Gestational diabetes
Insulin resistance is common in all pregnant women, but only three to five per cent of all pregnancies result in gestational diabetes. Some women cannot produce enough extra insulin to meet the demands of the growing baby, which can increase a pregnant woman's insulin requirements by two to three times.
Insulin takes sugar from your blood and transfers it to your cells, which use the sugar for energy. If you don't produce enough insulin, the sugar you get from food will build up in your blood and increase the level of blood sugars.
Tests for gestational diabetes are performed between 24 and 28 weeks into pregnancy. If you have people in your family with diabetes or other risk factors, such as being an older mother or being overweight or obese, your doctor may test you earlier (16 weeks).
Gestational diabetes can be controlled by diet and exercise and disappears after the baby is born. It is rare for gestational diabetes to need medication to control it. If you do need insulin treatment, it will keep your blood sugar levels stable, protecting you and your baby. When you have had your baby, your body will not need to produce so much insulin. If you've had medication to control your blood sugar levels, your doctor will reduce the dosage gradually until you do not need it any more.
Women who develop gestational diabetes should be seen by the diabetes pregnancy care team six weeks after having their baby.
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