What Is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a condition where a woman without a history of diabetes develops elevated blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Although it may not have many symptoms, it increases the risk of pregnancy complications. Babies born to mothers with uncontrolled gestational diabetes may also face several issues.
It is the most common pregnancy-associated metabolic complication. It occurs when there is impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. However, the cause for these defects are still unknown. Screening for gestational diabetes is usually performed between 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. However, testing can be performed earlier for those with a high risk for gestational diabetes. Depending on the population, gestational diabetes is estimated to affect about 3% to 10% of all pregnancies.
