Gestational Diabetes

When you’re an expecting mom-to-be, you’re likely focused on doing all you can to deliver a healthy baby. You probably watch the foods you eat, take your prenatal vitamins and try to get some exercise. So, if you’re healthy, why would diabetes be on your radar? It turns out pregnant women have a risk for a form of diabetes called gestational diabetes.

About 8 to 10 percent of pregnant women will develop it. Like the other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes changes the way your body processes sugar (glucose). Pregnant women are usually tested in the middle of pregnancy at 24 to 28 weeks because this is around the time it can appear. Often there may not be symptoms or they are hard to notice. Some symptoms can include being overly thirsty and urinating more, which are normal during pregnancy.

There are some health problems, such as prediabetes or obesity, that have clear links to gestational diabetes. Family history can also play a role in the risk for the condition.

Hormone changes during pregnancy can be another cause. These changes can make the body resist insulin or prevent it from making enough. When the mother’s body can’t make all the insulin it needs, glucose builds up in the blood causing high blood sugar.

High blood sugar can harm your health and the health of your baby. There is a greater risk of your baby having a higher birth weight or problems during delivery. Without treatment, the baby could also have blood sugar, feeding, breathing and heart problems at birth.

It’s vital to work with your doctor to keep your blood sugar level in a safe range. A healthy eating plan and regular exercise are two ways. Be sure to check your blood sugar level often and take insulin medicine if your doctor prescribes it. In many cases, blood sugar levels return to normal after giving birth.

The good news is that gestational diabetes is treatable. The key is keeping blood sugar under control. With controlled blood sugar during pregnancy, moms and babies have much lower chances for problems and much better chances for a healthy delivery.

Sources: Gestational Diabetes,  American Diabetes Association; Gestational Diabetes,  Mayo Clinic, 2025; Gestational Diabetes,  Cleveland Clinic, 2024