Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes get most of the attention, but pregnant women can develop something called “gestational” diabetes due to high blood sugar. This is a serious complication if not controlled, and can lead to a dangerous or difficult birth and subsequent health problems for your newborn. Like any form of diabetes, the patient must do his or her part to control the diabetes in order to have the best prognosis possible.

Most women who have gestational diabetes won’t know it. The condition usually presents without symptoms. When pregnant, women should seek the appropriate healthcare as soon as possible. Doctors will provide you with the appropriate tests and let you know if you develop gestational diabetes. This most often occurs during the last trimester of a pregnancy.

If you do, it’s not the end of the world. Your doctor will likely recommend you come in for frequent checkups as part of your routine healthcare. In addition, you may receive a referral to a diabetic educator in order to learn about the latest nutritional and exercise requirements. Healthy food is critical to alleviating the problem. With the right work, you’ll find out how to manage your blood sugar until the baby is born.

Blood sugar usually returns to normal levels after birth, but you will likely be checked routinely just to make sure. Even if blood sugar returns to normal, you should probably check your blood sugar often.

Gestational diabetes occurs when gestational hormones inhibit or impair insulin in cells. Your blood sugar goes up. The longer the pregnancy, the more hormones are produced, so the bigger your chances of developing a gestational diabetes complication.

You’re more likely to develop gestational diabetes with increased age or if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes. Obesity also leads to gestational diabetes. The complication is also more prevalent in non-caucasians.

Gestational diabetes can lead to larger babies, premature birth, respiratory distress syndrome, low blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes down the road. You are more likely to have high blood pressure or preeclampsia if you have had gestational diabetes. In addition, you’re at an increased risk to get type 2 diabetes later.

In order to prevent gestational diabetes, speak to your doctor about how to eat and exercise in preparation for your pregnancy.