What is Gestational Diabetes?

Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy or is first noticed during pregnancy is called “Gestational Diabetes”. This is called Gestational Diabetes in Latin. These mothers do not have diabetes before pregnancy and although insulin is high, it cannot show its effect. Hormones produced by the umbilical cord (placenta) prevent the effect of insulin and blood sugar increases. This effect usually increases in the 20-24th weeks of pregnancy. However, obese women may also have high blood sugar in the first month of pregnancy. As the placenta (umbilical cord) grows, the hormones it secretes increase; insulin becomes ineffective and blood sugar begins to rise. Since the placenta (umbilical cord) is shed with birth, these hormones disappear and diabetes disappears.

Which Women Are at Higher Risk of Gestational Diabetes?

• Those with diabetes in their family
• Obese or overweight women
• Those who gave birth to a large baby (>4 kg) in the previous birth
• Those who have miscarriages
• Those whose pregnancy age is over 25
• Those who had high blood sugar in their previous pregnancy
• Those who have sugar in their urine

If these features are present, a glucose tolerance test should be performed in the first month of pregnancy. If this test does not reveal diabetes, another glucose tolerance test should be performed in the 20-24th week of pregnancy.