According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5% to 9% of U.S. pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes every year. More importantly, gestational diabetes disproportionately impacts women of color.
What Racial/Ethnic Groups Are at the Highest Risk?
In an article published in Population Health, notes that it is not just women of color who are born in the United States who are at risk. Those born outside of the United States actually have double the risk of developing the condition.
“Prevalence of GDM is highest among Asian American/Pacific Islander (Asian/PI) (16%), Hispanic (12%) and Black (11%) women, and lowest among White (7%) women. Additionally, foreign-born women have almost twice the risk of GDM, compared to US-born women across all racial/ethnic groups.”
A Kaiser Permanente study. published online in the journal Diabetologia reveals that the risks for developing type 2 diabetes increase after childbirth. “African American women who develop gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy face a 52 percent increased risk of developing diabetes in the future compared to white women who develop GDM during pregnancy.”
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that first appears d
uring pregnancy. It affects how your body uses sugar (glucose) in your blood.
High blood sugar during pregnancy can affect both the mother and the baby. Because of this, it is important to keep blood sugar levels under control. This can often be done by eating healthy foods, staying active, and working with your healthcare provider. In some cases, medication or insulin may also be needed.
The exact cause of gestation diabetes is not fully known. During pregnancy, the placenta makes a lot of hormones. Some of those hormones can block insulin, making it harder for insulin to work properly. This is called insulin resistance. When this happens, blood sugar levels can rise.
Additional Risk Factors
According to the American Diabetes Association, some risk factors may increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes, including:
- Having an unhealthy weight before pregnancy
- Gaining too much weight during pregnancy
- Your family background is Black, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or Pacific Islander
- Being older than 25 years old
- Having a family history of gestational diabetes
- Having existing prediabetes
Knowing your risk factors can help you and your healthcare provider monitor your health during pregnancy
Symptoms
Gestational diabetes often does not cause noticeable symptoms. Many women learn they have it during routine pregnancy screening.
When symptoms do occur, they may be like symptoms of type-2 diabetes, such as:
- Feeling more thirsty than usual
- Needing to urinate (pee) more often
- Feeling hungry even after eating
- Feeling very tired
- Dry mouth or gum problems
- Cuts or wounds that heal slowly
- Blurred vision or seeing spots (floaters)
Protecting Mother & Baby
Gestational diabetes can cause complications for both mother and baby. However, these risks can often be reduced by managing blood sugar levels.
You can help protect yourself and your baby by:
- Eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Limiting highly processed foods and added sugars
- Moving your body more than three times per week
- Getting screened early in your pregnancy if you have risk factors
- Working with your healthcare provider to create a treatment plan
Potential Complications
According to the Mayo Clinic, gestational diabetes may lead to complications for the baby such as:
- High birth weight
- Early birth
- Breathing problems after birth
- Low blood sugar after birth
- Higher risk for obesity or type 2 diabetes later in life
- Stillbirth (in rare cases)
Potential complications for the mother can include:
- High blood pressure
- Preeclampsia (serious blood pressure disorder)
- Cesarean Delivery (C-section)
- Increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Treatment and Management
Healthy Diet:
Eating healthy meals can help keep blood sugar levels stable. The American Diabetes Association recommends using the Diabetes Plate Method to help plan balanced meals.
This method suggests filling your plate with:
- Half the plate with non-starch vegetables
- One quarter with lean protein
- One quarter with carbohydrates such as whole grains
- Water as the main drink
Meal planning ahead of time can also help you make healthier choices and avoid relying on cravings when you are hungry.
Physical Activity:
Staying physically active during pregnancy can help manage blood sugar levels.
Safe activities for pregnancy may include:
- Stationary cycling
- Walking
- Prenatal yoga
- Swimming
- Water aerobics
Always talk with your healthcare provider before starting or continuing an exercise program during pregnancy.
The most important step is simply getting started and staying consistent.
Medication or Insulin:
Sometimes lifestyle changes alone are not enough to control blood sugar levels. In these cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe insulin of other medications.
Keeping blood sugar under control is the most important part of reducing the risk of complications for both mother and baby.
What happens after delivery?
Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born. However, women who have had gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Because of this, it is important to continue healthy habits after pregnancy. Regular checkups, balanced eating, and physical activity can help reduce the risk of future diabetes.
Resources
American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Patient education library. American Diabetes Association Professional. https://professional.diabetes.org/clinical-support/patient-education-library
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025, May 30). Gestational diabetes: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355339
The Diabetes Food Hub Team. (2024, December 24). Create your plate: Simplify meal planning with the diabetes plate. Diabetes Food Hub. https://diabetesfoodhub.org/blog/create-your-plate-simplify-meal-planning-diabetes-plate