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Back to BlogDiabetes in Pregnancy

Gestational Diabetes: What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know

18 June 20245 min readBy Dr Sandya Jalapu
Gestational diabetes pregnancy care

Gestational diabetes affects up to 1 in 7 pregnancies in India. Early detection and specialist management are key to a healthy outcome for both mother and baby.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy in women who did not previously have the condition. It occurs because pregnancy hormones — particularly human placental lactogen — interfere with the body's ability to use insulin effectively, causing blood glucose levels to rise.

India has one of the highest rates of gestational diabetes in the world, with studies suggesting it affects between 10 and 14 percent of pregnancies. Women with PCOS, a family history of diabetes, previous gestational diabetes, or who are overweight are at particularly high risk.

GDM is usually detected through routine glucose screening between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. However, women with risk factors may be tested earlier. The condition itself causes no obvious symptoms, which is why screening is so important.

If left unmanaged, gestational diabetes can lead to a larger-than-normal baby (macrosomia), increasing the risk of a difficult delivery. It also raises the risk of pre-eclampsia, premature birth, and the baby developing low blood sugar after birth. For the mother, it significantly increases the lifetime risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

At EndoMedics, we provide specialist endocrine management of gestational diabetes throughout pregnancy, working closely with your obstetrician. Most cases can be managed with dietary changes and blood glucose monitoring alone, but insulin therapy is available when needed. After delivery, we also provide follow-up testing to assess long-term diabetes risk.

Concerned about your health?

Book a consultation with Dr Sandya Jalapu at our Narsingi clinic.

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