Gestational diabetes
Abbreviation: GDM
Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnancy hormones interfere with insulin, causing blood sugar to rise higher than normal. It is typically detected between weeks 24 and 28 through an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Left unmanaged, it can cause your baby to grow very large, raising the risk of a difficult delivery, low blood sugar in the newborn, and a higher chance of caesarean section. Most women manage it through a carbohydrate-controlled diet and regular walking, though some need insulin injections. Blood sugar usually returns to normal after birth, but having gestational diabetes roughly triples your lifetime risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
What This Means for You
Understanding Gestational diabetes is an important part of your second/third trimester journey. During pregnancy, your care team will use this term regularly. Being familiar with it means you can ask better questions and feel more confident at your antenatal appointments.
Explore our Pregnancy hubGood to Know
Singapore has one of the highest rates of gestational diabetes in Asia, partly due to dietary patterns, so the OGTT is offered routinely at restructured hospitals here. Follow up with a post-delivery glucose test at six weeks, and request an annual fasting glucose check thereafter.
Source: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/dictionary
Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice.
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