Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors

Development of Diabetes During Pregnancy Linked to Health Indicators

Jul 9, 2009

Some women may face a higher likelihood of developing diabetes during pregnancy than others. Here are the main risk factors for gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes, the condition in which the hormones produced by the placenta promote an unhealthy rise in blood sugar and can negatively impact the development of the baby, typically develops in late pregnancy. Most cases do not manifest themselves until 20 weeks or later (at a 28 week routine test, for instance) into the pregnancy.

This form of diabetes only occurs during pregnancy, and typically disappears after the birth of the baby, although some women and children may need to monitor their blood sugar more frequently after the pregnancy is over. While the pregnant woman is not likely to experience health problems from the gestational diabetes, it can impact the health of the baby.

Cause and Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Although researchers have not yet discovered the cause of gestational diabetes, research on the condition is ongoing.

Most women do not experience noticeable symptoms at the onset of gestational diabetes. If a pregnant woman has any of the main risk factors for the complication, however, she will likely be tested at the beginning of her pregnancy and once she has reached the third trimester.

In rare cases, women with gestational diabetes will experience extreme thirst and/or a more frequent need to urinate.

Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes

It is unknown why some of these factors increase the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes, but they are nonetheless characteristics that must be taken into account when determining an individual's probability of developing the condition, particularly when a woman has multiple indicators.

How to Reduce the Likelihood of Getting Gestational Diabetes

Although it is best to reduce risk factors before getting pregnant (by losing weight and improving diet and exercise habits, for instance), there are also steps pregnant women can take to avoid gestational diabetes.

Eating healthily and exercising regularly during pregnancy are perhaps the most effective steps towards reducing the risk of gestational diabetes. Using recipes from a diabetes cookbook may help hold off or prevent development of the condition by limiting blood sugar levels and providing excellent nutrition.

References and Resources

See also: American Diabetes Association website, Diabetes Cookbooks for sale online (try Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble)

The copyright of the article Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors in Prenatal Health is owned by Katherine Brind'Amour. Permission to republish Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.