Getting diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy can feel surprising, scary, or frustrating. Understanding why it happens and how to cope can make a significant difference in managing your health.
What is gestational diabetes?
GDM is the appearance of diabetes during pregnancy in a person who did not previously suffer from diabetes. It affects about 4 to 8% of all pregnancies. Because of many factors, some based on your unique genetics and some related to lifestyle, your body may have higher than expected levels of glucose (also called blood sugar) in the morning when you wake up and/or after meals. Usually, GDM doesn’t have many warning signs, so healthcare providers screen everyone between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to identify those with GDM.
How can gestational diabetes affect the pregnancy?
When GDM is left undetected or untreated, the baby could be at risk for many complications, like:
- dangerously low blood sugar levels at birth
- jaundice
- an increased risk of diabetes later in life
- preterm birth
- high birth weight
- respiratory distress syndrome, even when born full-term
- stillbirth
These complications are serious, and many people lack risk factors for gestational diabetes, so screening everyone is important.
How can gestational diabetes affect you?
A woman who develops gestational diabetes has an increased chance of developing preeclampsia, another dangerous condition of pregnancy. GDM also increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life, so it’s essential to be aware of this and get screened annually after your pregnancy. Those with GDM are also more likely to require a C-section.
Treating gestational diabetes
The good news is that GDM is highly manageable. For most women, changes in diet and activity bring blood sugar levels back to normal. Talking to a registered dietitian can provide valuable support when making necessary lifestyle changes.
Most people check their blood sugar with a glucometer four times per day. While this isn’t always fun or easy, monitoring your blood sugar from diagnosis to birth is the best way for everyone to maintain good health. Blood sugar levels can get worse as pregnancy goes on, so it’s really important to be consistent with monitoring.
If changes in diet and activity don’t bring your levels into the normal range, it’s not because you’ve done anything wrong! Sometimes, pregnant people need additional insulin to manage these levels. It can be overwhelming to add a new medication during pregnancy, so ask for help and see a specialized diabetes educator if needed!
Will the diabetes hang around?
Gestational diabetes usually disappears immediately after giving birth to a baby and the placenta. But remember that your risk is now higher for GDM in another pregnancy, and for Type 2 diabetes later in life. While you don’t have to keep checking your blood sugar four times per day, most experts suggest an A1C test 3-6 months postpartum, and annually after that.
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Sources
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Gestational diabetes.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 4/25/2014. Web.
- “Gestational Diabetes: FAQ177.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 9/13/2015. Web.
- Deirdre K. Tobias, SM, Cuilin Zhang, MD, PHD, Rob M. van Dam, MD, PHD, Katherine Bowers, PHD, Frank B. Hu, MD, PHD. “Physical Activity Before and During Pregnancy and Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.” Diabetes Care. American Diabetes Association, 9/27/2010. Web.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Glucose tolerance test.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 3/12/2015. Web.
