Gestational Diabetes

Testing for gestational diabetes is a normal part of your pregnancy treatment.  It usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy so don't be surprised if you aren't tested very early in your pregnancy term.

It is similar to diabetes type 2 because your body is not producing enough insulin to handle the sugar in your blood and break it down into energy.  Fortunately it normally clears up after your baby is born.  However there are risks, both to you and your child, if you do develop this type of diabetes, which is why the testing is done.

Some women are more at risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy than others.  If any of these factors apply to you it is possible you may develop it:

• You are over 35 years of age
  
• You are obese
  
• You have previously had a stillbirth late in your pregnancy
  
• Your family has a history of type 2 diabetes
  
• Any of your children were large babies
  
• You have given birth to a child with an abnormality

You may not show any symptoms of gestational diabetes - most women don't.  Having said that, you may get the most common diabetes symptom: being thirsty and having to urinate frequently.  But do remember these are also both common in the later months of a pregnancy.

This particular type of diabetes is outside the scope of this website, although treatment is often similar to that for type 2 diabetes.  However, you might like to read this article about gestational diabetes: Diabetes in Pregnancy (Remember to bookmark this site before you go exploring or subscribe to my mini-blog).

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Other Types of Diabetes

Return to Diabetes Symptom Page

Diabetes Mellitus Type 1

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Pre-Diabetes

Diabetes Insipidus

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