Gestational diabetes

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes happens when your blood sugar is too high during pregnancy.

When you eat, your body turns food into sugar (glucose) for energy. Insulin, a hormone your pancreas makes, helps your body use this sugar. When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or it can’t use it well, so sugar builds up in your blood. Over time, high blood sugar can harm your heart, kidneys, and eyes. 

Who is at risk for gestational diabetes?

In the United States, 6 out of every 100 pregnant people (6%) develop gestational diabetes. You’re more likely to have gestational diabetes if you:

• Are older than 25.
• Have a body mass index (BMI) above 25 (overweight or obese) and not physically active.
• Had gestational diabetes before or a baby weighing over 9 pounds (macrosomia).
• Have high blood pressure or heart disease.
• Have polycystic ovarian syndrome (also called polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS). This is a hormone problem that affects ovaries and overall health.
• Have prediabetes (higher than normal blood sugar).
• Have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes.
• Are Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic/Latino or Pacific Islander.*

*Race doesn’t directly cause gestational diabetes, but unfair treatment affects health. Studies show that people of color have higher risk of certain health conditions because of unequal access to good quality health care, healthy food, and safe neighborhoods.

Racism and risk of gestational diabetes

Researchers aren’t exactly sure why some groups are more likely to have gestational diabetes than others, but they have noticed some patterns in studies about gestational diabetes. For example, many people of color experience chronic stress and lack access to resources that are important for healthy living. Racism and unequal living conditions affect health and well-being and increases the risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes.

March of Dimes recognizes that racism and its effects are factors in the health disparities in pregnancy outcomes and babies’ health. We must work together to bring fair, just and full access to healthcare for all moms and babies.

Can gestational diabetes increase your risk for problems during pregnancy?

Yes. If not treated, gestational diabetes can increase your risk for pregnancy complications and procedures, including: 

• Macrosomia.
• Shoulder dystocia or other birth injuries (also called birth trauma).
• High blood pressure and preeclampsia.
• Perinatal depression.
• Preterm birth.
• Stillbirth.
• Cesarean birth (also called c-section).

Gestational diabetes also can cause health complications for your baby after birth, including:

• Breathing problems, including respiratory distress syndrome.
• Jaundice.
• Obesity later in life
• Diabetes later in life

How do you know if you have gestational diabetes?

Your healthcare provider tests you for gestational diabetes with a prenatal test called a glucose tolerance test. If your provider thinks you’re at risk, you may get the test earlier.

If the glucose screening test comes back positive, you’ll have another test called a glucose tolerance test. After this test, your provider will be able to tell whether you have gestational diabetes. 

How is gestational diabetes treated?

If you have gestational diabetes, your prenatal care provider will want to see you more often at prenatal care checkups so they can monitor you and your baby closely to help prevent problems. Extra testing, like a nonstress test and a biophysical profile, may be offered to you. The nonstress test checks your baby’s heart rate. The biophysical profile is a nonstress test with an ultrasound.

Your provider also may ask you to do kick counts (also called fetal movement counts). This helps you to keep track of your baby’s movements. Here are two ways to do kick counts:

1. Every day, time how long it takes for your baby to move 10 times. If it takes longer than 2 hours, tell your provider.
2. See how many movements you feel in 1 hour. Do this 3 times each week. If the number changes, tell your provider.

If you have gestational diabetes, your provider will ask you to check your blood sugar often with a blood glucose meter (glucometer). Keep a log of your blood sugar level every time you check it and share it with your provider at each checkup. Other ways to manage your gestational diabetes under control include:

• Going to all your prenatal care checkups, even if you’re feeling fine.
• Following your provider’s directions about how often to check your blood sugar. 
• Eating healthy and whole foods. like leafy greens and lean sources of protein.
• Doing something active every day, at least 5 days each week. Talk to your provider about activities that are safe during pregnancy, like walking.
• Managing your weight gain during pregnancy. Gaining too much weight or gaining weight too fast can make it harder to manage your blood sugar. Talk to your provider about the right amount of weight to gain during pregnancy. 

If this doesn’t do enough to control your blood sugar, you may need medicine. Insulin is the most common medicine for gestational diabetes. If your provider prescribes you insulin, be sure to take it exactly how your provider advised you to.

If you have gestational diabetes, how can you help prevent getting diabetes later in life?

For most people, gestational diabetes goes away after giving birth. But having it makes you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Type 2 diabetes is the most common kind of diabetes.

Here’s what you can do to help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy:

• Get tested for diabetes 4 to 12 weeks after your baby is born. If the test is normal, get tested again every 1 to 3 years.
• Get to and stay in a healthy weight range.
• Talk to your provider about treatments that may help prevent type 2 diabetes. 

Last reviewed: January 2025