Diabetes in Pregnancy Program

A. Gestational diabetes mellitus is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy. In pregnancy, the placenta makes hormones that make it harder for the pregnant person’s body to respond to insulin. Insulin normally lowers blood sugar. If the pregnant person’s body can’t make enough insulin to counteract the effect of the pregnancy hormones, they will develop high blood sugar.

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A. All pregnant people take a blood sugar test between 24-28 weeks. The test consists of drinking a sugary drink and then your blood is tested one hour later. If your result is high, you’ll take another test that is longer (3 hours) and has more blood draws. If this test is also high, you’ll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes and talk with your care team about how to manage it and stay healthy for the rest of your pregnancy.

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A. You can manage it by modifying your diet and avoiding meals that raise your blood sugar. You’ll keep a food journal to log your meals and test your blood sugar after every meal. If modifying your diet doesn’t keep your blood sugar within a safe range, there are medications we can prescribe. Keeping your blood sugars in the target range decreases the risk that you will have complications from gestational diabetes, like high blood pressure, having a large baby, needing a cesarean delivery, or having a baby with low blood sugars that need treatment after birth.

A. Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight can lower your risk of getting GDM. But some people get GDM even if they do all these things. Your genetics, how the pregnancy hormones affect your body, and whether you are having twins can all affect your risk of GDM.

A. Being diagnosed with GDM does not necessarily mean your pregnancy is considered high-risk, but it does mean you will need additional monitoring. If your gestational diabetes can be managed with diet and exercise, you can probably continue your prenatal care with your midwife. Your care team, in collaboration with the Diabetes in Pregnancy team, can answer more specific questions about how your particular diagnosis impacts your ongoing prenatal care.

A. Gestational diabetes increases the chance of having a larger baby which can be harder to deliver vaginally and may make it more likely for you to have a c-section. Some babies have other issues when they are born such as low blood sugar or breathing problems after birth. These babies might need extra care from the pediatricians.

A. Developing gestational diabetes does increase the risk the pregnant person could develop preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Pregnant people who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes are also at increased risk of getting Type 2 diabetes, another type of diabetes, later in life. GDM tends to go away after the pregnancy ends. However, it’s important to get tested to make sure–typically 6 weeks after delivery and on an ongoing basis every 1-3 years by your primary care doctor.