• Diabetes
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Medically reviewed and edited by Teena Harrison, DNP, FNP-BC

During pregnancy, the body goes through several changes as hormones fluctuate. An imbalance of hormones can lead to insulin resistance — the body is not able to process or use insulin properly. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and helps to create the energy your body needs.

Insulin resistance can lead to gestational diabetes in pregnant people. You can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy even if you did not have diabetes beforehand.

Signs and Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Typically, gestational diabetes does not cause any symptoms besides having high blood sugar. However, people with gestational diabetes often report constantly feeling dehydrated and having to urinate frequently throughout the day. While rare, some people may experience blurred vision, nausea, and frequent yeast infections.

People with gestational diabetes are also at an increased risk for pregnancy-related complications. Gestational diabetes may be a sign that a woman may deliver a baby with a birth weight on the higher end. Women over 45 are more likely to develop high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

How to Know If You Have Gestational Diabetes

A healthcare provider can test you for diabetes between 24 to 48 weeks of pregnancy. They may recommend it to you if you have had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy or other risk factors.

During an A1C test, a healthcare provider will draw blood and test for your blood glucose levels. A blood sugar level is typically anything that is 140 mg/dL or lower. This test can also tell you if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Some people have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes before becoming pregnant.

The A1C test is not the only option for healthcare providers to check if you have gestational diabetes. Other tests for gestational diabetes include:

• Glucose screening test: One hour after drinking a liquid containing glucose, a healthcare provider draws blood to check blood sugar levels.

• Glucose tolerance test: A healthcare provider will measure glucose levels before and after you drink a liquid containing glucose. You will have to fast the night before this test.

Who is at Risk for Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Even if it’s never happened before, every pregnant person sees some changes to their blood sugar during pregnancy. 

Some people may be more likely than others to have blood sugar levels high enough to develop into gestational diabetes. 

The following factors increase your risk of developing gestational diabetes:

• Overweight

• Severe obesity

• PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)

African-Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders have an increased risk of gestational diabetes during pregnancy. 

If you have given birth to a baby that weighs over nine pounds, it may increase your risk for gestational diabetes in your next pregnancy. A pregnant woman with gestational diabetes is at an increased risk for other pregnancy complications.

Can Gestational Diabetes Go Away?

Gestational diabetes tends to go away on its own when the pregnancy ends. During pregnancy, a healthcare provider will closely monitor any changes in blood sugar levels until then

Blood glucose level readers are available to track your blood sugar at home. A healthcare provider may recommend using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to measure blood sugar if it is severely low or high.

When using a CGM, a sensor is inserted under the skin to measure glucose in your tissue.

Glucose levels should be in the following ranges depending on the time of the day you check:

• Before meals, glucose levels should be between 90 to 130 mg/dL

• An hour after eating glucose levels should be 180 mg/dL or less

• Two hours after eating glucose levels should be 120 mg/dL or less

• At bedtime, your blood sugar should be between 90 to 150 mg/dL

If a healthcare provider suspects that you could develop type 2 diabetes after delivery, they may recommend medications like Glucophage (metformin) to prevent type 2 diabetes.

What are other types of diabetes?

Before someone develops gestational diabetes, they may have prediabetes. Most people don’t know they have it since diabetes doesn’t typically show symptoms. 

Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are high but not high enough for someone to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. When a person has type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly destroys beta cells that create insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the body does not process insulin correctly. 

Can You Prevent Gestational Diabetes?

You can take measures to bring blood sugar levels down when you have gestational diabetes. 

The following actions can help you keep your blood sugar from spiking:

• Follow a well-balanced diet

• Engage in physical activity

• Get at least eight hours of sleep each night

• Take prescription medications as instructed

After having gestational diabetes, there is a chance that it can develop into type 1 or type 2 diabetes once the baby is delivered. About 50% of people with gestational diabetes have type 2 diabetes later in life.

Where Can I Learn More About Gestational Diabetes?

At LifeMD, you can speak with a licensed healthcare provider about ways to manage your blood sugar before and during pregnancy. They can also provide tips on how to maintain a well-balanced diet. 

Book an appointment today to learn more about options for better blood sugar management.

Teena Harrison, DNP, FNP-BC

Teena graduated with a Master of Science Degree from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida and earned her Doctoral Degree from Touro University in Henderson, NV. Teena has been practicing for 25 years in various healthcare arenas including Family Practice, Urgent Care, and Geriatrics. She is board certified in Family Medicine. Teena is a devoted and compassionate medical professional whose daily goal is to provide quality care while ensuring her patients feel truly listened to and at ease during their time with her. She believes in treating the whole person — not just the diagnosis — and is committed to actively involving her patients in the development of their treatment plan. Teena currently lives in Winston Salem, NC with her dog Nacho Cheese and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. She is also a member of ASPCA and is involved in animal rescue.

Talk To A Doctor

How does LifeMD work?

LifeMD makes it easy to stay on top of your health because talking to a doctor, filling your prescriptions, getting your labs done—and more—are all easy and cost-effective. Come discover a healthcare solution built around you and your life.

Connect with a doctor now!

Join Now

Text

Call