Learn About Gestational Diabetes

What is the definition of Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that starts or is first diagnosed during pregnancy.

What are the alternative names for Gestational Diabetes?

Glucose intolerance during pregnancy

What are the causes of Gestational Diabetes?

Pregnancy hormones can inhibit insulin from doing its job. When this happens, glucose level may increase in a pregnant woman's blood.

You are at greater risk for gestational diabetes if you:

  • Are older than 25 when you are pregnant
  • Come from a higher risk ethnic group, such as Latino, African American, Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander
  • Have a family history of diabetes
  • Gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds (4 kg) or had a birth defect
  • Have high blood pressure
  • Have too much amniotic fluid
  • Have had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
  • Were overweight before your pregnancy
  • Gain too much weight during your pregnancy
  • Have polycystic ovary syndrome
What are the symptoms of Gestational Diabetes?

Most of the time, there are no symptoms. The diagnosis is made during a routine prenatal screening.

Mild symptoms, such as increased thirst or shakiness, may be present. These symptoms are usually not dangerous to the pregnant woman.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Fatigue
  • Frequent infections, including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination
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What are the current treatments for Gestational Diabetes?

The goals of treatment are to keep blood sugar (glucose) level within normal limits during the pregnancy, and to make sure that the growing baby is healthy.

WATCHING YOUR BABY

Your provider should closely check both you and your baby throughout your pregnancy. Fetal monitoring will check the size and health of your baby.

A nonstress test is a very simple, painless test for you and your baby.

  • A machine that hears and displays your baby's heartbeat (electronic fetal monitor) is placed on your abdomen.
  • Your provider can compare the pattern of your baby's heartbeat to movements and find out whether the baby is doing well.

If you take medicine to control diabetes, you may need to be monitored more often toward the end of your pregnancy.

DIET AND EXERCISE

In many cases, eating healthy foods, staying active, and managing your weight are all that are needed to treat gestational diabetes.

The best way to improve your diet is by eating a variety of healthy foods. You should learn how to read food labels and check them when making food decisions. Talk to your provider if you are a vegetarian or on another special diet.

In general, when you have gestational diabetes, your diet should:

  • Be moderate in fat and protein
  • Provide carbohydrates through foods that include fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates (such as bread, cereal, pasta, and rice)
  • Be low in foods that contain a lot of sugar, such as soft drinks, fruit juices, and pastries

Talk with your provider about the physical activities that are right for you. Low-impact exercises, such as swimming, brisk walking, or using an elliptical machine are safe ways to control your blood sugar and weight.

If managing your diet and exercising don't control your blood sugar, you may be prescribed diabetes medicine or insulin therapy.

Who are the top Gestational Diabetes Local Doctors?
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1150 Robert Blvd, 
Slidell, LA 
 55.9 mi
Accepting New Patients

Ingrid Roskos is an Obstetrics and Gynecologist in Slidell, Louisiana. Dr. Roskos and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gestational Diabetes. Her top areas of expertise are Gestational Diabetes, Adenomyosis, Menorrhagia, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Dr. Roskos is currently accepting new patients.

Neonatology | Obstetrics and Gynecology
Neonatology | Obstetrics and Gynecology

Ochsner Clinic LLC

1514 Jefferson Hwy, 
New Orleans, LA 
 42.9 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Sherri Longo is a Neonatologist and an Obstetrics and Gynecologist in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Longo and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gestational Diabetes. Her top areas of expertise are Gestational Diabetes, Neonatal Sepsis, Newborn Low Blood Sugar, and Endometritis. Dr. Longo is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics and Gynecology

Our Lady Of The Angels Hospital Inc

433 Plaza St, 
Bogalusa, LA 
 90.3 mi
Accepting New Patients

Maria Buenaflor is an Obstetrics and Gynecologist in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Dr. Buenaflor has been practicing medicine for over 15 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gestational Diabetes. Her top areas of expertise are Gestational Diabetes, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Vulvovaginitis, and Female Genital Sores. Dr. Buenaflor is currently accepting new patients.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Gestational Diabetes?

There are many risks of having diabetes in pregnancy when blood sugar is not well controlled. With good control, most pregnancies have good outcomes.

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes tend to have larger babies at birth. This can increase the chance of problems at the time of delivery, including:

  • Birth injury (trauma) because of the baby's large size
  • Delivery by C-section

Your baby is more likely to have periods of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) during the first few days of life, and may need to be monitored in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a few days.

Mothers with gestational diabetes have an increased risk for high blood pressure during pregnancy and increased risk for preterm delivery. Mothers with seriously uncontrolled blood sugar have a higher risk for stillbirth.

After delivery:

  • Your high blood sugar (glucose) level often goes back to normal.
  • You should be closely followed for signs of diabetes over the next 5 to 10 years after delivery.
When should I contact a medical professional for Gestational Diabetes?

Contact your provider if you are pregnant and you have symptoms of diabetes.

How do I prevent Gestational Diabetes?

Early prenatal care and having regular checkups helps improve your health and the health of your baby. Getting prenatal screening at 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy will help detect gestational diabetes early.

If you are overweight, getting your weight within the normal body mass index (BMI) range will decrease your risk for gestational diabetes.

What are the latest Gestational Diabetes Clinical Trials?
Prenatal Programming of Childhood Obesity and Cardio Metabolic Disorders - Role of Maternal Obesity, Pregnancy Complications, and Maternal-fetal Metabolome

Summary: This is a prospective 11-17 -years follow-up of two existing pregnancy cohort (PREDO) and prevention (RADIEL) studies. The main objective is to investigate the associations between maternal overweight, obesity, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and maternal-fetal metabolome, child's birth outcomes, and overweight and obesity and cardio metabolic health outcomes in childhoo...

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Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Women With Gestational Diabetes: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary: There are a few ongoing large randomized controlled trials (RCT's) on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) powered for pregnancy outcomes. However, none of these studies included women diagnosed with early GDM. The CORDELIA trial is a Belgian open-label multi-centric RCT with 14 centers in women with GDM (including both early and late GDM). Women will be ran...

What are the Latest Advances for Gestational Diabetes?
Exercise Intervention Improves Blood Glucose Levels and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in GDM Patients: A Meta-Analysis.
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Exercise-Diet Therapy Combined with Insulin Aspart Injection for the Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Study on Clinical Effect and Its Impact.
Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: April 16, 2024
Published By: John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 9. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment: standards of care in diabetes-2024. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S158-S178. PMID: 38078590 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38078590/.

Egan AM, Dinneen SF. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 137.

Landon MB, Catalano PM, Gabbe SG. Diabetes mellitus complicating pregnancy. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 45.

US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al. Screening for gestational diabetes: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;326(6):531-538. PMID: 34374716 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34374716/.