Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can only develop during pregnancy in women who didn’t previously have the condition. It usually appears during the second trimester and typically resolves once the baby is born, notes Dr. Tatiana Piña Ocampo, endocrinologist at ABC Medical Center.
Risk factors for developing gestational diabetes include:
- Being overweight or obese at the start of pregnancy.
- Ethnicity: Latina women have a higher likelihood of developing it.
- A history of polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Insulin resistance.
Gestational diabetes is typically diagnosed between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy through a lab test known as a glucose tolerance test. This involves collecting blood samples at set intervals after consuming a specific glucose solution, helping determine how the body responds to elevated glucose levels.
Mexico’s Ministry of Health notes that women over 35 with a family history of diabetes and obesity face up to a 45% risk of developing the condition.
A woman may also test negative initially, but if her doctor later notices the baby is growing larger than expected, they may request a follow-up glucose tolerance test.
The foundation for preventing gestational diabetes includes maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and following a balanced diet, Dr. Piña notes.
Once diagnosed, it’s important to follow these same recommendations to reach target glucose levels; doctors may also prescribe oral medications to lower blood sugar, or even insulin. The specific treatment plan will be tailored to each patient based on their glucose levels.
Although glucose levels typically return to normal after pregnancy, women who’ve had gestational diabetes face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. For this reason, annual follow-up with an endocrinologist is important to help prevent it or catch it early if it does.
At ABC Medical Center’s Women’s Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
