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GestationalDiabetes
All women
thinking about
becoming pregnant
should take
folic acid to
help prevent
birth defects.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestationaldiabetesisatypeofdiabetesthatdevelopsorisfirst
recognizedduringpregnancy.
How do I know if I am at risk?
Youareatriskforgestationaldiabetesifyou
Hadapreviouspregnancywithgestationaldiabetes.
Hadababybornweighingover9pounds.
Areoverweightorobese.
Aremorethan25yearsold.
Haveafamilyhistoryofdiabetes.
AreAfricanAmerican,Hispanic,AmericanIndian,AlaskaNative,
NativeHawaiian,orPacificIslander.
ArebeingtreatedforHIV.
How can I find out if I have gestational diabetes?
Mostwomenarescreenedforgestationaldiabetesat24-28weeks
gestationduringprenatalcare.
Ifyouoryourhealthcareproviderhasconcerns,yourhealthcare
providermayscreenyouearlier.
Why is gestational diabetes a problem?
For you:
Yourriskofdevelopingtype2diabetesisincreased.
Youaremorelikelytohavealargebaby(aconditionknownas
macrosomia).Thismaycausediscomfortduringthelastfewmonths
ofpregnancy.
Havingalargebabymayleadtoacesareansection(C-section).Ifyou
hadaC-section,itmaytakelongerforyoutorecoverafterthebirth.
For your baby:
Largebabiesaremorelikelytosufferfrombirthtrauma.
Soonafterdelivery,yourbabymayhavelowbloodsugar.Thiscanbe
treatedwithearlyfeedingsandshouldnotresultinanylong-term
consequencesafterbirth.
What should I do before becoming pregnant?
Youshouldtakethefollowingstepsbeforebecomingpregnant:
Talkwithahealthcareproviderabouthowtoreduceyourriskof
gestationaldiabetesbeforebecomingpregnant.
BephysicallyactiveGetatleast30minutesofmoderate-intensity
physicalactivityfivedaysaweek.Thiscouldbebriskwalking,yard
work,andactivelyplayingwithchildren,forexample,orriding
bicyclesorplayingsoccer.
Makehealthyfoodchoicesbyeatingavarietyoffoodsthatarelow
infatandreducingthenumberofcalorieseatenperday.
Maintainahealthyweight.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation