Overview
Gestational diabetes is one of the most common conditions during pregnancy. In the United States, it is standard to test all pregnant women for gestational diabetes, even if they do not have any risk factors. During pregnancy, your body naturally becomes more resistant to insulin. That means you absorb less glucose and more remains in your blood. You can imagine that a growing baby needs a lot of energy, so this adaptation makes sense and allows more glucose to reach your baby. For most moms, this works just like it is supposed to. Your pancreas reacts to higher blood glucose by producing more insulin. For some expecting mothers, their pancreas can’t keep up with the increased demand for additional insulin, and more glucose builds up in their blood. This article breaks down gestational diabetes, testing, treatment, risks, and how this affects your pregnancy, birth, and baby.
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