What is Exactly Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a pregnancy complication that occurs when pregnant women have high blood glucose levels (200 mg/dl or higher) during pregnancy.  Women who have glucose levels in the prediabetes range (140 mg/dl to 199 mg/dl) are closely monitored to make sure their glucose levels do not become full diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2014a).


Diagnosis is based on the gynecologist determination that a patient has high blood glucose levels after running the typical blood tests for pregnant women that includes the Fasting Plasma Glucose test. This test requires no food and drink and this is why patients are asked not to eat or drink up to 8 hours before a doctor’s visit. In this test, a normal glucose level is less than 100 mg/dl.  A prediabetes level is 100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl and anything higher than 126 mg/dl is considered a diabetic reading (American Diabetes Association, 2014a).


Between 2 to 10% of pregnant women will suffer from gestational diabetes.  Once a pregnant woman had had gestational diabetes before their chances of it returning during a successive pregnancy is 67%.  Additionally, About 10% of women who have had gestational diabetes will be diagnosed with type-2 diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). 

Gestational diabetes can cause macrosomia, also known as ‘fat" baby.  These newborns face physical damage to their bodies during birth due to their large size.  Often times these newborns are born with low glucose levels and having breathing problems.  Additionally, these infants have an increased chance for childhood and adult obesity and also type 2 diabetes.  Often times these mothers are the ones that need a C-section during birth because of complications (American Diabetes Association, 2014a).

American Diabetes Association. (2014a, January 4). Diagnosing diabetes and learning about prediabetes. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/prediabetes/?loc=atrisk-slabnav

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, January 23). 2011 national diabetes fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/estimates11.htm