One common pregnancy complication is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).  This means your blood sugar levels are higher than is healthy, which can be a problem for both you and your baby. 

You’ll be tested for the condition in the second half of your pregnancy, usually somewhere between 24 and 28 weeks. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, taking care of yourself with a healthy diet and lifestyle, and in some cases medication, can keep the condition under control. With proper care and treatment, your odds of having a healthy baby are excellent. And in most cases, your blood sugar will return to normal after you give birth.

About Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a particular form of diabetes that can affect pregnant women.  Diabetes is a metabolic condition in which the body is unable to produce enough insulin to process the glucose released into the bloodstream following digestion of food.  In contrast, gestational diabetes occurs because the growing placenta produces high levels of hormones that impair the function of insulin, sometimes leading to high blood sugar levels that can affect the growth and development of your baby.  That’s why it is important to take special care of yourself if you are found to have gestational diabetes.

Learn more about gestational diabetes mellitus.

Risk Factors

Some women are at greater risk for gestational diabetes than others. Increased risk factors include:

• Previous history of gestational diabetes mellitus
• Glucose in urine
• Strong family history of diabetes
• Obesity
• Previous history of large babies
• Previous pregnancy loss
• Ethnic background (Hispanic, African, Native American, South or East Asian or Pacific Island ancestry)

Testing

While some women may experience excessive thirst or frequent urination as a result of their gestational diabetes, most women do not show any symptoms.  For this reason, PinnacleHealth providers test all pregnant women for the condition sometime between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Women who have a higher risk for diabetes may be screened earlier in their pregnancies and tested again later if early test results are normal.

Initial Screening

The initial screening for gestational diabetes takes place at the obstetrician’s office, a laboratory or a PinnacleHealth facility.  You will be asked to drink a very sweet beverage consisting of a glucose syrup solution. An hour later, your blood will be drawn and tested to ascertain your blood sugar level. In general, the blood sugar after this test should be between 130 and 140 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If the level is higher, a doctor will order a follow-up test.

Follow-Up Screening

The follow-up screening requires that you fast overnight. In the morning, your blood will be drawn to establish the fasting blood sugar level, and then you will once again drink a solution, this time with an even higher concentration of glucose. The blood sugar is tested every hour for three hours, and if two of the three tests have a higher blood sugar level, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. 

Treatment

Most women are able to control their gestational diabetes by following a careful diet, exercising regularly and making other lifestyle modifications.  They also need to monitor their blood sugar every day (with self-administered blood tests) to make sure they stay within a healthy range.  Some women may require regular insulin injections to keep blood sugar under control. If you are found to have gestational diabetes, a PinnacleHealth diabetes educator and dietician will  help you learn how to manage your condition so you have a healthy pregnancy.

In addition to controlling your blood sugar, your doctor or midwife may conduct regular ultrasounds and non-stress tests to check the health of your baby.  Some women with gestational diabetes have babies that are very large and/or who are born with low blood sugar levels, so if you have this condition you can expect that your baby will have blood sugar testing after birth to assess any potential problems.

Women with gestational diabetes also have a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life and should receive follow-up care by their primary care provider within the first year after delivery.