Parental characteristics that increase the risk for developing gestational diabetes include obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, physical inactivity, prior gestational diabetes or glucose intolerance, family history of type 2 diabetes, high-risk race/ethnicity (e.g., Black, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander), hypertension (high blood pressure), multiple gestation pregnancy, older maternal age, polycystic ovary syndrome, and previous birth of a large infant (greater than 9 lbs).[1][2]