Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops in women during pregnancy.
It occurs when glucose levels are higher than normal because there is insufficient insulin the blood or the body isn't responding to insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that's needed to transport glucose from the blood into cells for energy. It's produced by the pancreas, which regulates the amount of sugar made available for energy. When the pancreas can't make insulin or the insulin it produces doesn't work properly, it can lead to high levels of glucose being released into the bloodstream, which may cause problems for the mother and her baby if not properly controlled.
During pregnancy a mother's body produces more insulin to provide her baby with sufficient energy and her body naturally becomes more insulin-resistant. Gestational diabetes develops when the woman's body is unable to cope with the demands for extra insulin and blood glucose levels rise.
Problems can occur with the baby because increased glucose in the blood crosses the placenta. This means there's a risk the baby could grow larger than normal which can lead to a birth difficult. It may also cause the baby have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when born and also increases their risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes include:
- Increased thirst
- The need to urinate frequently
- Feeling tired