Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy when hormonal changes make it harder for the body to use insulin effectively, causing blood sugar to rise. It is usually detected through routine screening between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, though your provider may test earlier if you have risk factors.
Why It Matters
Well-managed gestational diabetes leads to healthy outcomes for the vast majority of mothers and babies. Left unmanaged, it can increase the risk of a larger-than-average baby, early delivery, and higher blood pressure during pregnancy — which is exactly why consistent monitoring matters so much during these months.
What Care Looks Like
- Blood glucose monitoring guidance — learning to check and log your levels through pregnancy
- Nutrition counseling — meal planning tailored to pregnancy and your numbers
- Routine lab work — tracking your levels visit to visit
- Coordinated care — working alongside your obstetric provider so everyone has the full picture
- Postpartum follow-up — rechecking blood sugar after delivery, since gestational diabetes raises future Type 2 diabetes risk
Most women with gestational diabetes see their blood sugar return to normal after delivery. Our team is here to help you stay on top of it through every trimester, and to guide you on next steps afterward.
