This document discusses gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. It is caused by pregnancy hormones blocking insulin's ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Most women with gestational diabetes can control it through diet, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and medical treatment if needed. While it can increase risks for the mother and baby, managing the condition well can help avoid complications and allow for healthy deliveries. The key is keeping blood sugar levels within target ranges to support the baby's growth.

1. By: Patrick Perche, Elizabeth Kelley, and Jamie Horne

2. What is
gestational
diabetes?
•A type of
diabetes that
women get
during
pregnancy.
• Pregnancy
hormones can
block insulin
from doing its
job.

3. Insulin
 A hormone that lowers the level of glucose in the
blood.
 Made by the beta cells of the pancreas and released
into the blood when the glucose level goes up.

4. Who is affected?
 Women during pregnancy
 1 in 5 pregnant women have gestational diabetes
 More common in pregnant women over the age of 25
 More likely in Hispanic, Black, Native American, or
Asian women
 More likely in overweight/obese mothers
 The child can also be affected

5. Causes
 Older than 25 when you are pregnant
 Gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
 Baby has a birth defect
 High blood pressure
 Too much amniotic fluid
 Previous unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
 Overweight before pregnancy
 Family history of diabetes

6. Symptoms
 Usually there are no symptoms, or the symptoms are
very mild. However symptoms may include:
-Blurred vision
-Fatigue
-Frequent infections, including those of the
bladder, vagina, and skin
-Increased thirst
-Increased urination
-Nausea and vomiting
-Weight loss despite increased appetite

7. How do you KNOW?
 Usually starts about halfway through pregnancy
 All pregnant women should receive an oral glucose
tolerance test
-Oral glucose tolerance test: laboratory method to
check how the body breaks down (metabolizes)
sugar.
 Once diagnosed, test glucose at home by pricking your
finger with a glucose reading machine.

8. Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels
The goal of monitoring is to keep your blood
sugar as close to normal as possible.
These ranges include:
Time of Test Target Blood Sugar Reading
Before Breakfast Plasma: below 105. Whole blood: below 95
2 Hours after Meals Plasma: below 95. Whole blood: below 120

9. Treatment
 Watching your Baby  Diet and Exercise
-check size and health of -eat a well planned diet
baby through ultrasound to have the right balance
and nonstress tests of proteins, fats, and
-nonstress test: machine carbs
hears and displays baby’s -exercise allows your
heart rate and compares body to use glucose
pattern of heartbeat to without extra insulin
movements

10. Expectations
 Most are able to control the disease and avoid harm to
themselves and their baby
 Larger babies at birth
 Birth injury because of large size
 Delivery by c-section
 Baby is more likely to have hypoglycemia (periods of
low blood sugar) during the first few days of life

11. How will it affect your baby?
 If your baby is too overweight, it can lead to
macrosomia
-macrosomia: “big baby syndrome”; fetus is
abnormally large
 Overweight in childhood and adulthood
 Chances if jaundice are increased

12. Complications
 Delivery-related complications due to the infant's large
size
 Development of diabetes later in life
 Increased risk of newborn death and stillbirth
 Low blood sugar or illness in the newborn

13. Prevention
 Beginning prenatal care
 Knowing the risk factors
 Prenatal screening at 24-28 weeks pregnant
 Losing weight before getting pregnant

14. Nutrition Basics for Women with Gestational
Diabetes
•3 small meals and 2-3
small snacks
•Less carbs at breakfast
•Choose foods high in
fiber
•Choose foods with less
sugar and fat
•Drink 8 cups of liquid
per day
•Get enough vitamins
and minerals

15. Sources
 Storck, S. (2011, October 12). Gestational diabetes: Glucose intolerance during pregnancy.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001898
 Definition of Insulin. (2010, July 25). Retrieved from
http://www.babycenter.com/0_gestationaldiabetes_2058.bc
 Health and Pregnancy. Gestational diabetes- Treatment Overview. (2011, March 7)
Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/gestational-diabetes-treatment-
overview
 Marin, Lucian (2008,November) Retrieved from http://fatbabies.wordpress.com/
 Kassir, Kari (2011, September) Macrosomia. Retrieved from
http://pediatrics.med.nyu.edu/conditions-we-treat/conditions/macrosomia
 Wooley, Elizabeth (2001, November 1) Nutritional Basics for Women with Gestational
Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.diabeticmommy.com/34-gestational-diabetes-
diet.html
 WebMD (2005-2012) Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes. Retrieved from
http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/gestational_diabetes?page=3
 American Diabetes Association (1995-2012) Gestational Diabetes. Retrieved from
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetesbasics/gestational/?cr=redcpcggfreeinformationgestati
onal&gclid=CPToudaCt64CFQpU7AodfV2enw