Gestational Diabetes

and Pregnancy

Why Do Some

How to know if

Women Develop
Are you at riskswhat
you need to know?

you have

Gestational

Gestational

Diabetes

Diabetes?

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Pregnant women who have never had
diabetes before but who have high blood
glucose (sugar) levels during pregnancy. If
not treated, it can cause health problems
for the mother and the fetus.

Know that you are

at risk if you are.

Maternal age > 25

Has family or personal
health history of
diabetes
Overweight or obese
Hispanic, Black,
American Indian,
Alaska or Hawaiian
native, Pacific Islander
Is being treated with
HIV

Your body normally makes a hormone
called insulin that moves glucose
(sugar) out of the blood and into the
cells of the body. Women with
gestational diabetes develop resistance
to insulin and cannot move glucose into
the cells. This causes the BLOOD
SUGAR level to remain too high and
th
started at about the 20 to H week of
pregnancy. Increase sugar levels in the
blood can lead to many health
problems.

Have any questions? Call me

Perla Zamora
832-814-8510

I will be more than happy to help you

Visit your Doctor!!

All pregnant
women are
screened for
Gestational
Diabetes between
24 and 28 weeks
Since there are usually no

symptoms in the mother,

it is important to undergo
a simple and painless test
to protect you and your
baby

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How
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w ddoes
oes Hithhhh
You
(Mom)
affect
the
mom

High risk of
developing Type 2
Diabetes

High blood pressure

and preeclampsia

Have large baby,

discomfort during last
trimester

may lead to cesarean

delivery with longer
recovery time

How does it
affect the baby?

Large baby and may suffer

trauma
Early birth and respiratory
stress syndrome
Low blood sugar after
delivery
Type 2 diabetes later in life

A Treatment Plan for

Gestational Diabetes
- Knowing your blood sugar and
keeping it under control
- Eating healthy diet, as outlined by
your healthcare provider
- Getting regular, moderate
physical activity
- Keeping daily records of your
diet, exercise and blood sugar level

Will Gestational Diabetes hurt my baby?

Most women with gestational diabetes give birth
to healthy babies; this is especially true for women
who have kept their blood sugar under control,
maintained a healthy diet, engaged in regular,
moderate physical activity, and had a healthy
weight throughout the pregnancy. However, the
condition can affect the pregnancy.

levels during the first

Gestational diabetes usually does not cause birth

defects or deformities. Most developmental or
physical defects happened during the first
st
th
trimester of p regnancy, between the 1 and 8
week, and gestational diabetes typically develops
th
around the 24 week of pregnancy.

develop normally.

Women with gestational

diabetes typically have
normal blood sugar

trimester, allowing the

body and the body
systems of the fetus to
The fact that you have gestational
diabetes will not cause diabetes in your
baby. However, your child will be at
higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes
in adulthood and may get it at a younger
age (younger than 30)