Gestational diabetes is diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. It affects women who haven’t been affected by diabetes before. It means you have high blood sugar and need to take extra care of yourself and your bump.
This will include eating well and keeping active. It usually goes away again after giving birth. It is usually diagnosed from a blood test 24 to 28 weeks into pregnancy.
You are usually advised to give birth in hospital and in many cases will be able to have a vaginal birth if this is what you choose. And you will be able to breastfeed if you want to.
Lots of changes happen to your body during pregnancy. Along with the physical signs, the hormones you produce can make it hard for your body to use insulin properly. This puts you at an increased risk of insulin resistance, and some women can’t produce enough insulin to overcome it. This makes it difficult to use glucose (sugar) properly for energy, so it stays in your blood and the sugar levels rise. This then leads to gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is common. It affects at least 4–5 in 100 women during pregnancy. Some women have a higher risk of developing it. You can’t prevent it but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk. This includes managing your weight, eating healthily and keeping active before pregnancy.
Make your time count by volunteering for one or more of the many DATT events. You’ll make a difference through community outreach, advocacy, and inspiration.