Gestational Diabetes: What Is This?

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that you get when you are pregnant. Usually for most people it goes away after the baby is born but for some it never goes away. If it goes away after the baby is born, you can get full blown diabetes up to 10 years after the baby is born. That was my case, I had gestational diabetes and it went away after my child was born then when my child was 8 years old I developed full blown diabetes. Hope that helps.

I developed gestational diabetes in the 7th month of my pregnancy. I was immediately put on insulin, and the day she was born, it was gone. They tested her also, and she didn't have it.

I was told that it may return 5 years after it disappeared. I delivered my daughter in Feb 87, and it did indeed return, Labor Day 92. My grandmother was diabetic, and I did my pancreas no favor by drinking alcohol everynight. When it did come back, it came back with a vengence, I instantly became a Type 1.

In the event you are on insulin, PLEASE take it, because if you don't, you risk having a fat and sickly baby. I hate using the word fat, but that's the way the doc put it to me.

I wish you good luck!

I was also gestational when I was pregnant just to let people know that you can only take insulin not oral meds while pregnant. They say if it does go away it may come back within the next ten years. It did !!! I think if I had eaten better and watched my weight I may not have gotten it.
dyanne

gestational diabetes usually becomes apparent after approximately the 22-25th week of pregnancy. The mother may not know it, but as testing is done to verify problems associated with glucose tolerance. It is identified following those lab tests.
The placenta produces a number of hormones which play a vital part in the development of this issue. At this time, all we can to is treat and manage the diabetes as it can cause significant problems with the baby. So, regardless of if you are chosen to take insulin, control with diet, generally insulin is the first choice of treatment in this situation as we want to keep all that extra sugar that is floating in our system from getting to the baby. This makes them larger than post term babies and may possibly indicate a need for a c-section, should the baby become too large.

Generally, once the placenta is delivered the problem clears itself. It may not or it may present in later years. In any case, if you have had gestational diabetes, take charge and check your sugars three times a day. at least. Prepare to take your sugars to your Dr. for their review.

Once you have had gestational diabetes, you are certainly more prone to the development of it again.
Plan ahead and be prepared

Hi, Gestational Diabetes is present only when a woman is pregnant. It is caused by additional burden placed upon the body by the stresses of pregnancy and usually disappears quickly after the birth of the baby. Women who exhibit this often develop type 2 later in life. Hope this is satisfactory explanation. Glad to be of help.

Thankyou so much, and not only is this helpful to me, but also all newcomers. Thanks for the time for sharing.
Claudia

I was one of those people. But doctors never told me to watch out for Type 2 later in life.

It is not always the case, a lot depends on family history of diabetes and lots of other factors. I only mentioned this so that those who have had it are aware to keep a closer eye on appearance of symptoms as they grow older. Please don't stress over this, it is NOT a sure thing that diabetes will develop years later, just a possibility that exists for some people. I am sorry if I misled anyone, forgive me, please.