Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is elevated blood glucose first diagnosed during pregnancy. It can affect the health of the pregnant person and fetus, and often improves after birth.

Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance is reduced responsiveness of cells to insulin, which limits their uptake of glucose from the blood. Placental hormones increase insulin resistance during pregnancy, raising the pancreas’s demand for insulin.
Oral glucose tolerance test: An oral glucose tolerance test measures blood glucose after a person drinks a glucose solution. It is commonly used to diagnose gestational diabetes by showing how the body handles a glucose load.
Fetal macrosomia: Fetal macrosomia is excessive fetal growth, commonly defined by birth weight above a specified threshold. Maternal hyperglycemia can stimulate fetal insulin production and contribute to excessive growth.
Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, causing severe insulin deficiency. It is usually established before pregnancy, unlike diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy.
Placenta: The placenta is a temporary organ that exchanges substances between maternal and fetal blood and produces hormones supporting pregnancy. Placental hormones contribute to the insulin resistance underlying gestational diabetes.
Blood glucose monitoring: Blood glucose monitoring measures glucose levels in a blood sample, often with a home meter or continuous sensor. Repeated measurements guide treatment and show whether glucose targets are being met.
Neonatal hypoglycemia: Neonatal hypoglycemia is abnormally low blood glucose in a newborn. After birth, a newborn’s insulin may remain elevated even though the maternal glucose supply has stopped.
Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease marked by insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion. Previously undiagnosed type 2 diabetes may first be detected in pregnancy and must be distinguished from gestational diabetes.
Insulin: Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose by promoting its uptake and storage in cells. Insufficient insulin production to meet pregnancy’s increased demand allows blood glucose to rise.
Medical nutrition therapy: Medical nutrition therapy uses individualized dietary guidance to help prevent or manage health conditions. Meal composition and timing are commonly adjusted to help control glucose during pregnancy.

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