Gestational diabetes is a condition occurring during pregnancy. A woman who was not previously diagnosed with diabetes develops high glucose (blood sugar) levels and may display other symptoms of diabetes. In most cases, symptoms of diabetes disappear following the birth of the baby.

Although all women can get gestational diabetes, a woman is at higher risk if she:

• Is overweight before becoming pregnant
• Is black, Hispanic, Native American or Asian
• Is over the age of 35
• Has a family history of diabetes
• Previously gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (macrosomia)
• Previously gave birth to a stillborn baby
• Had gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy
• Has glucose in her urine (glucosuria)
• Has too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios)

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), once a woman has gestational diabetes, she has a two out of three chance of developing it again during a future pregnancy. Gestational diabetes also increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life by 40 percent, according to the ADA.

If a woman develops gestational diabetes, it is important that she develop a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of diabetes in the future.