Gestational diabetes is when you get diabetes because you’re pregnant.

Like all other kinds of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects your body’s ability to control your blood sugar. If untreated, gestational diabetes can be dangerous for you and your baby. That’s why doctors recommend that you get screened early and keep getting blood sugar tests throughout your pregnancy.

Sometimes doctors may think you have gestational diabetes, but it turns out you had undiagnosed diabetes from before you got pregnant. The main way you can find out is if the diabetes goes away after you have your baby. That’s why doctors recommend that you get your blood sugar tested 1-3 months after giving birth.

Even though gestational diabetes goes away after you have your baby, it can increase your risk for getting type 2 diabetes later in life. If you’ve had gestational diabetes, doctors recommend that you get your blood sugar tested every 1-3 years. This can help you keep your blood sugar in check, which can help keep you from getting type 2 diabetes.

If you’ve had gestational diabetes, talk to your doctor about how often you should get tested for type 2 diabetes.

 

Gestational diabetes: when pregnancy is TOO sweet.