If you’re not pregnant, have never been pregnant, or have no interest in being pregnant, chances are you’re not concerned with gestational diabetes. However, for the estimated 4% of all pregnant women who have gestational diabetes, there are lots of questions and concerns about how this disease affects them and their baby during and after their pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes occurs when women who never had diabetes before manifest high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Generally, this is diagnosed in the latter stages of pregnancy — the second or third trimester. Most women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes are diagnosed between the 24th and 28th week of their pregnancy.

In some ways, gestational diabetes is similar to diabetes unrelated to pregnancy. Insulin levels are of paramount concern: when the mother cannot produce adequate amounts of insulin, excess blood sugar is the result. This can lead to hyperglycemia.

Gestational diabetes usually manifests after the baby has gone through some of the most critical developmental stages. This reduces the risks of certain types of birth defects, but there are still issues to be concerned about. Babies of mothers who have gestational diabetes may receive extra glucose from the mother’s elevated blood sugar levels. Babies use a tremendous amount of energy while they’re growing in their mother’s womb, but this is just too much for them to use. The excess is stored as fat.

We’ve all heard about big, bouncing babies — but the truth is a baby can be too large. Oversized babies can force a mother to have to have a C-section birth rather than a vaginal delivery. Additionally, these babies may have breathing problems and also have a higher risk of developing diabetes as children.

After the baby is delivered, gestational diabetes generally goes away. However, there are some factors that mothers with gestational diabetes need to be aware of. First and foremost, it is critical that a mother with gestational diabetes work closely with her health care provider to manage the condition. This helps optimize the chances for a healthy baby.

If a C-section delivery is required, the mother should be aware of the longer recovery period associated with this surgery.

Additionally, if a woman developed gestational diabetes during one of her pregnancies, she has a far greater chance of developing gestational diabetes during subsequent pregnancies. Close consultation with a health care provider is certainly recommended in these cases, to ensure that the mother’s condition is monitored.

Many women who have gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes years later. There seems to be a link between the tendency to have gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. While obviously, there’s no way to definitely prevent diabetes, women who have gestational diabetes have an opportunity to make lifestyle choices which can help minimize the risk of developing type 2 diabetes further down the road. These healthy lifestyle choices can also help the family’s new baby start out life on a good nutritional footing, developing the habits now that will serve them well for a lifetime!