1. Stages of Pregnancy Slideshow Pictures
2. Early Pregnancy Symptoms
3. Conception (Egg to Embryo) Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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In this Article

• What is gestational diabetes?
• What causes gestational diabetes?
• What are risk factors for gestational diabetes?
• What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?
• How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?
• What are the consequences of gestational diabetes for the baby and mother?
• What is the treatment for gestational diabetes?
• Can gestational diabetes be prevented?
• What is the outlook (prognosis) for gestational diabetes?
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Gestational Diabetes Index

Gestational diabetes typically does not cause any noticeable signs or symptoms. This is why screening tests are so important. Rarely, an increase in thirst or increased urination may be noticed.

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests. Most pregnant women are tested between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy, but if you have risk factors, your doctor may decide to test earlier in the pregnancy.

Blood testing confirms the diagnosis. A screening glucose challenge test involves drinking a sugary beverage and having your blood drawn for testing of glucose levels an hour later. If the screening test is not normal, you may need additional testing. Another type of test is an oral glucose challenge test (OGTT). For this test your baseline blood glucose level is checked and then measured at 1, 2, and sometimes 3 hours after consuming a sugary drink.

Glycated hemoglobin, or hemoglobin A1c, is another test that may be performed. This test is used to monitor long-term blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. The hemoglobin A1c percentage offers a measure of the average blood glucose level over the past few months.

Women with gestational diabetes who receive proper care typically go on to deliver healthy babies. However, if you have high blood glucose levels, this means the fetus also has high blood glucose levels. The elevation in blood glucose can cause the fetus to be larger than normal, possibly making delivery more complicated. The baby is also at risk for having low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) immediately after birth. Other serious complications of poorly controlled gestational diabetes in the newborn can include an increased risk of jaundice, an increased risk for respiratory distress syndrome, and a higher chance of dying before or following birth. The baby is also at a greater risk of becoming overweight and developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

If diabetes is present in early pregnancy, there is an increased risk of birth defects and miscarriage compared to that of mothers without diabetes.

Women with gestational diabetes have a higher chance of needing a Cesarean birth (C-section) due to the large sizes of their babies. Gestational diabetes may increase the risk of preeclampsia in the mother, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Women with gestational diabetes are also at increased risk of having type 2 diabetes after the pregnancy.