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

Glucose intolerance during pregnancy

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 sugar (glucose) in your urine when you see your doctor for a regular prenatal visit
• Have high blood pressure
• Have too much amniotic fluid
• Have had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
• Were overweight before your pregnancy

Images

Gestational diabetes

Pancreas

Review Date: 09/11/2010
Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)