Gestational diabetes

Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood glucose levels during pregnancy called gestational diabetes.

Out of every 100 pregnant women in the United States, 3 to 8 get gestational diabetes. So if you are pregnant now, then it is a must to diagnose for gestational diabetes. It is always good for both mother and baby.

Almost all women have some degree of impaired glucose intolerance during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. That means that their blood glucose is higher than normal, but not high enough to have diabetes. During the later part of pregnancy, these hormonal changes place pregnant woman at risk for gestational diabetes.


During pregnancy, increased levels of certain hormones made in the placenta help take nutrients from the mother to the developing fetus. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.