Overview

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in a woman who did not have diabetes before. Pregnancy hormones make the body less able to use insulin, and some women cannot make enough extra insulin to keep blood sugar in a healthy range. It usually appears in the second half of pregnancy and most often goes away after birth.

With good blood sugar control, most women with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Because it rarely causes symptoms, routine testing during pregnancy is the only reliable way to find it.

Symptoms

• Most women have no symptoms at all
• Feeling more thirsty than usual
• Passing urine more often, which is also common in normal pregnancy
• Tiredness that feels greater than expected
• Blurred vision in some cases
• Seek prompt care for very high home sugar readings, a severe headache, sudden swelling of the face or hands, or reduced baby movements

Causes & Risk Factors

• Pregnancy hormones that block the action of insulin
• Overweight or obesity before pregnancy
• Gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
• A parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
• Prediabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• A previous baby weighing more than 4 kg
• Older age at pregnancy and low physical activity

Complications

• A large baby, which can make vaginal birth harder and raise the chance of cesarean birth
• High blood pressure in pregnancy and preeclampsia
• Low blood sugar in the newborn shortly after birth
• Breathing problems and jaundice in the newborn
• A higher chance of type 2 diabetes for the mother later in life
• A higher chance of obesity and type 2 diabetes for the child later on

Diagnosis

Most women are tested between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which measures blood sugar before and after a sweet drink. Women with risk factors such as obesity, gestational diabetes in a past pregnancy, or a strong family history of diabetes are usually tested earlier, at the first prenatal visit, to look for diabetes that was present before pregnancy. The diagnosis is based on set blood sugar limits on the OGTT, and the doctor explains the results and the next steps.

Treatment

• Checking blood sugar at home several times a day with a glucose meter
• A balanced meal plan that spreads carbohydrates across meals and snacks
• Regular, gentle activity such as walking after meals, if the doctor agrees
• Insulin when diet and activity are not enough, as it is the preferred medicine in pregnancy
• Extra ultrasound scans to check the baby's growth and well-being
• Planning the timing of delivery with the obstetrician
• Discussing Ramadan fasting with the doctor before deciding to fast

Prevention

• Reaching a healthy weight before pregnancy
• Staying active before and during pregnancy
• Choosing whole grains and vegetables and cutting down on sweets and sugary drinks
• Early testing in pregnancy for women with risk factors
• A repeat OGTT 4 to 12 weeks after birth
• Diabetes screening every 1 to 3 years for life after gestational diabetes
• Breastfeeding, which may help lower the mother's future risk of diabetes

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes are cared for by the Obstetrics & Gynecology department at AlHayat Medical Center, with blood sugar tests performed in the Laboratory.

Ready to take the next step? Request a Consultation