Gestational diabetes can develop during pregnancy in women who don’t already have diabetes. It often doesn’t cause symptoms, so getting tested between weeks 24 and 28 is important!
Gestational diabetes symptoms can be subtle or not show up at all, but watch out for things like feeling extra thirsty, needing to pee more than usual, feeling tired all the time, or having blurry vision.
What is gestational diabetes mellitus?
Gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM for short, is one of the most common conditions affecting pregnancy—and it’s globally on the rise.
GDM happens when your blood sugar levels become high during pregnancy, and you don’t have a history of diabetes. Though it can occur at any stage, it’s most common in the second and third trimester, and usually disappears after your baby is born.
If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus, it means your body is struggling to produce enough insulin—the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels.
So, instead of blood sugar (glucose) being moved to your cells where your body needs it for energy, it builds up in your blood, where it can cause complications for both mom and baby, including large birth weight, pre-term birth, and a risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later life.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Most pregnant women with GDM don’t experience any noticeable symptoms. If symptoms of gestational diabetes occur, you might:
- Needing to pee more often, especially at night
- Being more thirsty than usual
- Having a dry mouth (dehydration)
- Feeling tired and lacking energy
- Losing weight without trying
- Itchy vagina
- Blurred vision.
Gestational diabetes risk factors
Knowing your gestational diabetes risk factors is even more important than watching for symptoms. You may be more likely to develop GDM if:
- You’re over 25 years old
- You have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- You had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
- You’ve given birth to a baby weighing over 4 kg
- You’re overweight or obese
- You’re from a specific ethnic background (Black, Hispanic/Latina, American Indian, Asian)
- You’ve a hormone disorder called PCOS.
Knowing your risk factors can help you prevent gestational diabetes! Contact your gynecologist if you’re worried that you’re at risk of or that you’re showing symptoms of gestational diabetes.
From GDM symptoms to diagnosis: glucose test for gestational diabetes
Doctors use blood tests to diagnose GDM. Routine screening usually takes place between 24–28 weeks of pregnancy, though you might be given a glucose test for gestational diabetes earlier if you’re at risk or are showing GDM symptoms.
The most common diagnosis method is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which measures how your body responds to sugar, also called glucose. It involves having a blood test in the morning, when you have not had any food or drink for 8 to 10 hours.
You’re then given a glucose drink. After resting for 2 hours, another blood sample is taken to see how your body is dealing with the glucose.
Learn 8 evidence-based tips to help you avoid gestational diabetes
