by EBSCO Medical Review Board

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is diabetes that happens when a person is pregnant. Diabetes is when there is too much glucose in the blood. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from the blood to the cells to be used for energy. Problems making or using insulin causes the glucose to build up. Hormones from the placenta can also block insulin from working.

GDM can cause these problems in the mother:

GDM can cause these problems in the baby:

Managing blood glucose levels can lower the risk of these problems.

What are the risk factors for gestational diabetes?What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?What are the treatments for gestational diabetes?Are there screening tests for gestational diabetes?How can I reduce my risk of gestational diabetes?What questions should I ask my doctor?Where can I get more information about gestational diabetes?

References

Gestational diabetes. American Diabetes Association website. Available at: https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/gestational-diabetes. Accessed May 10, 2022.

Gestational diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/gestational. Accessed May 10, 2022.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/gestational-diabetes-mellitus-gdm. Accessed May 10, 2022.

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