Gestational
diabetes
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Gestational diabetes defined
Gestational diabetes develops only in pregnant women with no previous
history of diabetes. Nearly 135,000 U.S. women develop gestational diabetes
each year.
Typically, gestational diabetes clears up on its own after women have
delivered their babies. But studies show that about 40% of women with
gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 15 years.
All pregnant women should be tested for gestational diabetes between their
24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy.
Keeping a healthy weight, eating healthy food and regular exercise during
pregnancy may help prevent insulin resistance and gestational diabetes.
Risk factors
- Diabetes tends to run in families.
- Too many pounds increases insulin resistance.
- Native Americans, African-Americans, and people
of Hispanic or Latino descent are at increased risk. Whites and Asians
have a lower risk.
What causes it?
Hormones may play a role. Pregnant women produce various
hormones essential to their baby's growth. However, these hormones may
interfere with the mother's body's ability to properly use insulin, causing
insulin resistance.
All pregnant women have some degree of insulin resistance. But if this
resistance becomes full-blown gestational diabetes, it usually appears
around the 24th week of pregnancy. That's why all pregnant women should
be screened for gestational diabetes around that time.
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