What Is Gestational Diabetes And Who Is Most At Risk ?

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

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia

Pregnancy hormones can block insulin from doing its job. When this happens, glucose levels 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
•    Have a family history of diabetes
•    Gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds 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