's doctor will watch for low blood sugar after birth and treat it if necessary.
Your best bet is to see your doctor regularly, eat healthy foods and stay active in accordance with your doctor's recommendations while you are pregnant.
— Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, May 2013
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