
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Of every 100 pregnant women, about 4 of them develop gestational diabetes. As with other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes is a condition in which the body has difficulty in managing blood glucose (sugar) in the blood. Glucose is the main source of energy in the body. Diabetes increases the levels of blood sugar. This may create a serious health problem for you and your baby.
If gestational diabetes is not treated, the baby is at higher risk for:
- Born too big
- Birth defects
- Stillborn
- Complications at birth
The large babies may be injured during vaginal birth, reason for that is often required to undergo both a cesarean mother. Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes may have difficulty breathing, low blood sugar and jaundice during the first weeks after birth. Fortunately, gestational diabetes can be treated and controlled to protect the health of the mother and baby.

