Gestational diabetes affects 1 in 6 pregnancies at the Women’s.
For National Diabetes Week, the Women’s diabetes specialist Dr Sarah Price explains the condition … and why it’s so important to have follow up care after the baby is born.
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and usually resolves after birth.
It increases health risks for women and their baby during pregnancy and childbirth.
The good news is that the condition can be managed – and most complications can be prevented.
Dr Sarah Price is an adult endocrinologist and the Director of Obstetric Medicine - Maternity Services, at the Women’s. Her passion is to improve the health of women living with diabetes during pregnancy.
“During all pregnancies, the placenta starts making hormones that make the body's insulin less effective,” Dr Price says. “This is called insulin resistance.
“In women who get gestational diabetes, insulin is much less effective. So, blood glucose levels rise beyond the normal range. This can lead to complications for both mum and baby.”
Women are usually screened for gestational diabetes between 26 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. They may be screened earlier if there are additional risk factors.
“We diagnose gestational diabetes with an oral glucose tolerance test,” Dr Price says.
In preparation for this test, women need to fast overnight. The next morning, women will have a blood test and then have a sugary drink. One or two hours later, another blood test will be done to compare the change. If blood glucose levels are too high at this time, gestational diabetes is diagnosed.
“For many women, being diagnosed with gestational diabetes can be upsetting,” Dr Price says.
"It is important to remember that most women with gestational diabetes can have a healthy pregnancy. They can have a normal delivery and a healthy baby.”
Women can manage gestational diabetes with a healthy diet, exercise and regular checks of their blood glucose levels. Some women might need to inject insulin.
At the Women’s, everyone with gestational diabetes is invited to group education sessions covering multiple aspects of diabetes management. This includes seeing a dietitian, a physiotherapist and a diabetes educator.
Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born.
However, women who have had gestational diabetes and their children are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
“Follow-up care is very important,” Dr Price says.
“Women who had gestational diabetes should regularly check in with their GP after the baby is born. They can have further blood tests, known as a HbA1C test, to monitor their blood glucose levels long-term."
Learn more about gestational diabetes here: Gestational diabetes | The Royal Women's Hospital (thewomens.org.au)