Gestational Diabetes

What it is and how to manage it—for your health and your baby’s health

Gestation is another word for pregnancy; so, gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that happens only during pregnancy. It is not the same as other forms of diabetes.


If you have gestational diabetes, you probably have many questions about it, such as:

• What is gestational diabetes?
• How do I take care of myself now that I have it?
• How will it affect my baby’s health?
• Will I still have diabetes after my baby is born?

This article can answer those questions and also explain how to manage this type of diabetes. Managing diabetes means keeping your blood-glucose (blood-sugar) levels within a normal range. This is the same as the blood-glucose levels of a pregnant woman who doesn’t have diabetes.

Managing your diabetes won’t be easy. It will take commitment from you and help from your partner. Uou will need also guidance from your doctor and other diabetes specialists. These may include a diabetes doctor, an obstetrician who has treated pregnant women with diabetes, a pediatrician who has treated infants of mothers with diabetes, a registered dietitian, and a diabetes educator.

This article will give you general guidelines on gestational diabetes and how to deal with it. Keep in mind, each woman’s health situation and needs will be a little different. Also, remember that you aren’t sick—you just need special care and help during this time to stay healthy and to protect your unborn baby.

• What is Gestational Diabetes?
• How Do I Know If I Have Gestational Diabetes?
• Will My Baby Be Alright?
• Will I Be Alright?
• Managing Your Diabetes
• Tests To Check Your Baby’s Health
• Labor and Delivery
• Can I Get Diabetes Again?

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