Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. Some people can manage it by eating a healthy diet, keeping active and staying a healthy weight. Others may need medication.

It's natural to feel concerned if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, or you have been told you are at risk. But gestational diabetes is fairly common: it affects around it affects around 1 in every 20 pregnancies.

Anyone can get diabetes in pregnancy, but there are some things that increase the risk of gestational diabetes.

In the UK, you will be offered a test for gestational diabetes if you are pregnant and your healthcare team thinks you could be at risk. People are sometimes surprised to find out they have the condition, because this test often finds it before they have symptoms. 

“Most mums I’ve met who had gestational diabetes have struggled with guilt, particularly in the beginning. Yes, there are ways to reduce your risk of developing the condition, such as diet and exercise. But if you do develop gestational diabetes, it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Anyone can develop it.”

Isabel

If you have gestational diabetes, you may be able to manage the condition by eating a healthy diet, staying active, and maintaining a healthy weight. If these changes are not enough to control your blood sugar (glucose) levels, you will be offered tablets or insulin.

Some people feel anxious about possible complications during pregnancy or birth, or about the long-term impact of gestational diabetes. Others worry about it affecting their birth plan. Bear in mind as well that most people with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies, as long as the condition is diagnosed and managed well.

Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, Diabetes UK (2021). Gestational diabetes - Information for you. Available at: https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/b10mqyfw/pi-gestational-diabetes.pdf (Accessed January 2024) (Page last reviewed 09/2021)

Li Y, Ren X, et al. (2020). 'Maternal age and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of over 120 million participants'. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 162:108044. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108044

NHS website (2022). Gestational diabetes. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gestational-diabetes/ (Accessed January 2024) (Page last reviewed 08/12/2022. Next review due 08/12/2025)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2020). Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period. NICE guideline 3. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3 (Accessed January 2024) (Page last reviewed 16/12/2020)

Qiu Y, Zhang X, et al. (2022). 'Association between Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis'. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 87(2):150–8. https://doi.org/10.1159/000521728

 

Review dates
Reviewed: 14 February 2024
Next review: 14 February 2027

Read more about gestational diabetes

  • What is gestational diabetes?

    Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. With management, most women will have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
    What is gestational diabetes?

  • Causes of gestational diabetes

    We do not understand exactly why some women get gestational diabetes and others don't. But we do know that some factors increase the risk.
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  • Symptoms of gestational diabetes

    Gestational diabetes does not usually cause any symptoms. Most women only find out that they have it when they are tested for the condition.
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  • What are the risks of gestational diabetes?

    Gestational diabetes can cause problems in pregnancy, but these risks can be reduced with careful management of diet, exercise, medicine & help from doctors.
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  • Treatment for gestational diabetes

    Gestational diabetes is treated by making changes to diet and exercise to manage glucose levels. If this doesn’t work, you may be given medication.
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  • Testing for gestational diabetes

    Whether you are at risk of developing gestational diabetes or not, you’ll usually be offered an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
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  • Staying active with gestational diabetes

    If you have gestational diabetes, exercise is safe and can help you manage your condition by reducing your glucose levels.
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  • Gestational diabetes and your diet

    Eating well is an important part of staying healthy throughout your pregnancy, especially if you are managing gestational diabetes.
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  • Taking medication and insulin for gestational diabetes

    Some women can control their glucose levels through diet and exercise alone, but others will need to take tablets or injections to help control it.
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  • Gestational diabetes and your mental wellbeing

    It’s natural to feel worried if you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Here are some on how to ease any concerns.
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  • Feeding your baby and gestational diabetes

    If you have gestational diabetes, it’s important to feed your baby as soon as possible and then regularly after you give birth.
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  • Understanding the glycaemic index

    The glycaemic index is a measure of how quickly sugars are released into the bloodstream. Knowing what foods to avoid helps control gestational diabetes.
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