If you're at average risk of gestational diabetes, you'll likely have a screening test during your second trimester — between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you're at high risk of diabetes — for example, if you're overweight or obese before pregnancy; you have a mother, father, sibling or child with diabetes; or you had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy — your health care provider may test for diabetes early in pregnancy, likely at your first prenatal visit.

Initial glucose challenge test. You'll drink a syrupy glucose solution. One hour later, you'll have a blood test to measure your blood sugar level. If your blood sugar level is higher than expected, you'll need another glucose tolerance test to determine if you have gestational diabetes.

Managing your blood sugar levels helps keep you and your baby healthy. Close management can also help you avoid complications during pregnancy and delivery.

Your lifestyle — how you eat and move — is an important part of keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

Health care providers usually don't advise losing weight during pregnancy — your body is working hard to support your growing baby. But your health care provider can help you set weight gain goals based on your weight before pregnancy.

With your health care provider's OK, aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week. If you haven't been active for a while, start slowly and build up gradually. Walking, cycling and swimming are good choices during pregnancy. Everyday activities such as housework and gardening also count.

While you're pregnant, your health care team may ask you to check your blood sugar four or more times a day — first thing in the morning and after meals — to make sure your level stays within a healthy range. If diet and exercise aren't enough to manage your blood sugar levels, you may need insulin injections to lower your blood sugar.

A small number of women with gestational diabetes need insulin to reach their blood sugar goals. Some health care providers prescribe an oral medication to manage blood sugar levels. Other health care providers believe more research is needed to confirm that oral medications are as safe and as effective as injectable insulin to manage gestational diabetes.

An important part of your treatment plan is close observation of your baby. Your health care provider may check your baby's growth and development with repeated ultrasounds or other tests. If you don't go into labor by your due date — or sometimes earlier — your health care provider may induce labor.

Delivering after your due date may increase the risk of complications for you and your baby. Your health care provider will check your blood sugar level after delivery and again in 6 to 12 weeks to make sure that your level has returned to within the standard range.

If your tests are back in this range — and most are — you'll need to have your diabetes risk assessed at least every three years.

If future tests indicate type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, talk with your health care provider about increasing your prevention efforts or starting a diabetes management plan. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

It's stressful to know you have a condition that can affect your unborn baby's health. But the steps that will help control your blood sugar level — such as eating healthy foods and exercising regularly — can help relieve stress, nourish your baby and help prevent type 2 diabetes in the future.

You may feel better if you learn as much as you can about gestational diabetes. Talk to your health care team, or read books and articles about gestational diabetes. You may find a support group for people with gestational diabetes helpful.

Ask your health care team for suggestions. You'll likely find out you have gestational diabetes from routine screening during your pregnancy. Your health care provider may refer you to additional health professionals who specialize in diabetes, such as an endocrinologist, a certified diabetes care and education specialist, or a registered dietitian.

One or more of these care providers can help you learn to manage your blood sugar level during your pregnancy. You may want to take a family member or friend along to your appointment, if possible.

Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your health care provider.

Your health care provider is also likely to have questions for you, especially if it's your first visit. Questions may include:. On this page. Coping and support. Preparing for your appointment. Routine screening for gestational diabetes Screening tests may vary slightly depending on your health care provider, but generally include: Initial glucose challenge test.

Follow-up glucose tolerance testing. This test is similar to the initial test — except the sweet solution will have even more sugar and your blood sugar will be checked every hour for three hours.

If at least two of the blood sugar readings are higher than expected, you'll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. More Information.

Glucose challenge test. Risk Calculator Request Appointment. Diabetes Counseling. Expert Diabetes Care and Counseling for Mothers-to-Be. Protecting you and your baby with compassion and experience.

Our diabetes counseling team includes Brandee Newsom , Allyson Ruiz , Stephanie Richmonds , Jennifer Dao and Samantha Johnsen. These compassionate, highly trained and experienced nurse practitioners work closely with our maternal-fetal medicine specialists and with other providers on your healthcare team to ensure you get the information, support and care you need.

OBGYN Website Design by. Sinai Hospital and MFM Associates to help during these unprecedented times. Use code HELPNYC at checkout. MFM About Us What is Maternal Fetal Medicine? What Makes MFMA Unique? Steven R. Inglis, MD Jennifer Lam-Rachlin, MD Ana Monteagudo, MD Andrei Rebarber MD, F.

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Will I need medication to control my blood sugar? What symptoms should prompt me to seek medical attention? Are there brochures or other printed materials I can take?

What websites do you recommend? What to expect from your doctor Your health care provider is also likely to have questions for you, especially if it's your first visit.

Questions may include: Have you experienced increased thirst or excessive urination? If so, when did these symptoms start? How often do you have them? Have you noticed other unusual symptoms? Do you have a parent or sibling who's ever been diagnosed with diabetes?

Have you been pregnant before? Did you have gestational diabetes during your previous pregnancies? Did you have other problems in previous pregnancies? If you have other children, how much did each weigh at birth? By Mayo Clinic Staff. Apr 09, Show References. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Practice Bulletin No. Diabetes and Pregnancy: Gestational diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Dec. Gestational diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Gestational diabetes mellitus.

Mayo Clinic; Durnwald C. Gestational diabetes mellitus: Screening, diagnosis, and prevention. Accessed Nov. American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes — Diabetes Care. Mack LR, et al. Gestational diabetes — Diagnosis, classification, and clinical care.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. Tsirou E, et al. Guidelines for medical nutrition therapy in gestational diabetes mellitus: Systematic review and critical appraisal. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Rasmussen L, et al. Diet and healthy lifestyle in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus. Caughey AB. Gestational diabetes mellitus: Obstetric issues and management.

Castro MR expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. Associated Procedures. A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. Show the heart some love! Give Today. Help us advance cardiovascular medicine. Find a doctor. Explore careers. Use our resources as well to stay in touch with ideas for daily activity.

The important thing to remember is to take action as quickly as you can, to stay with it, and to stay on top of your condition. Women with a history of gestational diabetes have an increased risk for recurrent diabetes in subsequent pregnancies and a fold risk of developing type 2 diabetes as they age compared to women without gestational diabetes.

Learn More. Breadcrumb Home About Diabetes Gestational Diabetes. Gestational Diabetes. Up to 10 percent of pregnancies in the U. are affected by gestational diabetes every year. How You Can Treat It The key is to act quickly. Diabetes in Pregnancy Professional Resources Women with a history of gestational diabetes have an increased risk for recurrent diabetes in subsequent pregnancies and a fold risk of developing type 2 diabetes as they age compared to women without gestational diabetes.

Doctors most often test for it between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Often gestational diabetes can be managed through eating healthy foods and regular exercise.

Sometimes a woman with gestational diabetes must also take insulin. Learn more about Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Services. Blood sugar that is not well controlled in a woman with gestational diabetes can lead to problems for the pregnant woman and the baby:.

Besides causing discomfort to the woman during the last few months of pregnancy, an extra-large baby can lead to problems during delivery for both the mother and the baby.

The mother might need a C-Section to deliver the baby. The baby can be born with nerve damage due to pressure on the shoulder during delivery. A woman who has diabetes that is not well controlled has a higher chance of needing a C-section to deliver the baby.

When the baby is delivered by a C-section, it takes longer for the woman to recover from childbirth. It is a serious problem that needs to be watched closely and managed by her doctor. High blood pressure can cause harm to both the woman and her unborn baby.

It might lead to the baby being born early and also could cause seizures or a stroke a blood clot or a bleed in the brain that can lead to brain damage in the woman during labor and delivery.