Gestational diabetes is a condition characterized by abnormal glucose tolerance and high blood sugar during pregnancy. It usually develops during the second or third trimester and resolves soon after delivery. Early identification of this condition is important, as it increases the risk of health complications for both the expecting parent and the baby when left untreated.[1] This includes short-term risks (e.g., large for gestational age newborns, birth trauma, neonatal respiratory and metabolic complications, etc.)[2][3] and long-term risks (e.g., type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the parent, and later-life obesity and type 2 diabetes in the offspring).[4][5] Successful management of blood sugar greatly decreases the short- and long-term risks associated with gestational diabetes.[6]
What is gestational diabetes?
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•Last Updated: October 13, 2024