What You Need to Know About Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a common complication of pregnancy that can affect your health and your baby’s health. In the United States, gestational diabetes affects about 8% of pregnancies (CDC). The good news is that eating healthy and exercising can help reduce your risk. And, if you find out you have gestational diabetes early, your healthcare provider can help you manage it so that you and your baby stay healthy.

What Is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes, which is sometimes called gestational diabetes mellitus or GDM, is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. It is different from Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes because gestational diabetes only develops during pregnancy. When you are pregnant, hormone changes can affect insulin, which is the hormone that helps your body process sugar. When your insulin is not working the way it should, the sugar stays in your blood, and that can make you sick. Gestational diabetes usually starts around the middle of your pregnancy, and your healthcare provider will most likely test you between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. It usually stops being an issue after you have your baby, but it can lead to other health problems, which is why postnatal care is so important.

Who Is at Risk of Developing Gestational Diabetes?

Anyone who is pregnant can develop gestational diabetes, but you may be at higher risk if:

• You are 35 years old or older

• You had gestational diabetes in a past pregnancy or you have prediabetes

• Someone in your immediate family has diabetes

• You were overweight or obese before you got pregnant

• You are not physically active (less than 150 minutes of exercise every week)

• You had a big baby (more than 9 pounds) before

• You have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

• You have high blood pressure (hypertension)

• You have a heart condition or family history of heart disease

• You have issues with your blood fats, cholesterol, or insulin levels

Social factors such as ethnicity and income level can also increase your risk. If you are Asian or Indigenous, or if you live in a low-income area, you are more likely to get gestational diabetes, because you are more likely to be stressed daily, to have trouble getting medical care, and to be treated unfairly by healthcare providers and health systems.

What Are the Signs of Gestational Diabetes?

Many people with gestational diabetes do not have symptoms, which is why testing is so important. But some signs you might notice include:

• Feeling much thirstier than usual

• Needing to pee more often than usual

• Feeling really tired or weak all the time

• Feeling sick to your stomach

• Having trouble seeing clearly (blurry vision)

If you have any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. Do not wait until your next appointment.

What Happens During a Test for Gestational Diabetes?

Your healthcare provider will typically test you between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant (earlier if you are high-risk). The first test takes about one hour: you will drink a sugary drink and then have a blood sample taken. If this test comes back positive, you will complete a three-hour test to confirm, which requires fasting for at least eight hours before your blood is drawn.

What Can Happen if Gestational Diabetes Is Not Treated?

If it’s not treated, gestational diabetes can cause serious health issues for you and your baby. For example, you might:

• Develop high blood pressure or preeclampsia

• Go into preterm labor and have your baby born preterm

• Have issues during labor and delivery, which can lead to needing a C-section or create a fistula

• Bleed heavily after giving birth (postpartum hemorrhage)

Also, your baby may be bigger than normal, be born too early, have trouble breathing, have low blood sugar, or be stillborn. Affected babies often require extra support through a NICU. You and your baby are also at higher risk of developing diabetes later in life.

Dangers of Missing Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes: Example Studies

Sarah Was Thirsty and Peeing All the Time

Story: At 20 weeks, Sarah, a first-time mom whose sister and mother both have diabetes, was always thirsty and had to pee nearly every hour. She thought this was normal, but at her 24-week appointment her doctor tested her blood sugar and found mild gestational diabetes. Sarah worked with her doctor and a dietitian to eat healthier, exercise more, and check her blood sugar every day. Lesson: Being extra thirsty and peeing more are common in pregnancy, but they can also indicate gestational diabetes.

Claudia Felt Sick and Tired

Story: At 16 weeks, 40-year-old Claudia was feeling sick and tired all the time. She thought it was just morning sickness. When she finally saw her doctor more than a month later, she was diagnosed with severe gestational diabetes. Lesson: Feeling sick and tired are common during pregnancy, but they can also be signs of gestational diabetes. Regularly tracking your symptoms and sharing this information with your provider can help.

Can Gestational Diabetes Be Prevented?

You cannot always prevent gestational diabetes, but you can lower your risk:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet

• Get regular exercise for at least 150 minutes every week

• Go to all your antenatal checkups

• Talk to your doctor if you have any of the risk factors listed in this blog

How Can BobiHealth Help?

Glucose screening is essential, but monitoring your health at home can improve your chances of preventing or identifying gestational diabetes early. While other pregnancy apps focus on kick counts and weight gain, BobiHealth allows you to:

• Track your blood glucose levels and get an alert if your levels may be off

• Log symptoms like thirst, tiredness, or sickness

• Create custom reminders to test your blood sugar or take your insulin

• Share your health information with your healthcare provider in real-time

This is particularly helpful for anyone who cannot see their healthcare provider easily.

Take Care of Yourself and Your Baby

Gestational diabetes is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. Eating healthy and exercising can help reduce your risk. The sooner you identify the issue, the better. Download the BobiHealth app today to start tracking your symptoms and taking charge of your pregnancy health.

Useful Terms

To explore more definitions of medical terminology that may come up during your care, check out the comprehensive BobiHealth Glossary.

Cesarean section (C-section): a surgery that involves a doctor cutting into a pregnant person’s belly to deliver the baby. Diabetes: occurs when your body does not process sugar the right way. Gestational diabetes: diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. High blood pressure, hypertension: happens when your blood pushes too hard against the walls of your blood vessels. NICUs: special areas in a hospital or birthing center that provide extra care for newborns with serious health conditions. Obstetric fistula: an abnormal opening between the reproductive tract and urinary tract or rectum. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a common condition caused by a hormonal imbalance that can affect your periods. Postnatal or postpartum care: healthcare for you and your baby in the weeks and months after childbirth. Postpartum hemorrhage: when a person bleeds extremely heavily after giving birth. Prediabetes: higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, a warning sign that you are at risk of developing diabetes. Preeclampsia: happens when your blood pressure is too high and can lead to dangerous complications. Preterm labor: labor that takes place before the 37th week of pregnancy.