Diabetic Research Institute
Nassau, Bahamas
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can develop in women who do not already have diabetes during pregnancy.
Taking care of your gestational diabetes will help you have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Type 2 diabetes affects around 50% of all women who have gestational diabetes, but there are actions you may do to avoid it. Consult your doctor about ways to reduce your risk and how often your blood sugar should be monitored to ensure you're on track.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
When your body doesn't generate enough insulin during pregnancy, you have gestational diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas that serves as a key to let blood sugar into your body's cells for energy usage.
During late pregnancy, all pregnant women experience some insulin resistance. Some women are insulin resistant even before they become pregnant and have a higher insulin need at the outset of pregnancy and are more prone to develop gestational diabetes.
Prevention & Treatment
People have a lot of options for managing gestational diabetes. These should include the following:
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Checking blood sugar levels to ensure they remain within a healthy range.
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Eating healthful foods in the appropriate amounts and at the appropriate times. Adhere to a healthy eating plan devised by the doctor or a dietician.
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Regular moderate-intensity physical activity (such as brisk walking) decreases blood sugar. Check with the doctor to see what kind of physical exercise to undertake and which ones to should avoid.
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Following the baby's progress via the doctor's updates.
If healthy eating and being active aren’t enough to manage blood sugar, doctors may prescribe insulin, metformin, or other medication.
If you are overweight and exercise regularly before getting pregnant, you may be able to avoid gestational diabetes.
