Did you know that many women develop diabetes during pregnancy? Gestational diabetes may affect your and your baby’s health if it goes undiagnosed, so it’s extremely important that you understand not only what it is but also why it’s caused. 

Between 2% and 10% of pregnancies in the USA are affected by gestational diabetes, and there are likely more who are unaware that they have developed the condition. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms of gestational diabetes; the only way to know is to be tested. 

Gestational Diabetes

how to get tested for gestational diabetes

It’s important to understand that gestational diabetes doesn’t usually develop until the 24th week of pregnancy. Therefore, Dr. Kim recommends being tested between 24 and 28 weeks. 

However, if you are at higher risk for the disease, he may suggest getting tested slightly earlier. Although there are technically no symptoms, many women who develop gestational diabetes experience higher blood pressure than normal. So if the doctor notices your blood sugar is high, it will probably be time for a test. 

The test is called an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and it includes a blood test. And now you’re probably wondering what happens if you find that you do have gestational diabetes after the test. 

what happens if you develop gestational diabetes?

If you do develop gestational diabetes, there are several things Dr. Kim will recommend in order to keep you and your baby healthy and reduce the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes after giving birth.

Stay active! 
Eat healthy foods.
Consistent blood sugar checks. 
Consistent monitoring of your baby’s health and growth. 

Usually, if you follow the doctor’s instructions and take care of yourself, your blood sugar levels will return to normal just after the baby is born, and you will not develop Type 2 diabetes. 

You should also be aware that gestational diabetes can affect your baby before and after birth. They may grow larger than 9 lbs in the womb, be born prematurely, have low blood sugar, or even develop Type 2 diabetes later in their lives. 

You can do your best to prevent gestational diabetes by getting physically healthy before getting pregnant, as well as watching your weight and food intake during pregnancy. 

As always, if you have any questions regarding gestational pregnancy, don’t be afraid to ask! Dr. Kim and the entire staff are always here to help.