Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy) can affect women who
are overweight, hyperinsulinemic, and insulin-resistant, as well as slender, insulin-
deficient women. Gestational diabetes affects at least 5% of all pregnancies, but it
could be significantly higher in other groups (eg, Mexican Americans, American
Indians, Asians, Indians, Pacific Islanders). Women who have gestational diabetes are
more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Diabetes increases foetal and mother morbidity and mortality throughout pregnancy.
Respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hyperbilirubinemia, polycythemia,
and hyperviscosity are all risks for newborns.

During organogenesis (up to roughly 10 weeks gestation), poor control of preexisting

(pregestational) or gestational diabetes raises the risk of the following:

 Congenital abnormalities of major importance

 Abortion on the spur of the moment

Diabetes that is poorly managed later in pregnancy raises the risk of the following
complications:

 Fetal macrosomia is characterised as a foetal weight of more than 4000

grammes or more than 4500 grammes at birth.
 Preeclampsia
 Shoulder dystocia
 Cesarean section
 Stillbirth

Even if blood glucose levels are kept near normal, gestational diabetes can cause
foetal macrosomia.