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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffFor most women, gestational diabetes doesn't cause noticeable signs or symptoms. Rarely, gestational diabetes may cause excessive thirst or increased urination.
When to see a doctor
If possible, seek health care early — when you first think about trying to get pregnant — so your doctor can evaluate your risk of gestational diabetes as part of your overall childbearing wellness plan. Once you become pregnant, your doctor will address gestational diabetes as part of your regular prenatal care. If you develop gestational diabetes, you may need more frequent checkups. These are most likely to occur during the last three months of pregnancy, when your doctor will carefully monitor your blood sugar level and your baby's health.
Your doctor may refer you to additional health professionals who specialize in diabetes management, such as an endocrinologist, a registered dietitian or a diabetes educator. They can help you learn to manage your blood sugar level during your pregnancy.
To make sure that your blood sugar level has returned to normal after your baby is born, your health care team will check your blood sugar right after delivery and again in six weeks. Once you've had gestational diabetes, it's a good idea to have your blood sugar level tested regularly. The frequency of blood sugar tests will in part depend on your test results soon after you deliver your baby.
- Cunningham FG, et al. Diabetes. In: Cunningham FG, et al. Williams Obstetrics. 23rd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=46. Accessed Dec. 27, 2010.
- Strehlow SL, et al. Diabetes mellitus & pregnancy. In: DeCherney AH, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Obstetrics & Gynecology. 10th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=9. Accessed Dec. 27, 2010.
- Reece EA, et al. Diabetes mellitus and pregnancy. In: Gibbs RS, et al. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008. http://www.danforthsobgyn.com. Accessed Dec. 27, 2010.
- Caughey AB. Obstetrical management of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 27, 2010.
- Jovanovic L. Treatment and course of gestational diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 27, 2010.
- Jovanovic L. Screening and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus during pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 27, 2010.
- Paglia MJ, et al. Gestational diabetes: Evolving diagnostic criteria. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. In press. http://journals.lww.com/co-obgyn/Abstract/publishahead/Gestational_diabetes__evolving_diagnostic_criteria.99838.aspx. Accessed Feb.1, 2011.
- Kim C. Gestational diabetes: Risks, management, and treatment options. International Journal of Women's Health. 2010;2:339.
- Blatt AJ, et al. Gaps in diabetes screening during pregnancy and postpartum. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;117:161.
- HAPO Study Cooperative Research Group. Hyperglycemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;358:1991.
- Metzger BE, et al. International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups Recommendations on the Diagnosis and Classification of Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy. Diabetes Care. 2010;33:676.
- Manning FA. The fetal biophysical profile. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 31, 2010.
- Standards of medical care in diabetes — 2011. Diabetes Care. 2011;34(suppl):11.
- Health care guideline: Routine prenatal Care. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. 2010. http://www.icsi.org/prenatal_care_4/prenatal_care__routine__full_version__2.htm. Accessed Feb. 1, 2011.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin. Clinical management guidelines for obstetrician-gynecologists. Number 30, September 2001 (replaces Technical Bulletin Number 200, December 1994). Gestational diabetes. Obstetrics and gynecology. 2001;98:525.
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